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Extremeties

Farewell, but not Goodbye – Greenland 2026…

When you drag your kit out of the respective sheds, lofts and garages, it’s not best that you find it falling apart.  As I packed for a sea kayaking trip to Greenland, I noticed the collar on my dry suit had perished.  Disappointment ran through me as I’d only had it changed a couple of seasons ago, but this was no time to reflect.  There was not time for a repair, and my engineering brain had some quick thinking to do.  It was patched with amalgamating tape and held together with prayers as I rammed it in my burgeoning kit bag.

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Drakensburgs 2025 – An African High…

The last time I travelled with my great friend Sibusiso Vilane, was when we rode the JoBerg2C back in 2019.  I’d just lost my Dad, and struggled to complete the race, but Sibu supported me with great strength, and we enjoyed a few days on Safari to wind down.  COVID then came, shut world travel down, and I still see parts reeling from its aftermath.  Sibu and I had spoken about crossing the central section of the Drakensburgs many times, and after much planning and packing, I set off late in August 2025.

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Kendal Mountain Festival 2024 – A Hard Rains A-Gonna Fall…

The warm autumn came to a dramatic halt with snow falling in Derbyshire.  Personally I’d have feet of the stuff all winter, but the forecast was for a warming weekend, yet it still set me alight for the Kendal Mountain Festival.  Snow and Ice are my favourite things, and to see the festival under a blanket of the white stuff would be wonderful.  The Lake District escaped the dump however and though initially cold, there was nothing to kick underfoot.

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Alaska 2024 – A Time to Remember…

25 years can feel like a lifetime, or like an instant.  My rescue took over a day, yet I only remember fleeting moments as the cold took control of my mind, and its bitter grasp mists memories and slows reflection.  I thought I knew it all, yet I still had so much to learn.  Heading back to Alaska might help clear the clouds and reveal icy truths buried deep in my soul.

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Raising the Bar…

Since the dawn of time, the older generations have guided and inspired the younger.  Children have always looked up to their parents, guardians, teachers and role models and lived by the examples they set.  Whether these exemplars are in the family, in education, sport, exploration, business or politics, we have never failed to follow them.  This is why we, as elders, need to set the example and our generation holds a huge responsibility for future children.  What we do or say can have far reaching effects.  Let me explain…

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Mountain Walking Newbies Podcast…


I entered the outdoors as a young lad, with family days in  the Peak District, Tazzing about the fields and hills in the early 1970’s.  Since then my career has taken me Mountaineering across the world.
If you’re a hill-walker who dreams of going higher, further, longer, but don’t know where to start, Mike Potts hopes to provide advice, information and inspiration.

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Word Up..!

Something, somewhere has happened.  Over the last few weeks my YouTube Page has been alive with comments about my accident on Mt. McKinley.

This is not new news – This was over 20 years ago.

One of the programs we recorded all those years back has been aired on TV again (in the USA I think) and people have been commenting non stop.  It’s now received over 400,000 views..! This is not all down to TV however, its down to Algorithms…

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2020 – A Good Year for the Roses…

2019 was a year of death, cancellations and accidents, so I hoped for a more relaxing and rewarding 2020.  It certainly started with a bang as during the 2019 Kendal Mountain Festival, I was asked to don my best Edwardian Mountaineering Tweeds and marry two friends in the Lake District.  Surely enough on January 18th, I stood before Tom and Emily in Sticklebarn and pronounced them Husband and Wife.  I felt extremely honoured to be asked and we all enjoyed a wonderful weekend under sunny skies in Langdale.  2020 was off with a bang..!

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