I remember sitting in a damp bivvy bag in the Cairngorms, listening to the wind tear at the flysheet and realizing that my “lightweight” setup …
Why the First Night Is Always Bad
Kit for Heat: Coverage Beats Exposure
I once watched a group of hikers attempt a ridge traverse in the high heat of the Pyrenees, all of them clad in “high-tech” compression …
The Difference Between a Quiet Night and a Midnight Visitor: the Best Ways to Store Food Away From Animals.
I once spent three hours in a damp valley near the Cairngorms, listening to the rhythmic, heavy tearing of nylon, only to realize a badger …
The Complete Guide to Going Lighter
I’ve spent enough time on the hills to know that most “complete guide to lightweight backpacking” articles are just glorified shopping lists designed to make …
A No-nonsense Guide to Building a Sustainable Campfire
I’ve spent twenty-two years watching people mistake “wild” for “careless,” and nothing irritates me more than seeing a scorched patch of earth left behind because …
Leading a Walk for Friends Without Being in Charge
I remember standing on a sodden ridge in the Cairngorms, watching a group of “enthusiastic” hikers try to navigate a scree slope in heavy, leather …
Finding Your Tent Again in the Dark
I remember a group in the Cairngorms back in 2014—mist rolling in thick as wool, visibility dropping to five meters, and the group leader staring …
Reading Warning Behaviour Before It Escalates
I remember standing on a scree slope in the Cairngorms, the wind cutting through my layers, watching a golden eagle circle a crag. A group …
The Difference Between a Summit and a Survival Situation Is How You Organize Your Kit: How to Pack a Hiking Backpack Efficiently.
I once spent four hours in a sodden valley near the Cairngorms, trying to find a specific emergency shelter that had been buried under a …
Don’t Let a Bad Decision at the Trailhead Become a Rescue Mission: How to Choose Hiking Boots for Beginners.
I remember a group I led back in 2014—a lovely, keen lot—who had spent a small fortune on the flashiest, lightest ultralight boots you could …