The clocks have gone back and suddenly the hills feel a little bit more intimidating. It’s colder, the winds bite more fiercely and of course it gets dark earlier and earlier as we approach the winter solstice. But careful planning and packing can enable us to safely enjoy the hills right through the winter months. […]
A review of the Kovea Spider gas stove, a light & compact 4 season remote canister stove. The first stove I owned was the small Trangia 27 meths stove and this served me well for my initial camping and bivouacking forays (I still have it) but a some point I started to use gas canister stoves. […]
There’s nothing like a surprise blessing of a pregnancy to stop you in your tracks and make you look at the world around you. This was particularly strange during 2020 going into 2021! From changing seasons to changing hormones, the unfolding of my pregnancy alongside one of the oddest years ever has been a constant […]
This is a review of the Alpkit Compass, a cheaper alternative to the popular Silva Type 4. I’ve been using Silva compasses consistently throughout my life in the outdoors. First as a teenager learning to navigate in the hills and mountains. Then subsequently all throughout my career as an Mountaineering and Rock Climbing Instructor; on […]
This is a up-dated version of a post on clothing and equipment for Scottish winter walking and mountaineering first published in 2017. Not much has changed but some brands have some new kit that I have now included in this up-date. BootsPossibly your most important items of clothing and equipment for Scottish winter walking and […]
For the last two months I’ve been working in Scotland instructing Scottish winter mountaineering for Jagged Globe. Here is a gallery of some of the photographs I’ve taken while out in the hills and mountains. [supsystic-gallery id=’1′] Alex
I’m instructing winter mountaineering in Scotland at the moment and I’ve been getting out into the snowy mountains on most days throughout January and February. Those long walk-ins have given me plenty of time to think about what I’m wearing and what I’m carrying. Here are my musings. Boots Possibly your most important items […]
For decades the Silva Type 4 compass has been the choice of Instructors, Guides, mountain leaders, serious walkers and navigators. However now Silva have redesigned the Type 4 and renamed it the Expedition. The base plate of the Expedition is the same size and has a magnifier, grippy silicon feet, the usual 1:25,000 and 1:50,000 romer […]
Choosing your clothing and equipment for Kilimanjaro is relatively easy compared to some mountains. However to make your ascent of Kilimanjaro as comfortable and enjoyable as possible some consideration does need to be given to your choice of clothing and equipment. The advantage of packing and choosing equipment for a Kilimanjaro trek is that you can, within reason, […]
Choosing equipment and clothing for an Everest Base Camp trek isn’t particularly easy. You will be in the mountains for a least two weeks and the temperature can vary widely. It can be swelteringly hot, it might snow and rain is likely. You will be limited by weight and you won’t be able to wash any […]