Category Archives: Scottish winter climbing.

The great improvements in weather/ Avalanche/ forecasting.

Posted on March 15, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

In my early days in the RAF Mountain Rescue we got a weather forecast from the local RAF MET office. It was handy but mainly designed mainly for aircraft flying. It came in at weekends by our High Frequency radios … Continue reading →

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

Metal Ice Axes – A big change from Wooden shafted axes. The 1958 Zero Gully tragedy.

Posted on March 9, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

In the early days of winter climbing walking climbing axes were all wooden. As climbing in winter pushed standards some of the gear was extremely limited. There were only a few top climbers climbing at the highest grades. It was … Continue reading →

Posted in Gear, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Recomended books and Guides, Scottish winter climbing. | 2 Comments

What’s was your breakthrough Crampon’s?

Posted on March 8, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

I was given a pair of crampons that never fitted my boots when I started winter climbing in1972. The crampons were heated and adjust to the boots. Mine had been heated and reheated a few times and one broke on … Continue reading →

Posted in Gear, Ice climbing Canada, Mountaineering, People, Scottish winter climbing. | 4 Comments

Jimmy Marshall – The Maister” King of The Ben.

Posted on March 4, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

I met Jimmy Marshall on a few occasions and he was already called “the Maisters” we I am sure we had a great night in Fort William after his presentation of the Mountain Culture Award in Fort William. Looking back … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Books, Mountaineering, People, Recomended books and Guides, Scottish winter climbing., SMC/SMT, Views Mountaineering | Leave a comment

Koflach Boots a piece of history.

Posted on March 3, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

I bought my first pair of Koflach in the early 80’s for a ice climbing trip to Canada. What a huge difference they made. Despite temperatures of minus 25 I had no more cold or wet feet. They also had … Continue reading →

Posted in Friends, Gear, Mountaineering, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering | 6 Comments

Pushing the climbing standards in RAF Mountain Rescue. The late 50’s – early 70’s.

Posted on February 22, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

The RAF Mountain Rescue went through many changes since it’s beginning in 1944. Wales had some exceptional climbers like Johnnie Lees who pushed the standards along with several exceptional climbers in South Wales, The Peaks and the Lakes. In Scotland … Continue reading →

Posted in Equipment, Friends, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Rock Climbing, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Well being | 6 Comments

Wonderful weekend with special people at Fort William Mountain Festival. Well done Stephanie Mc Kenna and all who those who work so hard to produce a wonderful Festival.

Posted on February 19, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

It was a wonderful weekend surrounded by friend’s that mean so much, it’s so important to get out and see folk again. There are to many to thank but to all of you you made an old man very happy. … Continue reading →

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

Down at the Fort William Mountain Festival.

Posted on February 18, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

Yesterday was a wild day terrible winds all night battered my village on the North East coast. I had to travel after giving blood in Elgin in the early afternoon. There were many trees down but as I drove West … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Mountaineering, Munro Society, Munros, People, Scottish winter climbing., SMC/SMT, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | 2 Comments

A wild day on Resurrection Sgurr Mor – The Fannichs a long time ago but the memories are still there.

Posted on February 13, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

Many years ago in 1984 after I had just come back from a wonderful month ice climbing in Canada. I was with my mate Mark Sinclair “ Cheeky” he invited me out on what he said was a “wee route … Continue reading →

Posted in Ice climbing Canada, Mountaineering, Scottish winter climbing., SMC/SMT, Views Mountaineering, Well being | 2 Comments

The effect of Mountaineering books.

Posted on February 11, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

What an insight mountaineering books brought to me as a young lad. It opened my eyes to what could be done in this wee country and abroad. Some of the writing is of it’s time but what an insight into … Continue reading →

Posted in Mountaineering, People, Recomended books and Guides, Scottish winter climbing. | 2 Comments