I once spent four hours in a bivvy bag on a ridge in the Cairngorms, watching a group of hikers try to “layer up” using …
The Complete Guide to Cold Weather Safety
July 2026
Compass Features Worth Paying for
I remember standing on a saturated ridge in the Cairngorms, watching a client try to steady a cheap, plastic baseplate compass while the wind was …
Siting a Nest Box Where It Will Be Used
I spent three years as a ranger watching people buy these brightly colored, plastic-molded “designer” bird houses from garden centers, only to see them sitting …
Heat Exhaustion on the Hill and What to Do
I remember a group I was leading in the Cairngorms three summers ago—the sun was uncharacteristically relentless, and everyone was pushing for the ridge. One …
Back Length Matters More Than Litres
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen someone standing at a trailhead, looking perfectly geared up in brand-new, high-tech layers, only to start …
Feeding Birds Without Spreading Disease
I was standing on a ridge in the Cairngorms last November, watching a pair of peregrines circle a crag, when I realized how much damage …
Cutting Pack Weight Without Cutting Safety
I remember a group I led back in 2014, somewhere on the edge of the Cairngorms, when the mist rolled in thick and the temperature …
Hypothermia Starts With Bad Decisions, Not Shivering
I remember a Tuesday in late October, somewhere on the edge of the Cairngorms, when the wind didn’t just blow; it bit. I was leading …
Poles: Locking Mechanism Over Everything
I’ve spent enough time on scree slopes in the Cairngorms to know that most gear advice is just expensive noise. You’ll see shops pushing carbon-fiber …
The Complete Guide to Eating and Drinking Outdoors
I once spent three hours on a ridge in the Cairngorms watching a group of well-equipped walkers descend into a very preventable kind of misery, …