Category Archives: History

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

Long Gone Ferries Ballahullish, Skye, Cape Wrath ! Any memories ?

Posted on August 13, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

Ferry memories: One of the classics was The Old Skye Ferry before the Bridge was built. It used to take us over to Skye for training and for Call outs. In these days there was no Kessock bridge at Inverness. … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Enviroment, Equipment, Friends, History, Local area and events to see, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, People, Sailing trips, Views Mountaineering | 4 Comments

1965’s Scottish Climbing School Glencoe . Some names here . Dougal Haston, John Harlin, Tom Patey. Ely Moriarty, John Cunningham Rusty Ballie .

Posted on July 8, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

Could you imagine being taught by these climbers in 1965 ? Think of all the news routes they would have climbed. They were the some of the cream of Scottish climbing of that era . I wonder if anyone remembers … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, History, Ice climbing Canada, Mountaineering, People, Recomended books and Guides, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Well being | 2 Comments

What was your favourite clothing for mountaineering.

Posted on February 6, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

A great bit of gear was a simple thin wind stop top. I am sure it was designed for the artic was light and very effective in wind. I was issued with one of these in the very early 70,s. … Continue reading →

Posted in Equipment, Gear, History, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Rock Climbing, Views Mountaineering, Well being | 5 Comments

A short wander along the Coffin Trail / Kenmore / Arrina woodland footpath and Kenmore to Applecross

Posted on December 6, 2020 by heavywhalley.MBE

The coffin route to Applecross. 15 kilometres of walking . I had a short but enjoyable wander yesterday from near my friends house on the Kenmore / Arrina woodland footpath and Kenmore to Applecross footpath. At Kenmore there’s a small … Continue reading →

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Whitley Crash Forres – and Forres Airfields.

Posted on July 14, 2020 by heavywhalley.MBE

A few years ago I was contact by a family whose father (Phil) was born 6 weeks after his father was killed in an aircraft crash on An Lurg near Bynack Mor in the Cairngorms during the war. Info – … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Articles, History, Local area and events to see | 4 Comments

Early Social Distancing – Strathfarrar, An Teallach memories.

Posted on June 9, 2020 by heavywhalley.MBE

When I was at RAF Leuchars as the Mountain Rescue Team Leader I used to raid the far North of Scotland (that was RAF Kinloss MRT Area) We had many great weekend. Sadly it took a bit of convincing the … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Bothies, Enviroment, Friends, History, Islands, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, Munros, Views Mountaineering, Well being | Leave a comment

Ben Nevis Secrets no 2 – THE REASON WHY THE OLD SHELTERS ON CARN DEARG AND COIRE LEIS (Ben Nevis) WERE REMOVED.

Posted on May 7, 2020 by heavywhalley.MBE

I was looking for a photo of the old shelter on Carn Dearg not the Ben Nevis summit shelter.  The shelter on Ben Nevis’ neighbouring summit, Carn Dearg, was removed in 2004 as ‘the shelter is often buried in snow … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, History, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Munros, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | 2 Comments