Nepal earthquake: who should I donate to?

April 29, 2015 Good causes chance, community action nepal, disasters emergency committee, edita, emergency response, everest base camp, himalayan trust, himalayas, juniper fund, kathmandu, nepal, nepal earthquake, world food programme 5 Comments

People have been asking me to recommend a charity to help victims of the Nepal earthquake. It’s a difficult question, because it depends on personal preferences and priorities, but I know a little about Nepal, and though I’m no expert on disaster response, I’ll do my best to answer.

Remembering the avalanche: a tribute to all Sherpas

April 22, 2015 Reviews and tributes altitude junkies, climbing fatalities, dorje khatri, edita, everest, madison mountaineering, nepal, obituaries, sherpas 2 Comments

There’s no better way to mark the anniversary of the avalanche on Everest last year than by remembering one of the Sherpas who died. Here’s a post that is a tribute not just to him, but to all Sherpas who work the high mountains.

Trailblazing up Monte Sirente

April 15, 2015 Trip reports abruzzo, apennines, avalanche safety, edita, europe, hill walking, italy, monte sirente, sirente-velino 2 Comments

Our third trip to the Apennine Mountains took us to an area we hadn’t visited before. Our ascent of Monte Sirente was a good day out in the mountains, with some tough trail breaking through deep snow and an exhilarating climb.

5 steps to taking better mountain photographs

April 11, 2015 Humour mountain photography 11 Comments

I sometimes get asked for photography advice, including detailed questions about what equipment to use, tips on exposure, focal length and aperture size. I’ve answered the question a few times now, and in doing so have managed to distil my advice into just 5 easy steps.

Tilman’s Everest south side reconnaissance

April 8, 2015 History bill tilman, charles houston, eric shipton, everest, exploration, himalayas, history of mountaineering, history of nepal, lhotse, michael ward, namche bazaar, nanda devi, nepal, tengboche, trekking 6 Comments

This is part 5 of a series of posts about early tourism in Nepal. For the previous posts see part 1: How Nepal first came to open its doors to tourism, part 2: Bill Tilman: Nepal’s very first trekking tourist,

Farewell Samuli Mansikka, the fearless Finn

April 2, 2015 Reviews and tributes 8000m peaks, annapurna, cholatse, climbing fatalities, dreamers destination, himalayas, maurice herzog, mountain guides, nepal, obituaries, phil crampton, samuli mansikka 3 Comments

It’s time once again to pay tribute to a friend who has sadly lost his life in the mountains. Last week Samuli Mansikka stood on the summit of Annapurna, his tenth 8000m peak, but he did not return.