Outdoors
Why adventure and outdoor writing is more important than ever before
It’s an era of long-established magazines going online-only, and online publishers ‘pivoting to video’, citing economic stresses. The printed word is under pressure from other forms of entertainment, but I believe our genre – outdoor and adventure – desperately needs to make headway in this fight. Here’s why. The close
Walk2017 – images from September
My photographic mojo has returned this month, thanks to a trip to the Alps. Here are a few snaps from mile 1,112 to 1,219. This trip was less goal-driven than previous visits to the Alps. Rather than hike a specific trail or tick off a list of peaks,
This month’s online writing for The Great Outdoors
It’s been my first full month as Online Editor for The Great Outdoors, although I spent the first ten days or so in the Alps! Here’s a selection of some of my recent writing for TGO (including one from August to bring it up to a full month)
A first taste of autumn on my journey towards 1,500 miles #TakeSomeoneOutdoors
We all have friends and family members who can’t always share our outdoor passions. Perhaps they don’t have the time, or they worry about trying something new. So why not take someone outdoors? Wherever you walk, mountain or lowland, #ItsGreatOutThere… Paid content disclaimer: This article is part of
Backpacking the Skye Trail
Few backpacking routes offer such varied rewards as this week-long walk through the Winged Isle Words by Alex Roddie / Images by James Roddie Photography This feature was first published in The Great Outdoors, October 2016. You have a week off work. You want to go backpacking, and you want to
Walk2017 – images from June to August
Mile 565 – 1,103 My habit of posting monthly photo blogs has lapsed recently, but that’s because I’ve suffered from a lack of photographic inspiration over the summer – as usual. Now that I’ve gathered enough images from this period to make a decent post, I thought I’
The ultralight experiment of 2017
This year, for the first time, I have completed a long-distance hike with an ultralight pack. Here’s how I did it, and why for me it’s only one tool in the toolbox, not the only way to enjoy the wild. I started cutting pack weight in 2014. Before
Review: ÜLA CDT ultralight pack
Unlike ÜLA’s larger Circuit, I don’t love this pack – but it gets the job done at a little over half the weight. Here’s my review of the ÜLA CDT ultralight pack. Specifications * Description: a frameless pack for ultralight backpacking * Volume: about 54 litres including all external pockets;
The Haute Route Pyrenees: Field Notes
In the August 2017 issue of The Great Outdoors, you’ll find my latest backpacking feature, entitled Chased by Storms. Here’s the lowdown on my route through the Pyrenees along with some extra photos and notes. My July 2016 trip to the Pyrenees was a first for me – my
Preparations for hiking the Jotunheimstien
I’m in the final stages of planning my next long-distance trail, which begins on the 18th of July 2017. Here I’d like to share a few notes on my route and the gear I’ve selected for this trip. Once again, plans have changed. I originally intended to