Category Archives: Gear

High Risks – Climbing to Extinction – Brian Hall

Posted on December 1, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

I found this an exceptional book. It took me back to the “ Golden Years” of Alpine and Himalayan Mountaineers.The death toll of these climbers pushing their ambitions and the complexity of their lives is an eye opener. He also … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Enviroment, Equipment, Family, Friends, Gear, Health, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, People, PTSD, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Well being | Leave a comment

1976 The Munro’s – 46 years on. A few thoughts.

Posted on November 27, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

Munros- 46 years on. Big changes but still a great way to get to know Scotland. In my early wa liking days the Munro’s was a huge ambition. I completed them in 27 Mov 1976! It was recorded in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Books, Friends, Gear, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Munros, Well being | Leave a comment

Everest Classic – photo and memories of the Fox of Glencoe.

Posted on November 25, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

I always thought that this was an outstanding photo of Hamish McInness stretcher being used on Everest in the Western CYM. ‘The photo was taken by my pal Terry Moore in 1992 . Typically Terry understated the effort “ Twas … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Books, Friends, Gear, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, People, Recomended books and Guides, Rock Climbing, SMC/SMT, Views Mountaineering, Well being | Leave a comment

Remembrance Week – The Beinn Eighe Lancaster. March 1951.

Posted on November 11, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

IN THE MEMORY OF THE CREW OF LANCASTER TX264 Its 70 years since the crash of the Lancaster on Beinn Eighe. I was told of the story often and visited the site on many occasions. It is a situated in … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Articles, Books, Friends, Gear, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, People, Recomended books and Guides, Scottish winter climbing., SMC/SMT, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | 4 Comments

Helicopter Days . The early days and an interesting rescue in Wales gaining trust with the crews.

Posted on November 3, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

My first working with helicopters was in 1972. I got an afternoon of to go with a few of the Kinloss Mountain Rescue Team to our local mountain Ben Rinnes. We were playing with Sarbe Beacons and testing them out. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bothies, Equipment, Gear, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Weather | 4 Comments

1976 – Things move on: Becoming a Party leader and planning a Big Walk – North to South Scotland.

Posted on October 25, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

I had been back in the team for a year now was fully trained and hoping for my party leader. This had been a long journey for me it took me for what seemed years to prove myself. I had … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Friends, Gear, Health, Hill running and huge days!, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, People, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | 2 Comments

1975 Sept – A big lower in Skye on Sgurr MhicConnich

Posted on October 22, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

In the RAF Kinloss MRT wE had practiced for big stretcher lowers during our training crag day. Yet apart from a lower with Lochaber MRT in Zero gully on Ben Nevis my knowledge was pretty scant. On the Ben even … Continue reading →

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Hard times in the early years. Aircraft crash at Dornie and learning the hard way. Dealing with Trauma in the early days.

Posted on October 18, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

After the call out on Ben Nevis I was put on shift for the whole weekend and no break at all. Then ten days later the team was called out to an aircraft crash near Dornie at Kintail. This is … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Friends, Gear, Health, medical, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, People, PTSD, Views Mountaineering | 1 Comment

A first trip to Skye what an eye opener.

Posted on October 16, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

After being accepted by the team I was so lucky to get a long trip to Skye. In these days there was no bridge and it was a ferry it was a long 4-5 hour journey. By now I was … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Equipment, Friends, Gear, Islands, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Munros, Rock Climbing, Views Mountaineering, Well being | 1 Comment

1972 – Joining the RAF Kinloss MRT.

Posted on October 11, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

After doing my basic and trade training at Hereford I wanted a posting back to Scotland. I was so pleased that I got posted to Morayshire in the North of Scotland. I wanted to join the RAF Kinloss Mountain Rescue … Continue reading →

Posted in Equipment, Friends, Gear, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, People, Well being | 8 Comments