I’ve sat on too many ridges in the Cairngorms watching people struggle with packs that were far too technical for what they were actually doing. …
The Complete Guide to Rucksacks and Packing
Down or Synthetic: Choose by How Wet You Get
I remember a group I was leading in the Cairngorms three years ago—it was late October, the wind was gusting at forty knots, and the …
The Complete Guide to Layering
I remember standing on a ridge in the Cairngorms three years ago, watching a group of hikers freeze in place because they’d followed some glossy …
A Mountain Forecast Says More Than the Temperature
I remember standing on a ridge in the Cairngorms back in 2012, watching a group of incredibly well-equipped hikers stare blankly at their phones while …
Sleeping Bag Ratings and What They Really Mean
I’ve spent twenty-two years watching people make the mistake of buying gear based on a shiny brochure rather than the reality of a damp tent …
Overtrousers You Can Get on Without Sitting Down
I once spent six hours huddled under a limestone overhang in the Cairngorms, watching a group of well-meaning walkers try to navigate a descent in …
Reading Tracks in Mud, Snow and Sand
I spent three years as a ranger watching people stare at a patch of disturbed mud, clutching expensive field guides like they were holy relics, …
Gps as a Second Opinion, Not a Guide
I remember standing on a featureless plateau in the Cairngorms, watching a group of hikers stare in panicked silence at a frozen handheld unit. The …
Warmth Comes From Under You, Not Over You
I remember sitting in a damp tent in the Cairngorms back in 2012, listening to the wind whip against the flysheet and realizing that my …
The Complete Guide to Waterproof Clothing
I remember standing on a ridge in the Cairngorms three years ago, watching a group of hikers freeze because they’d bought into the marketing hype …