The story behind receiving my very first dodgy Christmas Jumper at the ripe old age of 66!
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- Patagonia's Price Tag
- Backpacking in the Pyrenees
- Wanderings on and off the Alta Via 2 trek in the Italian Dolomites
- Getting into Backpacking for the first time?A Collection of My Favourite Mountaineering Quotes
- Trips to the wild and windswept Patagonian Icefield
- Swapping Life Stories with Kenton Cool
- Surviving Blizzards in Kamchatka
- Skiing with Rita in the Back Garden
- The Early Days in Andalucia
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First tentative steps up a mountain
I climbed my first hill in 1963, the year that President Kennedy was shot and when I was just eight years old. My Dad was an accountant and had a job doing the books of a pub in Appleby in Cumbria. On a day off he drove me to the village of Dufton and we set off up Dufton Pike
Blizzards, snowdrifts, gales, frostbite, snow blindness, buried tents, floods, hardship, cold, sleepless nights. It must be summer then in deepest Patagonia.
Kiersten & the Pendulum - Via Ferrata John Hogbin, Zafarraya
Well, that day was different. A first visit for me to the Via Ferrata paradise that is found at John Hogbin, Zafarraya. Lots of steep ladders (some decidedly more wobbly than others), Tyrolean Traverses, rungs, zip wires and cable bridges to negotiate. All good, clean and exposed fun in the sun!
Enjoying the First Snows of Winter - Cortijo Hornillo and Vereda de la Estrella
As we ascended towards our goal at Cortijo Hornillo other mountains came into view, Mulhacen, Puntal de la Caldera and Veta Grande. The white mountains towered over us, ice glinting from their vertical slopes, as we reached the buildings at Cortijo Hornillo
Ups and Downs in the Tajos de Bermejales
It was a cold, clear morning as a large band of Nomads congregated at the car park at the town of Pantano de Bermejales. Today was a first for all of us, a trip down the river gorge of the Tajos de Bermejales, northwards towards the town of Cacin.
Out of the Shadows and into the Sun - ascent of La Maroma, Sierra de Tejeda
Describes an ascent of La Moroma in the Sierra de Tejeda - We drove to La Robledal where we commenced our ascent. We knew this would be a tough day with over 1000m ascent. The initial forest tracks were easy enough, but shortly we left these behind and took to an ever steepening mountain track.
Skiing with Rita in the Back Garden
A short ski touring video showing you one of the main reasons why I so love it here. Driving uphill on dirt tracks from my house I quickly reach some really beautiful and natural mountain environments. I enjoy a short ski tour with my dog, Rita. As you can see, she's very enthusiastic, bless her!
Walk the Canada del Senero, Sierra de Huetor
Ascent of Peña de la Cruz, Sierra de Huetor
We headed to the Sierra de Huetor just north of Granada. There was a peak there that I had seen many times from the A92 motorway during my years in Spain. It is called the Penon de la Cruz. I never climbed it before because, quite frankly, it looked a bit uninteresting and boring. How wrong was I?
Swapping Life Stories with Kenton Cool
It's not often we meet celebrities here in our hidden away part of southern Spain. This week we welcomed a well known figure of the mountaineering world, Kenton Cool with 15 Everest ascents under his belt and various other big climbs since 1993
Describes a rather easy, relaxed coastal walk between La Herradura and Nerja on the Costa Tropical, Spain
Puerto de Frigiliana & Mirador de Agua
We discovered a superb circuit of the Puerto de Frigiliana and the Mirador de Agua. Great views and superb weather despite a cold start.
The Dehesa de Camarate, Lugros
Photos from yesterdays walk in the beautiful Dehesa de Camarate near Lugros. We were a bit early for the October explosion of autumnal colours but a nice walk nevertheless.
Walk the Los Cahorros de Monachil Gorge, Granada
There's something uniquely satisfying about reading the weather right. 10 minutes after finishing the walk today in the Monachil Gorge the heavens opened. Really good to be back enjoying Los Cahorros near Granada, 15 years since I was last there.
Trekking the Northern Flanks of the Sierra Nevada
The Veredon Inferior deserves to be known as the most spectacular path in the Sierra Nevada that nobody knows about! We now head down onto a vasar, a descending rake which rather cleverly circumvents the vertical cliffs above and below.
Hiking at First Light in the Sierra Nevada
There's something special about striking campsite pre dawn and hiking in the first daylight hours, whilst the rest of the world is seemingly still in bed.
Atom Packs Lightweight Trekking Backpacks
My Atom Pack 40 weighs in at just 680 grams and is, in theory, perfect for multi day summer trips into the mountains. Saves me a whole 700 grams on my current Deuter pack.
Lanjarón to Trevelez drive through the Alpujarras
You just might consider this to be the most boring video in the world. Depending on your point of view you may well be correct. But, on my early morning journey to work in Trevelez a while ago I filmed the whole one hour journey through the Alpujarra with my dashcam.
The Class of 21. An Outdoor First Aid Course
An Outdoor First Aid Course giving us certification for another 3 years. A renewal of confidence by refreshing old skills and then learning new techniques, which we can apply in our daily lives to assist others in distress.