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 Optimistic Decision That Kills: How to Prepare for Long Distance Treks Before the Weather Changes Its Mind.
The Optimistic Mistake That Costs More Than Money: the Essential Gear for Beginners in the Woods That Actually Keeps You Alive.
I spent twenty minutes last week watching a well-meaning group stare at a brand-new, high-tech ultralight tent that was currently being shredded by a sudden …
Because the Weather Doesn’t Care About Your Fatigue: Mastering the Art of Setting Up Tents Before the Light Fails.
I remember a Tuesday in the Cairngorms, about eight years ago, when the wind wasn’t just blowing—it was screaming. I was leading a group of …
Stop Betting Your Ankles on Optimism: the Unglamorous Truth About Choosing the Right Hiking Boots for Terrain.
I remember a group I led in the Cairngorms three years ago—it was mid-October, the kind of day where the mist doesn’t just sit on …
The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Birdwatching
Most people think a complete guide to birdwatching needs to start with a list of the most expensive Swarovski optics or a PhD in ornithology, …
Shakedown Trips: Finding the Failure at Home
I once watched a group of climbers sit in a dry, sunny valley, admiring the sheen on their brand-new, ultralight hardshells like they were looking …
Wildlife Watching With Children Who Cannot Sit Still
I remember a group of hikers last autumn, parents who had spent a small fortune on high-end, lightweight binoculars only to have their seven-year-olds drop …
Carrying a Camera Versus Using Your Phone
I was halfway up a scree slope in the Cairngorms last October, trying to track a pair of golden eagles through a sudden, stinging sleet, …
Butterfly Identification for People Who Walk Fast
I remember sitting in a damp hollow near the Brecon Beacons back in 2012, trying to log a specific sighting while the light was failing …
Hill Food That Works After Six Hours
I remember a Tuesday in the Cairngorms, about six years ago, when the wind was hitting forty knots and the temperature had dropped ten degrees …