Category Archives: History

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

The Steps of a Giant – new book due out soon. Scottish mountain Trust

Posted on December 8, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

Announcing another of our events at Fort William Mountain Festival 2024! Raeburb has always been a hero of mine and if you see his routes and climb them think of the gear and the exploration involved. This is what the … Continue reading →

Posted in Clothing, History, Mountaineering, Recomended books and Guides, Rock Climbing, Scottish winter climbing., SMC/SMT, Views Mountaineering | Leave a comment

Past Heroes – Eric Beard – Philip Tranter.

Posted on September 4, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

These two names were well kent many years ago may be lost in time but when I started mountaineering there were lots of great characters about. I was always interested in big hill days and both these characters were icons … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Books, Bothies, Clothing, Expeditions - Alaska - Himalayas etc, Friends, Gear, Health, Hill running and huge days!, History, Mountaineering, Rock Climbing | 3 Comments

Day 1 – Hebs festival Harris

Posted on July 14, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

Arrived on boat in Stornaway early afternoon after a night in UllApool. We arrived after a busy few days and had a wander in the rain at the beach then booked into our Hotel the Caberfeidh fot 3 nights. No … Continue reading →

Posted in Clothing, Enviroment, Family, Friends, Health, History, Islands, Media, Mountaineering, People, Views Political?, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | Leave a comment

Summary of my first three years incidents with RAF Kinloss MRT.

Posted on October 21, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

Above is the call outs attended by the Kinloss team in 1972. All apart from 1 we’re for missing walkers or climbers. The other was an aircraft crash near Kintail. As the reader can see they incidents were all over … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, History, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Munros, Other hills Grahams & Donalds, People, Scottish winter climbing., SMC/SMT, Well being | Leave a comment

A bit of travelling over to the West.

Posted on September 11, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

It’s been a busy few days over on the West visiting my friend Kalie and Islay. The weather was magnificent and we had two days of perfect weather. I got a good walk with Islay from Applecross to Sand and … Continue reading →

Posted in Enviroment, Friends, History, Local area and events to see, Mountaineering, People, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | Leave a comment

Filming in a wet Torridon about the Lancaster Beinn Eighe crash.

Posted on May 13, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

I often wonder how many who climb that magnificent mountain Beinn Eighe and do not know that there is a plane crash on the mountain. So many walk by the Lancaster aircraft wreckage that lies in the wild and Cathedral … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Equipment, Friends, Gear, History, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, People, PTSD, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | 3 Comments

All well in Crianlarich – visiting Aunty Elma a lady who always looks after RAF MRT.

Posted on September 17, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

On my way back from the deep South from a good trip with old pals I drove to see Aunty Elma at Crianlarich. My old mountaineering mates tell me I need to post cheery posts. Elma has looked after many … Continue reading →

Posted in Bothies, Family, Friends, Health, History, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, People, Weather, Well being | Leave a comment

Heading to Keswick Mountain Festival.

Posted on September 9, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

I thought I had retired from these talks that I used to do but was asked to speak at the Keswick Mountain Festival with my friend Cameron McNeish. He is going to do a Question and Answer chat with me. … Continue reading →

Posted in Enviroment, History, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, Views Mountaineering, Well being | Leave a comment

Garbh Bhein – Ardgour a sad tale.

Posted on August 16, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

As a Mountain Rescue Team Leader the worst thing that could happen is a Team member being badly injured or killed. I will admit it worried me a lot during my years as Team Leader and as a Party Leader. … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Corbetts, Corbetts and other hills, Enviroment, Equipment, Gear, History, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, People, PTSD, Rock Climbing, Views Mountaineering, Well being | Leave a comment