I once spent four hours in a freezing downpour on the Cuillin ridge, trying to squeeze a frozen, half-empty hydration bladder through a tiny straw …
Bottle or Bladder: Convenience Versus Reliability
Reading a Landscape to Predict What Lives There
I remember standing on a scree slope in the Cairngorms, teeth chattering and visibility down to ten metres, watching a group of hikers stare blankly …
Keeping Food Away From Animals and Away From You
I once spent a night in the Cairngorms listening to the rhythmic, heavy breathing of a pine marten that had decided my boot bag was …
Foot Care on Day Three of a Long Walk
I’ve sat in too many damp tents listening to the rhythmic, miserable whimpering of people who thought they could “tough out” a hot spot. There …
The Complete Guide to Outdoor Emergencies
I remember sitting in a sodden bivvy bag three years ago, watching a client try to follow a laminated “emergency checklist” while the wind stripped …
Foraging Rules, Legal and Ethical
I was standing on a damp, wind-scoured ridge in the Cairngorms last October when I watched a group of well-meaning hikers strip a patch of …
Planning Food by Weight and Calories, Not Meals
I once spent three days in the Cairngorms during a late September freeze, watching a group of well-meaning hikers slowly lose their morale because they …
The Complete Guide to Outdoor First Aid
I’ve spent twenty-two years watching people buy “emergency” kits that are little more than glorified sticker collections, all while ignoring the actual mechanics of a …
Eye Protection at Altitude and on Snow
I once watched a group of walkers, all well-equipped with expensive shells and proper boots, nearly walk right off a scree slope because they were …
Blisters Are a Fit Problem, Not a Sock Problem
I’ve seen enough people standing on a ridge in the Lake District, staring at a descent they can’t finish because their feet have turned into …