Andy Heald – Mountain Training Instructor
Qualifications: Mountain Leader Award (Plas y Brenin, 2010)
Winter Mountain Leader Award (Glenmore Lodge, 2013)
Outdoor Emergency First Aid (current)
B.Sc. & M.Sc. Geology; Chartered Geologist (C.Geol., FGS)
Summary: A lifetime of mountain adventures in UK and abroad, complemented by a career as a professional geologist. My favourite days are spent journeying from a high camp, on ground that involves the hands and preferably in unknown country. I gain pleasure and fulfilment in passing on knowledge and confidence to support a wide range of people in achieving beyond their expectations.
Experience:
UK walking: Over 40 years experience walking in the British hills, with a rarely equalled knowledge of all UK mountain areas. The Scottish Highlands, Lake District, Snowdonia, Peak and Pennines have each been my home ground at stages of life. Two complete rounds of Munros, and one each of Tops, Corbetts and all 2,000s (and tops) in England and Wales (Bridge’s list). I am not a bagger – lists are acceptable provided they broaden one’s horizons.
UK climbing: Over 40 years rock climbing, from beginnings at Almscliff, through great days in Lakes, Snowdonia and sea cliffs to maturity in the Scottish Highlands. Top leading grade was E1, rarely E2. I will probably always remain 4 ticks short of a complete ‘Classic Rock’ and a little over half way in ‘Hard Rock’. Still not a bagger!
UK Winter: Frequent winter mountaineering, Cairngorms, Nevis, Glencoe, Northwest A favourite trip would be an easy gully or scrambly ridge, perhaps using the rope for just a short section; often using skills to introduce & extend others in the winter hills.
Worldwide mountaineering & trekking: Climbing and mountaineering in six continents. Every year I do one or more multi-day treks, camping or in huts. Recent trips include: Iceland; Tatra; Pyrenees; Dolpo Himalaya; Alps; Dolomite Via Ferrate; Ethiopia; Bolivian Andes; Ala Daglar; Rockies, NZ. Climbing includes Ecuadorian volcanoes (>6000m), rock climbs in Europe, Morocco, Australia, Jordan. Ski mountaineering in Alps, Pyrenees, Norway.
Leading and Instructing: For many years I have informally led groups of friends in the hills, most often in winter when people need more support. Summer scrambling such as Aonach Eagach, Tower Ridge; easy winter gullies, Striding Rdge in snow and, most exacting of all, Cuillin Ridge in a day with 3 inexperienced mountaineers.
More recently, professional engagements in summer and winter, international groups walking in the Highlands, geology field trips in Iceland and DofE expedition supervision.
Additional: I maintain A’Chuil bothy, compete in the Original Mountain Marathon every year. In a life as a professional geologist I have an intimate knowledge of mountain environments and have consulted on high mountain geohazards in Nepal, Bhutan and Peru. I have an exceptional knowledge of the culture and literature of mountains and mountaineering – I suspect you could spend a long time in my library.
Affiliations: Mountain Training Association; British Mountaineering Council; Mountaineering Council of Scotland; Climbers’ Club; JMCS; Mountain Bothies Association.
Formerly: Durham University Mountaineering Club - President; Coventry M.C. – Hon Sec; Lomond M.C. – Meets Sec; Cleveland M.C. – Committee.
Contact: Andy Heald, 2, Allander Avenue, Bardowie, East Dunbartonshire, G62 6EU. Phone: 01360 620095. Mob: 07342 982124. andyheald9@hotmail.com www.andyheald.wix.com/mountaineering
