I remember a group I was leading in the Cairngorms back in 2014—not a bad group, just a bit too optimistic about the afternoon’s temperature. …
Carrying Water Versus Finding It
The Complete Guide to Walking at Altitude
I once spent six hours huddled under a granite overhang in the Cairngorms, watching a client try to “power through” a mounting headache with nothing …
Small Changes That Help Hedgehogs Survive a Garden
I spent a decade as a ranger watching people try to “save” nature with expensive, plastic-heavy gadgets that end up doing more harm than good. …
Fitting a Rucksack So Your Shoulders Stop Aching
I remember a group I led in the Cairngorms about five years ago—a lovely, capable lot, but they were all fighting their gear. One lad, …
What Goes in a Day Sack and What Never Should
I once spent forty minutes on a ridge in the Cairngorms, shivering in a damp base layer, because I couldn’t find my emergency shell in …
The Complete Guide to Hot Weather Safety
I remember a group I led in the Cairngorms three summers ago; they had every piece of high-tech, moisture-wicking gear money could buy, yet they …
Keeping a Paper Map Usable in Rain
I remember standing on a ridge in the Cairngorms, feeling the wind try to peel my skin back, while I watched a client struggle with …
The Complete Guide to Cold Weather Safety
I once spent four hours in a bivvy bag on a ridge in the Cairngorms, watching a group of hikers try to “layer up” using …
Compass Features Worth Paying for
I remember standing on a saturated ridge in the Cairngorms, watching a client try to steady a cheap, plastic baseplate compass while the wind was …
Siting a Nest Box Where It Will Be Used
I spent three years as a ranger watching people buy these brightly colored, plastic-molded “designer” bird houses from garden centers, only to see them sitting …