Random Thoughts
How to Sleep Warm When Winter Camping
If, like me, you are a cold sleeper, then trying to keep warm while backpacking and camping in the winter months is a challenge. It seems such a waste of valuable hiking time and being in nature if you miss out on those colder months. Hiking in the winter brings a completely different experience to…
Read MoreThe Soto Amicus Stove and New River Pot | Why I ditched my Jetboil
Winter is coming! With all my winter gear such as a new sleeping quilt, extra hand warmers, additional clothing, waterproof socks and a whole list of other winter essentials, I needed to lighten my load. The first thing I did was swap my Osprey pack for a Salomon Outweek, which saved me around 3lbs in…
Read MoreWhy I Never Use A Hydration Bladder
I’ve not used a hydration bladder for about three years, and there are many reasons why. #1 – Electrolytes Any experienced hiker will be using electrolytes if they are on a multi-day / long-distance trail hike or even a challenging day hike. It is just not practical to add electrolytes to a hydration bladder. Ideally,…
Read MoreThe Importance of A Map and Compass
As some of you may know, I recently passed the Lowland Leaders Course, which is a nationally recognised qualification for the outdoor industry. In all honesty, I very nearly didn’t pass this course, mainly due to my attitude towards maps and a compass. I needed to change my attitude! In my head, paper maps were…
Read MoreTEN BACK PACKING LESSONS LEARNED FROM WALKING THE SOUTH DOWNS WAY
Many people may think that I am a seasoned hiker/camper, but in reality, that is not the case. Yes, I have enjoyed many adventures and even long-distance trails such as the Camino, The Cotswold Way etc, but on all of those trails, I slept in a comfortable bed, not a tent. Camping whilst hiking is…
Read MoreARE YOU SUPER FIT? ER NO! FAR FROM IT!
Just 15 minutes of walking each day sounds easy doesn’t it? This is last week’s activity on my phone. As some of you may know, I have recently returned from walking the South Downs Way. On the last four days I was joined by Jason Perry who is a good friend of mine. We are…
Read MoreLOWLAND LEADERS AWARD | WHEN YOU REALISE HOW MUCH YOU DON’T KNOW!
I realised how much I didn’t know! I left my house around 7.30am on Saturday and headed south for Chesham. I have never walked within the Chiltern Hills area, and as I drove through the small villages such as Wittington Bottom, I made a mental note to return here with my walking club. It is…
Read MoreSeven Tips For Waking Up Early
A long long time ago, I read a book called “Early to Rise” by Andy Traub. I am going to be completely honest here and tell you the reasons why I decided to start waking up earlier (back in 2008), I wanted to get more work done! There, I said it! When I was running…
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