I once watched a family of four try to pitch a high-end, lightweight tent on a slope that looked “scenic” in a brochure, only to …
The Difference Between a Core Memory and a Total Meltdown Is Choosing the Best Campsite for Your Family.
Camping
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 …
Forget the Gourmet Nonsense: the Unglamorous Truth About How to Cook Delicious Meals Over Campfire When You’re Tired, Cold, and Low on Fuel.
I’ve sat through enough “outdoor lifestyle” videos to know that most of them are complete nonsense. They show people in pristine, brand-new Gore-Tex, effortlessly flipping …
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 …
Camping From a Canoe: Weight Stops Mattering
I once watched a group of well-meaning weekend warriors try to figure out how to canoe camp while they were actively drifting toward a reed …
Bikepacking: the Same Trip With Different Constraints
I remember sitting in a sodden tent three years ago, listening to the rhythmic slap of rain against a heavy-duty bivvy, realizing I had spent …
Fitting a Rucksack So Your Shoulders Stop Aching
I remember a group I led in the Cairngorms about five years ago—a lovely, capable lot, but they were all fighting their gear. One lad, …
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 …
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 …
Packing a Rucksack So the Weight Sits Right
I once spent four hours in a horizontal downpour on the Skiddaw ridge, watching a client struggle to find his waterproof shell because he’d shoved …