Headlines were made recently when GP’s on Shetland started prescribing walking in nature for patients. I suspect many readers of this blog cast a wry smile – many of us choose to work and play in Boukreev’s cathedral because it feeds our soul. As a collection of people who know the benefits of simply ‘getting […]
The internet (well the little corner of it we mountain folk tend to visit) is awash with ‘how to pass your ML’ type blogs – so I thought I’d write one from the other side of the fence; what it’s like to make the journey to becoming an Assessor working on a Summer Mountain Leader […]
Course dates at bottom of post… We walk past them all the time – and I bet most people don’t even notice. Yet they’re the very building blocks of life – some of the most amazing, and old, living things on our planet. Lichens – I love them and I’m going to tell you why….and […]
Every week it seems there’s another story about hillwalkers needing to be rescued because they’re “navigationally challenged” (lost!). Navigation courses remain the most popular courses I offer. But navigation – like all skills – is evolving, so I thought I’d write a post on where I am with this nowadays. Like most people working in […]
The high fells have had their first dusting of snow. Sure it’ll disappear for a while – but now ‘proper’ winter has made it’s appearance – the fells are more alluring , but also a little more dangerous. So how many of you change the absolute basics of what you take out with you – […]
As winter starts to make it’s presence felt on the high fells there is one clothing question I get asked more than any other; “What gloves do you recommend?” Just like any of my top tips or gear reviews I’m only going to write about items and systems that I’ve actual first hand experience of, […]
With snow now falling fast here in the Alps many Brits will be looking forward to the ski season – each year millions of us head to the slopes to ride a board or planks. Yet in the Alps and North America there’s another winter past time that’s almost as popular that we don’t seem […]
I closed my last Safeguarding article with this: these are the four main characteristics of an adult who a child or vulnerable adult is likely to put their trust in: Being there; children, young people and the vulnerable want to have the general feeling that someone is there for them. Proving themselves; taking the time […]
Earlier this year I flew out to the Caribbean to deliver Outdoor First Aid courses to Red Cross employees and volunteers. Sounds like a dream job right? Well of course there was a catch – the courses were to be run across the British Virgin Islands – an area devastated by Hurricane Irma in 2017 […]
I run a lot of navigation classes and workshops – and it is always one of the most popular refresher days I offer – it’s a skill that needs to be practiced and can’t be learnt from books. Perhaps the element I see people struggle with the most is being able to translate what they […]