Category Archives: Gear

Running on empty

Posted on April 12, 2024 by heavywhalley.MBE

Please take this blog as it’s meant to be: I have Stage 4 liver disease and a big Respiratory problem I have been very open with my illness and felt it would be easier to be honest. My life expectancy … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Gear, People, Well being | 7 Comments

Another piece of history SMC Journals

Posted on February 6, 2024 by heavywhalley.MBE

Yesterday I gave my SMC Journals to Robin Clothier a SMC s stalwart. There was nearly;80;years worth. They gave me so much enjoyment and back ground on my Statistician. Robin a is connoisseur.Of mountaineering despite being a great climber he … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Books, Clothing, Corbetts, Corbetts and other hills, Enviroment, Friends, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Munro Society, Munros, People, Recomended books and Guides, SARDA, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering | 3 Comments

Before Health & Safety ( Elf & Safety)

Posted on January 30, 2024 by heavywhalley.MBE

In the 59 years plus that I have been mountaineering there was limited guides or knowledge was not easy shared. Maps were basic unlike now. Weather forests were extremely basic and there was limited Avalanche information. The few books written … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Avalanche info, Clothing, Friends, Gear, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, Views Mountaineering, Well being | Leave a comment

Wild weather – The risk to you or as a leader A few thoughts ?

Posted on January 21, 2024 by heavywhalley.MBE

It was due to being a mountaineer and a Mountain Rescue Team Leader in my early days I was a risk taker. Not in the climbing sense at first but being over 150 days a years sometimes out in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Clothing, Enviroment, Equipment, Friends, Gear, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | Leave a comment

Classic ice tools

Posted on January 18, 2024 by heavywhalley.MBE

Old ice tools- Chounaird Climax and Chounaird Zero These axes were incredible for their size they were designed by the great icon of ice climbing Yvonne Chounaird. They were the state of the art at the time. Bill March the … Continue reading →

Posted in Equipment, Gear, History, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Rock Climbing, Views Mountaineering, Wildlife | 3 Comments

12 days of Snowledge – from Scottish Mountain Rescue.

Posted on January 16, 2024 by heavywhalley.MBE

❄️ The 12 Days of Snowledge ❄️ Day 6: Essential kit for winter mountain adventures ☃️ Epic winter adventures are even more fun when you are well prepared and have clothing and equipment suitable for the conditions. If you’re heading … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Avalanche info, Clothing, Gear, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Scottish winter climbing., Well being | Leave a comment

Changabang – Pete Boardman , “The Shinning Mountain” A day on Hells Lum Chimney.

Posted on December 30, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

Due to my health I have been reading a lot books give me such joy especially “ The Shinning Mountain “ Changabang is a mountain in the Garhwal Himalaya of Uttarakhand, India. It is part of a group of peaks … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Friends, Gear, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, People, Recomended books and Guides, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | Leave a comment

Skye New Year 1963.

Posted on December 30, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

Many yeas ago I had a long chat with Hamish in Glencoe.He allowed me to tape it, it was a few years before he became ill. Hamish had a wonderful memory and he told me of his early days in … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Books, Clothing, Equipment, Friends, Islands, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, Recomended books and Guides, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | Leave a comment

Christmas Message.

Posted on December 25, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

Happy Christmas and thanks for all the messages and kindness. Be good to those you love and spare a thought for all those in the Emergency Agencies who are looking after us all. Never forget without their family support we … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Charity, Clothing, Family, Plants, Well being | 4 Comments

Winter Epic on Creag Meagaidh. Dog through the cornice. A few thoughts and tips.

Posted on December 14, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

For many years Creag Meagaidh was a hill that I did a lot of Call-outs on supporting the Lochaber or Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Teams. There were a lot of Avalanches on the mountain and its complex plateau can be extremely … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Avalanche info, Clothing, Enviroment, Family, Friends, Health, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, People, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | 4 Comments