Why experiencing something unique is worth sacrificing a camera for I’ve just been reading the former Welsh rugby international Richard Parks’ latest post following his ascent of Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia last Tuesday. I’ve been following his attempt to climb
Read moreYear: 2011
BBC Human Planet: amazing photography, shocking script
Although I had given up on Human Planet, the latest blockbuster documentary series by the BBC Natural History Unit, a few weeks ago, as a mountaineer who loves mountain photography, I knew I wouldn’t be able to resist the episode
Read moreTurning mountains into trash heaps
The environmental cost of mountaineering expeditions Base camp on the east side of Baruntse, Nepal, is one of the most breathtaking settings you’re ever likely to come across. Hemmed in by rock walls on two sides, to the west the
Read moreYippee! Our forests are safe, for now
Looking back at the Save Our Forests campaign Across the Middle East grassroots movements are toppling governments one after another like dominoes. Tunisia and Egypt are already down, and Libya and Yemen are next in line. Somewhat less momentously, but
Read more5 great books about mountain exploration
If you like books about mountaineering, here are some of my favourites. I make no claims that these are the 5 best books about mountain exploration ever written, because I can’t claim to have read them all. They are simply
Read moreMy response to that blasted Sell Our Forests consultation
It’s not been the best of weather this weekend, but even so I may have preferred to spend it outdoors rather than sitting in front of a computer screen responding to a boring government consultation document. It’s a task I’ve
Read moreIs the Annapurna Circuit still a Must-See?
With the spring trekking season in Nepal nearly upon us, and record numbers of visitors expected in the country for the second successive season, some people are beginning to question the impact of tourist numbers on this small developing Himalayan
Read moreHow the sale of England’s forests drove me back into politics
As a digital communications professional who has worked in central government for much of the last three years, I’ve managed to remain deliciously apathetic to the world of politics. This may seem strange, for you would think a person whose
Read moreWill the Coalition government protect the UK’s forests?
As a keen walker who spends many weekends walking and enjoying the UK’s network of public footpaths, many of which pass through woodland, I’ve been following with interest discussion of the Coalition government’s proposals to sell off 150,000 hectares of
Read morePutting together an adventure travel kit list
It’s a familiar story (though hopefully not too familiar). Your bags are all packed, you’ve put your passport and e-tickets somewhere accessible and you’re heading to the airport when a sudden thought strikes you. “Shit, I’ve forgotten to pack my
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