Cayambe and Chimborazo: Why Ecuador’s volcanoes are worth a second visit

December 23, 2015 Expedition dispatches alexander von humboldt, andes, cayambe, chimborazo, cotopaxi, ecuador, edward whymper, first ascents, history of mountaineering, jean-antoine carrel, matterhorn, volcanoes 8 Comments

I love the open geography of Ecuador’s central highlands, a high-altitude landscape of free-standing volcanoes. Six years ago I went there and climbed five of them. This Christmas I will be making a long overdue return visit.

Nepal announces cuts to Sherpa safety to attract more tourists

December 16, 2015 Opinion and advice climbing permits, mountaineering insurance, nepal, nepal earthquake, nepal mountaineering association, responsible tourism, sherpas, trekking agencies association of nepal, trekking peaks 2 Comments

Tourism in Nepal has been hit hard by the earthquakes and border blockade, and tourist numbers have declined significantly. Against this backdrop, Nepal’s government continues to make announcements which damage its reputation as a tourist destination.

A stroll up Monte Terminillo and the Elephant Mountain

December 9, 2015 Trip reports apennines, edita, europe, hill walking, italy, lazio, monte elefante, monte terminillo, monti reatini, monti sibillini 1 Comment

There are signs of civilisation all over Monte Terminillo, but its accessibility is one of its attractions. An hour and a half’s drive from Rome and visible from the outer ring road, it’s a popular place for alpine climbing, and gave us a fantastic winter walk.

Vanity has been dogging Everest expeditions since 1972

December 2, 2015 Humour everest, mountain films 5 Comments

Today’s Everest climbers are often compared unfavourably with the heroic expeditions of the past. But are we so very different from our predecessors? In today’s post I profile an infamous expedition from 1972 that was dogged by controversy.