Category Archives: Scottish winter climbing.

High Risks – Climbing to Extinction – Brian Hall

Posted on December 1, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

I found this an exceptional book. It took me back to the “ Golden Years” of Alpine and Himalayan Mountaineers.The death toll of these climbers pushing their ambitions and the complexity of their lives is an eye opener. He also … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Enviroment, Equipment, Family, Friends, Gear, Health, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, People, PTSD, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Well being | Leave a comment

Is winter here ? First winter climbs over the last few days. Am I envious !

Posted on November 23, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

It’s great to see that the climbers are out in the Northern Corries after the first snows of winter. To climb in these short days with not much daylight means you have to be organised. The snow ploughs have been … Continue reading →

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

More Classic smaller mountains: Fionaven the Reay Forest North – West Sutherland.

Posted on November 17, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

I have promised a pal that we will climb the Corbett Fionaven she has been waiting to climb in for a while. I hope next May when I am fit enough still to climb a big mountain after my health … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Corbetts and other hills, Enviroment, Equipment, Friends, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Munros, People, Rock Climbing, Scottish winter climbing., SMC/SMT, Views Mountaineering, Well being | Leave a comment

Remembrance Week – The Beinn Eighe Lancaster. March 1951.

Posted on November 11, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

IN THE MEMORY OF THE CREW OF LANCASTER TX264 Its 70 years since the crash of the Lancaster on Beinn Eighe. I was told of the story often and visited the site on many occasions. It is a situated in … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Articles, Books, Friends, Gear, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, People, Recomended books and Guides, Scottish winter climbing., SMC/SMT, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | 4 Comments

Helicopter Days . The early days and an interesting rescue in Wales gaining trust with the crews.

Posted on November 3, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

My first working with helicopters was in 1972. I got an afternoon of to go with a few of the Kinloss Mountain Rescue Team to our local mountain Ben Rinnes. We were playing with Sarbe Beacons and testing them out. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bothies, Equipment, Gear, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Weather | 4 Comments

1977 – The Call-outs keep coming : Liathach, Loch Avon, Ben Nevis and Ben Dorian. A winter traverse West to East of Scotland

Posted on October 30, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

I remember some of these incidents wee. The incident on Liathach in Torridon was when a young ATC cadet fell from the Pinnacles. He was a young ATC guest who was put with the team. Liathach was snow covered and … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Articles, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, People, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | Leave a comment

Summary of my first three years incidents with RAF Kinloss MRT.

Posted on October 21, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

Above is the call outs attended by the Kinloss team in 1972. All apart from 1 we’re for missing walkers or climbers. The other was an aircraft crash near Kintail. As the reader can see they incidents were all over … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, History, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Munros, Other hills Grahams & Donalds, People, Scottish winter climbing., SMC/SMT, Well being | Leave a comment

Sad day on Ben Nevis

Posted on October 20, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

It was as normal an early morning callout, a party of four had got lost on the descent of the Ben in very poor conditions on the 10th of March 1974. It was the usual 3 hour drive to Fort … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Books, Friends, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Well being | 2 Comments

One Man’s Legacy – the life of Tom Patey. Soon to be Published by the Scottish Mountaineering Press should be a classic .

Posted on October 18, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

This book is available for pre-order with delivery to the warehouse expected at the end of November, shipping will begin as soon as it arrives. One Man’s Legacy chronicles the brief but brilliant life of Dr Tom Patey: bard, musician, and … Continue reading →

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

Living with joining the Team. Training and lots of learning.

Posted on October 15, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

I was not long back from my epic on Lancet Edge and getting back to work was hard going and very physical. I hardly told my Mum and Dad what I was doing as I did not want to worry … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Lectures, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, Rock Climbing, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Well being | Leave a comment