I remember a Tuesday in the Cairngorms back in 2014—the kind of day where the mist doesn’t just roll in, it swallows you whole. I …
Foil Blankets Are Almost Useless. Carry This Instead.
Winter Is the Easiest Season to See Things
I was standing on a frost-slicked ridge in the Cairngorms three years ago, my fingers so numb I could barely operate my binoculars, watching a …
River Crossings: When the Answer Is Simply No
I remember a group of walkers back in the Cairngorms, three years ago, standing on the edge of a swollen burn. They were staring at …
The Complete Guide to Hiking With a Dog
I was standing on a scree slope in the Lake District three years ago, watching a well-meaning hiker scramble to untangle a high-tech, retractable leash …
Seabird Colonies: Timing and Distance
I spent three hours last Tuesday standing on a granite ledge in a gale that felt like it was trying to peel the skin off …
Trekking Poles: Length, Technique and When to Stow Them
I once watched a group of otherwise capable hikers struggle through a scree slope in the Cairngorms, their legs shaking and their rhythm completely broken, …
The Group Shelter That Changes a Bad Day
I once watched a group of very capable hikers, well-equipped for a summer trek, huddle under a lightweight bivvy bag that was clearly designed for …
Staying Clean Enough on a Five-day Trip
I remember a week in the Cairngorms back in 2014, caught in a three-day stint of relentless, horizontal sleet that turned everything into a grey, …
The Complete Guide to Hiking With Children
I once watched a well-meaning group of parents attempt a “scenic loop” in the Lake District, only to end up huddled under a single, inadequate …
The Complete Guide to Walking a Long Trail
Most people will try to sell you a “complete guide to long distance trails” that looks like a glossy brochure, filled with photos of hikers …