You can picture yourself standing at the top of a deep chasm. Sheer rock walls fall away to nothing. The stone is hard and cold and you are wondering what on earth you are doing here, on the Cirque de la Solitude GR20 route right up at the very top of Corsica. The answer is simple. […]
When a mylar emergency blanket could save your life (and when it won’t)
There are few bits of gear that are as cheap, light and easy to throw into your backpack or fanny-pack as a mylar emergency blanket, yet that can do as much to keep you safe in an emergency. This is one item that you should never leave at home. This may sound a bit extreme, and […]
The avalanche video you should not be allowed to see
I’ve been a regular writer about the dangers of avalanches and the need for people to take care. I’ve also regularly updated readers on safety equipment such as the avalung, Avalanche Airbag or the Snowpulse system that are designed to improve your chances of surviving an avalanche. But I still think, and keep saying, that […]
London Outdoor and Adventure Travel Show 2014
For someone like me who happily spends hours in my local camping and climbing stores, big exhibitions of outdoor gear are just like a whole bunch of Christmases coming at once. This year’s big show in London is the The Telegraph Outdoor Adventure & Travel Show which will take place at ExCel from 13-16 February. If […]
Do Ski Helmets Work?
Following on from all of the news about the tragic accident that Michael Schumacher suffered when on a ski trip (in which he hit his head on a rock) there has been some good reporting by the New York Times on how much protection ski helmets offer. The piece in the times makes for sobering […]