Category Archives: mountain safety

Self Reliance ( meaning “reliance on one’s own powers and resources rather than those of others”) on the mountains a few thoughts.

Posted on October 15, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

It is what many of us call this is the “silly season” it’s already started in my mind. The daylight hours are now shortening and the weather changing. Mountain Rescue Teams are getting busy as the weather, daylight catch folk … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Books, Enviroment, Equipment, Gear, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Munros, Recomended books and Guides, Scottish winter climbing., SMC/SMT, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | 5 Comments

From Scottish Mountain Rescue.

Posted on October 14, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

Over recent months there has been an increase in the number of mountain incidents across Scotland, and now autumn is in full swing we’d like to remind people venturing into the hills to check your kit to ensure you are … Continue reading →

Posted in Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | Leave a comment

Some good comments from yesterday’s blog on Training in wild conditions.

Posted on October 13, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

Please note yesterday’s blog was not an ego article but an insight into the mindset of the times. The point I was trying to make was that we trained very hard to do the job we did. I got to … Continue reading →

Posted in Avalanche info, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Munros, Recomended books and Guides, Scottish winter climbing., SMC/SMT, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | Leave a comment

The point of Training hard for the worst that the weather can do on the mountains.

Posted on October 12, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

I have written a few blogs recently about mistakes I made on the hill. The point I wanted to make was to show how little things can escalated and can turn into an epic . I spoke to Dan Carrol … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, People, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | 3 Comments

Early lesson – Leaving your bag below a route in winter ? I learned about Mountaineering from that.

Posted on October 9, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

In the mid 80’s at the “invincible stage” in my mountaineering our annual winter course was held over 2 weeks in the Cairngorms and Lochaber. This was when young team members from the 6 RAF teams came for a winter … Continue reading →

Posted in Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, People, Scottish winter climbing., SMC/SMT, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | 2 Comments

Are you ready for the change to winter?

Posted on September 23, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

Hopefully we have still got some summer left but I have not been out for a while but heading West this weekend. So I had a look at my kit. My summer bag was light. I have added some more … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Avalanche info, Enviroment, Equipment, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | Leave a comment

How to call for help in the Mountains in an Emergency ?

Posted on September 9, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

We are delighted to see so many hillwalkers and climbers enjoying the mountains over the recent months. This summer has seen a noticeable increase in the number of people heading for the outdoors and, with foreign travel opportunities still limited … Continue reading →

Posted in Friends, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Views Mountaineering, Well being | Leave a comment

Time to check your gear for winter?

Posted on September 2, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

The picture was taken in 1972 after I had been in the RAF Kinloss Mountain Rescue Team for a few months. I had just done my first winter. That was some introduction for a 7 stone wee lad . Every … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Books, Equipment, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, People, Recomended books and Guides, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | Leave a comment

Wreckers Slab – from the words of babes ?

Posted on August 29, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

My mate Pete Greening wrote this “While on holiday in Cornwall in Aug 2013 David Whalley (Heavy) enters into the spirit of things by doing his best impression of climber/surfer/visionary/Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard, during an ascent of Wrecker’s Slab” I … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Book, Family, Friends, Gear, mountain safety, Mountaineering, People, Recomended books and Guides, Rock Climbing, Views Mountaineering, Well being | Leave a comment

International Dog Day / a special thanks to SARDA !

Posted on August 26, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

A special thanks to all the Search Dogs and their handlers for all the great work they do. Not just in the mountains and wild places but on rural and Urban searches for vulnerable people. I have admired you all … Continue reading →

Posted in Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, People, Views Mountaineering, Well being | Leave a comment