backpacking
The Alder Trail – Field Notes
Alder Trail, Scotland, backpacking
The Skye Trail – field notes
Here is a little extra information I hope might be of assistance for anyone planning a hike of the Skye Trail. We hiked it in May 2016. The weather was stunning – despite a little drizzle and cloud at first, things soon perked up and we walked most of the route
Haute Route Pyrenees gear report
I recently returned from a section hike of the Haute Route Pyrenees. Here’s a brief look at how some of my items of gear performed. See the complete gear list here. Footwear Although I’ve sung the praises of the Merrell All Out Peak trail shoes before, my enthusiasm
Photos from the Pyrenees
I’m back from the Pyrenees! Here are a few photos from my adventure. My original plan was to hike well into August, but unfortunately that didn’t work out. Several days into my route, a stomach bug hit hard and I ended up taking a day off in Benasque
Hiking a section of the Haute Route Pyrenees and GR11
Welcome to my trail blogs direct from the Haute Route Pyrenees! As usual, these journals were composed on my phone from the field. Please excuse any spelling or grammatical errors. For an introduction to the idea behind this route, please read A Haute Route Pyrenees section hike. The HRP / GR11
A Haute Route Pyrenees section hike, summer 2016
In When Plans Change I wrote about how my hiking plans for summer 2016 had fallen through. Here’s what I’m doing instead. My main requirements for a long European walk this summer are: * It has to be adventurous; * It has to take about three or four weeks to
Retreat from Jotunheimen
A 47-mile backpacking adventure through the Jotunheimen National Park, Norway, in July 2010. Background In summer 2010, my life was at a crossroads. I’d been working as a barman at the Clachaig Inn, Glen Coe, since 2008, but I needed a change – I was getting bored of the same
Plans for a winter backpacking trip to the Ben Alder area
Winter backpacking isn’t something I do much of these days, but next week I’m heading up to Corrour Station to – hopefully – climb a few more Munros in the Ben Alder area. Back in February 2012, I jumped on the train and headed up to Dalwhinnie before hiking out
Review: Merrell All Out Peak trail shoes
Update 2016: having now been through several pairs of these shoes, it’s important to note that they’ll probably only last you a few hundred miles. For more, read Are trail shoes durable enough? A review of Merrell’s All Out Peak trail shoes, from the perspective of a
The next 750 miles
It’s almost the end of the year, and nearly time to look back at what I’ve achieved in 2015. But before I do, I’d like to look ahead. Scottish long-distance hikes My main Scottish objective for next year is the Skye Trail. I’ve had my eye