Blog

I first heard of the Belgium alpinist Vanessa François in 2008 when she made a rare winter ascent of mantitua with Pascal Ducroz and Benoit Drouillat, a route that remains one of the hardest in the range. Perhaps I'm a sexist pig deep down, but s...

For some reason I keep getting journalists - print, radio, and TV - ringing me up and wanting my opinion on Everest - a mountain I’ve never climbed on a continent I’ve never visited.  I’d like to believe this is due to my posit...

It’s that time of the year when I dig out all my dusty, rusty and battered big wall kit and go down to the big smoke.  Been doing big wall courses down at the Castle for two years and it’s always interesting who turns up. I k...

Hi DanI’ve traveled all over with my old huge A5 haulbag (and huge Metolius and BD haulbag) and never had a problem, as it seems to just be seen as a very large holdall, and isn’t seen as ‘sports equipment’.  Usually wh...

Hi JI’ve never been a great fan of any hardshell, and it tends to be the very last item of clothing I put on, and will tend to go with a pertex/microfibre top most of the time (either worn over a fleece, or built into the fleece/pile).  ...

Not many people seem to have seen Michael Mann’s early film ‘The Keep’, one of those movies from your childhood that you enjoyed but no one else has even heard off, or can even buy even if they wanted to watch it (as far as I can te...

Hi JamesFirst off although doing a bit of guiding is good for my bank balance (I almost took a full time job last week!), it’s probably worth giving you some tips first that may negate the need for coaching.Below - and in no order - are som...

Hi TedSorry for delay in replying.  Yes I think maybe a wooly pully may have some competition with some new kit (well kit that’s been around for 30 years or so!).  Saying that I think that there’s a lot to be said for a lot of army su...

Hey Andy, justa quickie - hope you got time to reply. What’s your preferred method of attaching your Silent partner? I attach mine using the two lockers through both leg loops and waist loop like in the SP manual but find everything a bit tight...

As you can probably guess my Eiger dream of climbing the Harlin with Paul Ramsden didn’t go to plan, mainly due to too much snow where you didn’t want it, and not enough where you did.  I imagined the face would be plastered but it w...