Notes
Major website maintenance in progress
I’m currently in the process of transferring this website from Blogger to WordPress, which unfortunately has resulted in major disruption to the entire site. Alexroddie.com now points to a rough bundle of pages and posts that still needs significant work. However, the original domain alexroddie.blogspot.co.uk
Feature on Professor Forbes and alpine glaciers in Mountain Pro Magazine
The July 2015 edition of Mountain Pro Magazine has now been published – an alpine special including articles from Jon Griffiths, Hendrik Morkel, and many others. My contribution is a feature on Professor Forbes and his 1842 journey through the Alps, specifically the Valpelline to Evolene section that I hiked a
Book review: Ruin by Harry Manners
Ruin(Book 1 of the Ruin Saga)by Harry Manners Post-apocalyptic fiction is popular at the moment – so popular, in fact, that it takes a great deal for a post-apocalyptic story to stand out from the crowd. We’ve become well aquainted with zombie apocalypses, nuclear apocalypses, and more recently
The adventure begins
I’m heading north tomorrow, so this will be my final post before I begin my Cape Wrath Trail journey. My parents are taking their caravan up to the Inverness area to visit my brother James, so I’m catching a lift with them. The plan is to drive from
Sidetracked Volume Four is here
A few months ago, an exciting opportunity arose. I was invited to do a little freelance editorial work for Sidetracked – an adventure travel magazine with a focus on exploration and wild places. The stories are told through a blend of excellent writing and stunning photography. It’s just the kind
The Tarptent Notch backpacking tent — First Impressions
Recently I blogged about how my old Laser Competition was showing signs of wear and tear, and that for my planned hike of the Cape Wrath Trail I would need to find a new shelter. My requirements for a new shelter were as follows: 1. Lightweight — specifically, under 800g; 2.
Book review: Between the Sunset and the Sea by Simon Ingram
Between the Sunset and the Seaby Simon Ingram It seems that every British hill is on a list of some kind. The Munros, the Corbetts, the Wainwrights – it can be all too easy to get sidetracked by the list itself, perhaps forgetting about the magic of the hills in the
Preparations for the Cape Wrath Trail
The time has come to talk a little about my plans for this summer. It’s been ten years since my first long-distance walk in the mountains — a hundred and sixty miles through the Lake District in May 2005 — so I thought it was only appropriate to do something special
Lightweight stoves for backpacking — the alcohol option
Like many a backpacker, I started my outdoor apprenticeship with a classic stove: the Trangia. These stoves run on methylated spirits (denatured alcohol) and include several nesting pots with an integrated pot stand and windshield system. The Trangia system is very reliable and safe when used correctly, but it has
Book review: Moonwalker by Alan Rowan
Moonwalker: Adventures of a midnight mountaineerby Alan Rowan Walking the Munros. This is a time-honoured subject for hillwalking books, and it might be thought that nothing new can be contributed to the topic. Search for books on the Munros and you’ll find everything from detailed guides to memoirs. However,