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Alex Roddie

Happiest on a mountain. Writer, story-wrangler, digital and film photographer. Editor of Sidetracked magazine. Machine breaker.

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Sky Dance by John D. Burns – why this book was my top project for 2019

On 5 September 2019, I spoke at the launch of Sky Dance by Pinnacle Editorial client John D. Burns. Here’s why this author’s work means so much to me – particularly his latest book. This is an expanded version of the short talk I gave at the book launch.

Sky Dance by John D. Burns – why this book was my top project for 2019
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What I’ve been reading this week, 8 September 2019

Colorado Rockies, Kodak courage, the blindness of outdoors media, and how almost everything about Goodreads is broken. Long-distance hiking and the outdoors The best moments in life should never be rushed – an update from Chris Townsend on his Colorado Rockies walk. Looks fantastic! Kodak courage: social media and risk in

What I’ve been reading this week, 8 September 2019
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Ode to the Samyang 12mm f/2 wide-angle lens

Over the last few years, this humble lens has surprised me with its versatility – and risen above all others to become a firm favourite. In early 2016, I realised that my standard Fuji zoom lens was holding me back when it came to night-time landscape photography. It was competent, but

Ode to the Samyang 12mm f/2 wide-angle lens
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What I’ve been reading this week, 31 August 2019

My first set of weekly reads after a summer (hiking) hiatus. I am considering cutting back on or ending this series, or perhaps rolling it back into my weekly newsletter – any views? Long-distance hiking The haul road to Anaktuvuk: a bit of the Brooks range in Gates of the Arctic

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The Haute Route Pyrenees – a very brief account

On 21 August 2019, I dipped my toes in the sea at Banyuls-sur-Mer, the eastern terminus of the Haute Route Pyrenees. Here are a few highlights and impressions from my 832km walk from Atlantic to Mediterranean. In figures * Distance hiked: 832km / 517 miles (measured by GPS; almost 100km more than

The Haute Route Pyrenees – a very brief account
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Off to see the wizard

A version of this piece was first published in my Pinnacle Newsletter. I’ve spent a good deal of my time this week pacing the halls of EventCity in Manchester, ‘doing’ the Outdoor Trade Show with team TGO. While it was great to catch up with so many friends and

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What I’ve been reading this week, 13 July 2019

This will be my final set of weekly reads for a while, as I’m off to the Pyrenees for the rest of the summer. Enjoy! Long-distance hiking CDT first month – Inaki’s first month on the Continental Divide Trail. Outdoors Happy Birthday Thoreau—How The Life Lessons in Walden

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Celebrating five years of Pinnacle Editorial

Looking back on five years as a specialist outdoor editor Five years ago, I had a day job I hated, so I decided to quit and retrain as a freelance editor. On the 12th of July 2014 I announced that Pinnacle Editorial was looking for new clients. For the first

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What I’ve been reading this week, 5 July 2019

Quitting long-distance hiking, a thin skin over rock, editing as therapy, and it could always be worse… Outdoors DNF – Why I’ve quit long-distance hiking – Keith Foskett analyses a big change. Every now and again it’s time for something new in life. A wild camp on Braeriach – Chris heads

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My Pinnacle Newsletter now has over 400 members

When I started the Pinnacle Newsletter in January 2018, the plan was for it to take the place of my Facebook presence, which I shut down with great relief. I didn’t have particularly high hopes for the newsletter, and I had no rigid plan for content or strategy – I