I was standing on a ridge in the Cairngorms three years ago, watching a group of hikers huddle under a single, overpriced ultralight tarp while …
Preparing for Four Days on Your Feet
Bivvying: Minimal Shelter, Maximum Commitment
I remember a night on the Scafell Pike ridge back in 2014—the kind of night where the wind doesn’t just blow, it punches you. I …
Tarp Camping: Freedom and Its Price
I remember standing on a ridge in the Cairngorms three years ago, watching a group of hikers struggle to pitch a heavy, two-person dome tent …
Training for the Hills Without a Gym
I’ve spent twenty-two years watching people crumble on steep ascents, and most of them weren’t lacking “spirit”—they were just following the wrong advice. You don’t …
Why We Need to Stop Romanticizing the Hunt and Start Understanding the Role of Wolves in Ecosystem Balance.
I remember standing on a ridge in the Cairngorms back in 2012, watching a group of hikers argue about whether reintroducing predators was “unnatural” or …
Beyond the Hype and the Press Releases: the Unglamorous Essential Camping Equipment for Weekend Hiking Trips That Actually Keeps You Safe When the Weather Turns.
I’ve spent twenty-two years watching people make the same mistake: they walk into a shop, see a shiny new gadget with a dozen unnecessary features, …
Forget the Pretty Flowerbeds: the Unglamorous, Essential Ways to Build Backyard Habitats for Pollinators That Actually Work.
I spent fifteen years as a ranger watching people treat “nature” like a showroom display—everything manicured, everything sprayed, and absolutely nothing living. There is this …
The Optimistic Decision That Kills: How to Prepare for Long Distance Treks Before the Weather Changes Its Mind.
I once spent three hours in a damp hollow on the edge of the Lake District, watching a group of “prepared” hikers realize that their …
The Gap Between a Scenic Encounter and a Crisis Is Thinner Than You Think: Practical Tips for Staying Safe Around Wild Animals.
I remember standing on a granite ridge in the Cairngorms back in 2012, watching a young hiker freeze, eyes wide, as a golden eagle drifted …
Beyond the Postcard Views: Why Understanding the Benefits of Hiking in Different Seasons Is the Difference Between a Great Trip and a Dangerous One.
I was standing on a ridge in the Lake District three years ago, watching a group of hikers freeze because they’d read a glossy magazine …