Frostbitten is now a finalist in the Best Documentary category at the 2025 ARFF Berlin International Film Festival and has been officially selected for the 2006 FFI Edinburgh Festival..!
The journey continues…
Read More »Frostbitten in Berlin and Edinburgh..!
I’m delighted to announce that ‘Frostbitten’ has been accepted for the Kendal Mountain Festival 2025. More details coming up, but the journey continues…
Read More »Frostbitten at the Kendal Mountain Festival…
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.
Read More »Drakensburgs 2025 – An African High…
After thousands of miles travelled, dozens of interviews and hours in the editing suite, ‘Frostbitten’ the documentary about my return to Alaska is almost with us.
Read More »Frostbitten – Poster and Preview
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.
Read More »Kendal Mountain Festival 2024 – A Hard Rains A-Gonna Fall…
If you’re a reader of my blogs, you’ve probably realised that I love Norway. I’ve been going there for over 30 years and have climbed, skied, walked and kayaked all over the country. I’ve studied the Vikings, its WW2 history, geography and geology.
Read More »Norway 2024 – The Whole of the Moon…
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.
Read More »Alaska 2024 – A Time to Remember…
Upon my return from Alaska, I was featured again on BBC East Midlands Today. Heres the clip..!
Read More »BBC East Midlands Today Interview…
The Peak District National Park is celebrating 70 years since its designation and has selected 70 people from the past, present and those looking to the future to represent them.
Read More »70 People for 70 Years…My life isn’t all mountaineering, hair raising adventures and life changing accidents. Some of us care too… Though we work, it’s what goes on in… Read More »Its’ not all Mountaineering – Some of us Care too…
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…
Read More »Raising the Bar…
I’ve always believed in fresh air and exercise for both physical and mental health. The Peak District has always been on my doorstep and I’ve been a regular visitor for all of my 52 years. The picture above was taken about 1976 in the Winnats Pass with my big Sister Amanda and my Nannars Dog Sally..!
Read More »Peak District National Park 70th Birthday..!
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…
Read More »Word Up..!
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..!
Read More »2020 – A Good Year for the Roses…
I adore Mountaineering and I adore Writing. Inspired by a meeting at the Kendal Mountain Festival, I’ve written a number of Love Letters to some of the Mountains I’ve climbed over the past 30 years. They’re a varied selection of peaks spanning the Himalayas, Africa, Asia, The Arctic and Europe.
I hope you enjoy them…
The Earths continual pitch has placed us into Autumn – to me, one of the most beautiful times of the year. The moors burst into bright purples and the trees slowly turn to reds, yellows and browns. Leaves rain down in the freshening winds and the nights draw in. Morning dew settles upon the grass as the evenings chill becomes more apparent. Autumn signals the slow end to a year I suspect many people would rather forget. Many lives lost, families forced apart and plans either cancelled or indefinitely put on hold. COVID-19 has changed our lives for the future, but I don’t think we should sit in the doldrums. Every Autumn brings change before the grip of winter takes hold and I love that change…
Read More »Forever Autumn…Last week I spoke with Sally Pepper on BBC Radio Derby about the 21st Anniversary of my Fated Mt McKinley Climb. If you fancy a… Read More »BBC Radio Derby Interview with Sally Pepper
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be recording daily video logs about the fateful expedition to climb Mt McKinley in Alaska. April 30th 2020 will be the 21st anniversary of the adventures start. Using original images, equipment and reading from my mountain diary, I’d like to share my experiences, feelings and emotions from this life changing time in my life…
Read More »The McKinley Diaries – 21 Years On…
The run up to Kendal is always busy, so this year I decided to spend as much time as possible in Hospital to shield me from the chaos. Actually, I’d been knocked off my bike by a car and was nursing some rather stiff joints. Serious care, rest and drinking would be required over the festival weekend if I was to make it through…
Read More »The Kendal Mountain Festival 2019 – Friends will be Friends