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David Livingstone Plant Hunters Hamish MacInnes

For many years Glencoe has attracted climbers from all over the world. Its dramatic peaks and buttresses offer challenges to mountaineers at all levels. One such climber whose name is closely linked to this awesome place is Hamish MacInnes.

He has lived in or near Glencoe for most of his life and has been an innovator and pioneer in climbing, mountain rescue and the development of climbing equipment. His all metal Pterodactyl ice axes and hammers with their distinctive black, droop-nosed picks were at one time the equipment of choice for every aspiring Scottish winter mountaineer. He developed special rescue stretchers and pioneered techniques for transporting casualties safely and quickly from the mountains in the event of an accident. His own climbing ability must not be underestimated and it was at a time of innovation and exploration in the sport of mountaineering that many of his achievements were made. His guidebooks to Scottish climbs have helped to push forward standards of mountaineering and make accessible climbs to many who might otherwise be unsure which route to follow on rock faces throughout Scotland.

His contribution to mountain rescue is legendary and over the years, working with the Glencoe Mountain Rescue team and many others, he has been involved in countless rescues and many people today owe their safety and lives to his dedication. He has been involved in filming in a variety of locations including the Old Man of Hoy, a towering sea stack on Orkney, surely a pioneering achievement in the development of filming outdoor pursuits. He has worked on several hundred documentaries and movies and Hollywood has also made use of his talents. He played a lead role in filming the dangerous climbing sequences with Clint Eastwood in 'The Eiger Sanction' and has advised on several other major films. He has climbed with the legends of modern mountaineering. Names such as Dougal Houston, Mo Anthoine, Joe Brown, Tom Patey and Chris Bonnington all climbed and explored with MacInnes during the sixties and seventies.

This was an exciting time in the history of mountaineering and many British climbers started looking further afield for new peaks and challenges. MacInnes has climbed, explored and filmed on five continents and has been a member of numerous expeditions including an early unofficial two man attempt on Everest as well as being involved in a successful later attempt on the world's highest peak. He has searched for the yeti, prospected for gold, looked for Inca treasure and conquered the vertical peak of Roraima, a 'lost world' peak in Guyana surrounded by jungle with poisonous spiders living on its ledges. He has climbed on many of the most dramatic and dangerous peaks and ranges on the planet. The Eiger, the Matterhorn and Everest are well known but he has also explored in the Caucasus, New Zealand and South America. Recording his travels and exploits in numerous books he has inspired subsequent generations to head for the hills and the world's wild places.