Yes, I know that a number of pedants will read the title of this blog post and mutter under their breaths with a shrug of indignation: ‘What was the highest mountain in the world before Everest was discovered? Why, Everest
Read moreAconcagua
Ojos del Salado at last: climbing the world’s highest volcano
This weekend I’ll be departing for my annual New Year mountaineering trip, and this time I think it’s going to be a bit special. Edita and I will be attempting Ojos del Salado, a peak I’ve been wanting to climb for a few years now.
Read more5 stepping stones on the path to high altitude
Are you keen to branch out and develop the skills to climb higher peaks? Here is a series of mountains further afield that more experienced hikers should visit if you are interested in reaching a challenging altitude.
Read moreWhy I’m not a fan of night-time ascents
Night-time ascents spoil the enjoyment of a climb, and should be avoided wherever possible. But on some popular, guided peaks, climbing at night has become the norm, and reaching the summit is considered more important than enjoying the experience.
Read moreThe first ascent of the South Face of Aconcagua
The South Face of Aconcagua, with its tumble of icy seracs and snow chutes, has long been attractive to extreme alpinists who need a liberal sprinkling of danger with their climbing. The first team to climb it certainly got that.
Read moreWin a pair of Scarpa Phantom 8000 boots that have been to the summit of Manaslu
I am giving away a pair of Scarpa Phantom 8000 mountaineering boots to one lucky person who signs up to my mailing list.
Read moreTo climb or not to climb? Those last 50 metres
When you’ve put so much time, money and physical commitment into a climb, it’s never easy to turn around just fifty metres from the top. Here are some stories from Aconcagua which help to shed light on when that decision should be made.
Read moreAconcagua and a first taste of expedition life: an extract from my book
It’s time to update you once more on current progress with the book I’m threatening to publish about my journey from simple hill walker to Everest summiteer. Here’s the latest, along with a teaser from the book to try and convince you to buy it.
Read morePoo in the Everest region: is it such a big problem?
Recently I wrote a satirical piece about a fictional washroom at Everest Base Camp as a reaction to more sensationalised media reporting about Everest. But the reports contained a grain of truth that I intend to fertilise in this post.
Read more5 of the silliest mountain firsts
With the news that a man climbed Snowdon pushing a brussels sprout with his nose, I thought it would be a good time to take a look at what other silly things have been done on mountains. So here are some of the world’s more improbable first ascents.
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