It feels like I am constantly asked by friends, family and everyone I meet why I do what I do… Most people understand the draw of the mountains to some extent. The inherently human drive to want to explore and experience is a tale as old as time. Mountains are beautiful; they represent the last bastions of untouched wilderness and are a safe-space from pollution, over-population and the everyday stresses of normal life. It’s not unusual to enjoy spending time…
The iconic Black Cuillin Ridge dominates the landscape of Skye. Its traverse involves climbing and scrambling along the 12km ridge crest from one end to the other, taking in 11 Munros (and 22 peaks total) along the way. Adding to this the 7km walk-in and the 6km walk-out, the ascent totals over 4,000m. Whilst much of the traverse falls into in the grey area between walking and climbing, a full traverse also involves pitches of rock climbing to ‘severe’ grade and…
A colossal white dome set amongst jagged peaks, alpine faces and dramatic glaciers. At 4,810m, Mont Blanc is the highest point in Western Europe and looms over the mountain town of Chamonix. It has been on our check-list since our first foray into alpinism last year. We wanted to climb Mont Blanc independently (without a guide or group), so spent two seasons in the Alps accumulating as much experience as we could with our trusty guide, Ben. After a particularly…
High altitude mountaineering in the bitter cold… or just a long slog? The truth is somewhere in-between. Sitting at 5,642m, Mount Elbrus is Europe’s highest mountain and one of the revered Seven Summits. It is a dormant volcano in the Caucasus Mountains of Russia, close to its border with Georgia. Although the route doesn’t involve much beyond walking, making it to the summit of Mount Elbrus presents a formidable challenge due to its high altitude and often extreme weather. We…
Standing at 4,061m, Gran Paradiso is the highest mountain entirely within Italy. It is a domineering, isolated and easily recognisable peak. Sat atop a picturesque glacier, the snowy bulk of Gran Paradiso is crowned by a tower of rock and a large white statue of the Virgin Mary. We bagged this classic 4000-er early in the mountaineering season and were rewarded with a mind-blowing sunset and peaceful solitude. The Chabod Route When climbing Gran Paradiso, there are two main route…
Hanging suspended on cliffs above the crashing ocean and exploring the rugged Jurassic Coastline. The small town of Swanage has a lot to offer for adventurers and tourists alike. Swanage is a coastal town in Dorset and sits at the eastern end of the Jurassic Coast. It’s picturesque and historic coastlines have made it a popular summertime tourist destination, whilst its rock has made it famous amongst British climbers. Climbing in Swanage: Graduating from Sport to Trad We finally dipped…
Finale Ligure, a lesser known part of the Italian Riviera, is a picturesque town situated on the northern coast of Italy. Imposing limestone cliffs, an ancient walled village, lush olive groves, a beautiful, Mediterranean coastline and stereotypically delectable Italian food… what’s not to love? Add to this the fact that there are upwards of 3,000 bolted climbing routes, and you can understand why Finale was considered a sport climbing Mecca in the 80s and 90s. But in recent years, Finale…
I am writing this not from the perspective of a snowboarding instructor, but from the perspective of a normal beginner-to-intermediate girl who has really struggled to master the art of snowboarding. I am writing this on the premise that the reader can actually already snowboard. If you are looking to start out, or want to be able to finally link those turns, get yourself a couple of lessons! This article is for women who can snowboard, but whose annoying, self-critical…
With an elevation of 4,421m (14,505ft), Mount Whitney is the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States. We battled torrential rain, hail, tent destroying marmots, altitude sickness, a burst camelback and a high altitude electrical storm… But we successfully bagged this summit in characteristically chaotic and disastrous Tom-and-Aoife style. About Mount Whitney Located in the stunning Sierra Nevada mountain range of California, the summit of Mount Whitney lies on the Sierra Crest and the Great Basin Divide. Most…
My love for the mountains was born in Scotland, but it matured on the snowy slopes far above Chamonix. The Alps are the ultimate draw for mountaineers. They offer sensational vistas and a wide choice of routes for climbers of all levels, but are far more accessible than the likes of the Himalaya or Patagonia. I spent three days in the Mont Blanc Massif as I was introduced to Alpine mountaineering. What’s the Difference Between Mountaineering and Climbing?…