→ Against the grain
There’s a great comparison of two very different kinds of ice axes over on outdoorflow. Bhend ice axes are made in a small metal shop in the town of Grindelwald, Switzerland. The Bhend family has made ice axes the same way for over one hundred and thirty years. Bhend
Freelance editing and writing with the iPad and iOS 9.x
2017 update: I am no longer working with an iPad (in fact, I no longer own an iPad). I’ve come to realise that the Mac is simply a better fit for my needs. I leave this article online for posterity. In 2016, ‘real work’ on Apple’s iOS platform
Adjustments on and off the trail
That first night on the trail is an exciting one, isn’t it? The novelty of crisp air against your cheeks, hard ground underneath you. But it soon becomes part of life, and I think the longer you’re out the more you have to adjust when you return home.
The Future Of Trip Reports On This Site
I recently conducted a 280-mile hike through the Scottish Highlands. Readers have been asking me when the trip report will be posted. It’s a question I’ve been struggling with for a few weeks now, but I think I’ve come to a decision, and I’d like to
Scotland 2016 gear list and kit decisions
Part of the Scotland 2016 article series On the 20th of April 2016 I depart to Scotland to hike the West Highland Way, Alder Trail, and Skye Trail. Here are a few thoughts about the equipment I’ll be using. Click here to access the gear list spreadsheet Everyone likes
My planned Scottish backpacking route, April – May 2016
On the 20th of April, I’m heading up north for another long walk in the Highlands. Here’s what I have planned: West Highland Way, Skye Trail, and more. I’ve been up to my eyeballs in work for the last couple of weeks, so my departure date has
I joined the Trailstar club
While I love and will continue to use the Tarptent Notch, it isn’t the perfect shelter for every scenario. I have long-distance trails planned in very windy and inhospitable places this year, so I decided I needed a shelter upgrade. There could only be one candidate: the Mountain Laurel
Spoiler-free review – Life of a Mountain: Blencathra by Terry Abraham
Terry Abraham’s films are portraits not just of mountains, but of the life and environment surrounding them. Having watched and enjoyed The Cairngorms in Winter with Chris Townsend, Life of a Mountain: Scafell Pike, and Helvellyn with Mark Richards, I’ve been looking forward to his new film on
Yorkshire Dales Wild Walk in the latest issue of TGO
My article in this month’s TGO is a ‘Wild Walk’ to the summit of Great Whernside in the Yorkshire Dales. Features in this issue include a Lakeland adventure by Stewart Smith, introducing children to the joys of wild camping by Rich Baldwin, Bla Bheinn by Alistair Young and an
New interview in the Spectrum Books Podcast
A little while ago I had a chat with Nadine Matheson over at Spectrum Books. She’s just started a new podcast, and you can listen to our conversation in the second episode. In the podcast we talk about self-publishing, writing in 2016, and what it’s like to be