Category Archives: mountain safety

Scary meeting in a bothy.

Posted on April 9, 2024 by heavywhalley.MBE

I have always enjoyed the Bothies I was very young about aged 11 when I visited my first bothy in Galloway. This was mid 60. I met a few characters and would sit and learn about the hills.it was some … Continue reading →

Posted in Bothies, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Well being | 2 Comments

Ben Nevis a grand day one winter

Posted on March 4, 2024 by heavywhalley.MBE

I loved reading about climbs on the Ben especially in winter. I had always wanted to climb the Curtain an early steep ice climb. It had always intimidated me as there were some “ exciting “ photos of it in … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Scottish winter climbing., Well being | 1 Comment

Fionaven – A grand day out.

Posted on February 25, 2024 by heavywhalley.MBE

This is a grand mountain hill Fionaven  I love this mountain and I have been very lucky to climb it about 10 times. It is spectacular and can be seen for miles. The shattered quartzite makes the hill look white and … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Books, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Rock Climbing, Scottish winter climbing. | Leave a comment

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

Winds – the killer.

Posted on January 22, 2024 by heavywhalley.MBE

Today we are again in wild weather the winds are an incredible speed. To me and I have seen the effect of extreme winds its nature in the raw powerful and frightening. Many think they have been out in extreme … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Books, Enviroment, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Views Mountaineering, Weather | 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

Waterfall Gully Ben Nevis A day with the “wee man”

Posted on January 13, 2024 by heavywhalley.MBE

Now my wee piece on Zero Gully reminded me of a fun day on Waterfall Gully on Carn Dearg Ben Nevis. It was first climbed by a group of National Service climbers based in the RAF Mountain Rescue Team at … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Avalanche info, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Scottish winter climbing., Weather, Well being | 2 Comments

A tale of a fall on Poachers Fall Torridon.

Posted on January 5, 2024 by heavywhalley.MBE

It had been a long few months I was pretty tired after running the Annual RAF Winter Course 2 weeks for me of big worries in Ben Nevis, Glencoe and the Cairngorms. All those young tigers climbing I was often … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Friends, Ice climbing Canada, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, People, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | Leave a comment