After a somewhat traumatic year of cancelled adventures and complete uncertainty about future ones, I was looking for a challenge that I could fit into, but would not completely consume a couple of weeks leave. I had the idea to combine the two groups of 4000s with a thru hike between the two, looking online … Continue reading Scotland 4000s Trail
Wilderness in the time of Coronavirus..
In January this year I went to a lecture in Inverness hosted by the RSGS, the speaker was Lauren MacCullum (of Adventure Show fame), the subject Activism Through Adventure. The title immediately caught my attention - I was intrigued to hear some refreshing rhetoric from someone my own age. For the most part it struck … Continue reading Wilderness in the time of Coronavirus..
Navigating the grief of a lost Pacific Crest Trail thru hike..
I remember exactly where I was when I realized I wouldn’t be hiking the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) this year. I sat across from my boss discussing the impact COVID-19 would have on the business over the next few months. It was only beginning to dawn on us that lockdown was inevitable and that it could last 12 weeks … Continue reading Navigating the grief of a lost Pacific Crest Trail thru hike..
TGO Reunion 2019
In October I was back in Newtonmore for a TGO treat, it was great to reunited with friends made earlier in the year. Full of nervous anticipation I sped down the A9, flirting with the speed limit. There was a small assembly of friends in the Balavil and I was soon nestled in the … Continue reading TGO Reunion 2019
To St Kilda on the Wylde Swan
A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to take a trip on a Dutch tall ship, the Wylde Swan. Sailing from Ullapool, we spent four days aboard and visited the Shiant Islands and St Kilda. I couldn't not write about the trip and it has been a great way to look back and … Continue reading To St Kilda on the Wylde Swan
Making the Move to Lightweight Hiking..
In May I completed my second back-to-back, coast-to-coast hike across Scotland, hiking from west to east and covering more than 300km in the process. The Great Outdoors (TGO) Challenge is a unique event that runs every year. This year was its 40th year, and around 350 hikers of all shapes, sizes, ages, and nationalities trudged … Continue reading Making the Move to Lightweight Hiking..
TGO Challenge 2019 Days 8-10
Day eight, a Friday, was the last full day of good weather on this challenge. The weather was to turn the following day and our plans of passing through the Lairig Ghru to Braemar were looking dismal at best. After a lot of chat the previous evening, Laura had decided to head through Glen … Continue reading TGO Challenge 2019 Days 8-10
The Cluanie Five (28/29 June)
What else would I do on the hottest day of the year so far than climb hills… Unlike my previous forays into hiking in hot weather, I felt prepared for this route. Firver Munros over 15 miles, which I had decided to split over two days – ensuring plenty of time for rest and snack … Continue reading The Cluanie Five (28/29 June)
TGO Challenge 2019 Day 5-7
The good weather continued into day five, too good, I was suspicious. The second year in a row of near perfect conditions, this surely couldn't last. After a fairly mediocre breakfast, Laura and I left the Aonach Mor Hotel around 10am, not our earliest start but we'd enjoyed the luxury of a bed a little … Continue reading TGO Challenge 2019 Day 5-7
TGO Challenge 2019 Day 1-4
TGO Challenge 2019 - Part 1 It’s taken me a long time to sit down and start writing this. I haven’t stopped since I got back from Montrose a couple of weeks ago and I’ve almost avoided starting to write this down. I’m not sure when I made the decision to apply for TGO 2019 … Continue reading TGO Challenge 2019 Day 1-4
