Category Archives: SARDA

Lovely to meet my friends from SARDA

Posted on March 25, 2024 by heavywhalley.MBE

Thanks to Debbie and Kalie for getting ,me to Fort William for tthe Annual Assessment I could never have driven. The Annual Assessment was a wonderful place to be and how based tge all work to get the dogs assessed, … Continue reading →

Posted in Mountaineering, SARDA, Well being | 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

Patience is a virtue

Posted on January 24, 2024 by heavywhalley.MBE

Short blog : it was a Wild night again a few slates of the roof. Many will be getting frustrated by the weather. It’s hard to sit and wait but hopefully it will calm down soon. Read the weather reports … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, SARDA, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | Leave a comment

An Appreciation of Tom Gilchrist awarded the Distinguished Service Award from Mountain Rescue

Posted on January 18, 2024 by heavywhalley.MBE

It is wonderful to see those who have given so much are rewarded. Distinguished Service Award for Tom Gilchrist 18th January, 2024 SARDA Scotland presented Tom Gilchrist with a Distinguished Service Award this weekend for his outstanding contribution over 50 years … Continue reading →

Posted in Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, SARDA | 2 Comments

Dog Tails – return to scotland Big Callouts winters – Lockerbie and epics, fun , sadness and laughter.

Posted on August 27, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

Back in Scotland: It was great we were back in Scotland and straight on 2 weeks on the annual RAF Mountain Rescue Winter Course. The Course was split into two parts the first at Grantown on Spey at the PTI … Continue reading →

Posted in Bothies, Enviroment, Family, Friends, Health, Hill running and huge days!, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Munros, People, SARDA, Well being, Wildlife | Leave a comment

The Madras Trophy – SARDA Scotland. Does anyone know the story behind it?

Posted on June 24, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

The Madras Trophy – is awarded to the best Novice Search Dog team during the annual assessment weekend of the SARDA Scotland Association. This is a hard Assessment and it has been presented since 1973. The Madras Trophy was awarded … Continue reading →

Posted in Friends, Mountaineering, SARDA, Well being | Leave a comment

Ben Nevis an appreciation – Thank You.

Posted on June 8, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

It is sad that some Mountaineers feel that the normal route up the mountain is spoiled by the huge amount of people that ascend it every year. Is that being elitist? It is a busy hill with charity walks, The Three Peaks … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Avalanche info, Books, Bothies, Enviroment, Equipment, Health, Hill running and huge days!, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Munros, Poems, Rock Climbing, SAR, SARDA, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | 2 Comments

Sheep ticks / there back !

Posted on March 27, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

Ticks The last weekend I was out in the hills the I was out with SARDA and many of the dogs were covered in ticks. last thing I was thinking about was ticks! Despite a thorough search I found another … Continue reading →

Posted in medical, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, People, SARDA, Views Mountaineering, Well being, Wildlife | 2 Comments

Guilt or Gratitude missing out on big Callouts ? By Pete Kirkpatrick

Posted on March 20, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

GUILT OR GRATITUDE This is a interesting article that I think many of us in the Emergency Agencies who may feel they miss out on a big incident. This happens as family,holidays, sickness and many other things may stop you … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Lockerbie, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, SAR, SARDA, Views Political?, Well being | 1 Comment

Simple thing that may save your life in the wild places. A whistle.

Posted on February 20, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

In these days of mobile phones and Rescue beacons there is still a handy piece of simple kit that to me is invaluable. Yet there is one thing that I have found to still be a wonderful asset if your … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Enviroment, Equipment, Gear, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, SAR, SARDA, Views Mountaineering, Well being | Leave a comment