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 …
Training for the Hills Without a Gym
The Ocean Is Forgiving Until It Isn’t: the Unglamorous, Vital Reality of Protecting Endangered Coral Reef Ecosystems.
I spent twenty-two years watching how ecosystems fail, usually because people focus on the massive, cinematic disasters while ignoring the slow, quiet rot right under …
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 …
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 …
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 Social Gap Is a Lot Like a Mountain Ridge: It’s Easy Until It Isn’t, So Here Is How to Start a Conversation With a Stranger Without Crashing.
I remember sitting in a cramped, damp tent during a three-day soak in the Cairngorms, listening to the wind hammer against the flysheet and realizing …
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 …
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 One Optimistic Decision That Goes Wrong: Navigating Wilderness Trails Without a Map
I remember standing on a ridge in the Cairngorms, watching the mist swallow the valley whole, while a group of “expert” hikers argued that their …