hiking & trekking
Mountaineering calendar: when to climb the world’s great peaks
Since I first started climbing, I must have spent hours typing “when is the best time to climb…” into search engines and then crawling through websites to find the key piece of information I needed. Only when I have a date in mind can I start to think about the practicalities of actually trying to climb a mountain (i.e. booking time off work, flights, budget, gear etc). To solve this problem once and for all, Atlas & Boots has put together a mountaineering calendar of the world’s greatest mountains and the optimal time of year at which to climb them. Drawing on Adventure Consultants’ expedition calendar, we list the world’s major mountains and ranges month by month. The list is not entirely inclusive as it would take too long to list every mountain on the planet. Likewise, to avoid re...
How to look after your hiking gear: 12 kit checks | Atlas & Boots
Last spring, I spent the best part of three weeks climbing Denali, the highest peak in North America. There were few opportunities to stay clean on the mountain so by the time I got off the slopes, I – along with all my gear – was in a pretty nasty state. The post How to look after your hiking gear: 12 kit checks appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
High Scardus Trail in Albania: everything you need to know | Atlas & Boots
"Welcome to Hotel Radomirë Korab,” Agron greets me with an enormous smile as I arrive at my lodgings. It's the end of my second day on the High Scardus Trail and I am in dire need of a drink. “Can I get you a beer?” he adds, clearly reading my mind. The post High Scardus Trail in Albania: everything you need to know appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
Everest base camp kit list: all you need for this classic trek | Atlas & Boots
My comprehensive Everest base camp kit list includes everything you’ll need to complete the trek to the foot of the highest mountain in the world. Having just returned from trekking to Everest base camp with G Adventures, I thought it would be useful to share my entire Everest base camp kit list as a point of reference for future trekkers. I joined a G Adventures 15-day to trek Everest base camp, which includes 12 days of trekking: eight to ascend to base camp and four to descend back to Lukla. The post Everest base camp kit list: all you need for this classic trek appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
5 thrilling hiking trails in Málaga, Spain | Atlas & Boots
For many visitors, Málaga is simply a gateway to the crowded seaside resorts of the Costa del Sol. Relatively few will venture far from the beach. If they do, chances are they’ll head into the city which, after decades of being ignored by the masses, has undergone something of a reinvention. The post 5 thrilling hiking trails in Málaga, Spain appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
Aconcagua gear list: all you need for summit success | Atlas & Boots
Our complete Aconcagua gear list includes everything you’ll need to summit the highest mountain in the Western and Southern Hemispheres Aconcagua in Argentina, at 6,961m (22,837ft), is South America’s highest mountain and one of the seven summits: the seven peaks that make up the highest point on every continent. I recently returned from climbing Aconcagua with Acomara Aconcagua Expeditions. A good trekking company will issue you with a detailed kit list, but I always like to see what other people have used. The post Aconcagua gear list: all you need for summit success appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
How to build a campfire: a step-by-step guide (with diagrams)
Our detailed and easy-to follow guide on how to build a campfire will ensure you can always enjoy a satisfying and safe campfire when camping. Many a man claims to be an expert firestarter – in the same way many a man claims he does not need to ask for directions... Alpha male or not, nothing should get between a camper and a glorious night spent around a campfire beneath the stars. This step-by-step guide on how to build a campfire will have even the most reluctant urban dweller embracing this long-standing tradition of the wild. The post How to build a campfire: a step-by-step guide appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
Will the new iPhone make satellite messengers obsolete? | Atlas & Boots
In 2019, I was seven days into the eight-day Arctic Circle Trail in Greenland when the trail ahead began to fill with smoke. I had unwittingly walked into the middle of a wildfire during an unprecedented summer in the Arctic. The post Will the new iPhone make satellite messengers obsolete? appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
How to climb Denali: all your questions answered | Atlas & Boots
Whenever I get back from a big climb, I invariably receive an array of questions about the expedition via email and social media. As usual, I’ve collated them all below in a detailed Q&A that includes all my tips on how to climb Denali. If I've missed anything, please do get in touch. The post How to climb Denali: all your questions answered appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
Denali gear list: the kit that got me to the top | Atlas & Boots
Denali in Alaska, USA, at 6,190m (20,310ft), is North America’s highest mountain and one of the seven summits (the seven peaks that make up the highest point on every continent). I recently returned from climbing Denali with American Alpine Institute (AAI). Any good guiding company will issue you a detailed kit list, but I always like to see what others have used. As such, I thought it would be helpful to share my complete Denali gear list for future climbers to reference. The post Denali gear list: the kit that got me to the top appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
Steep dreams: my tried and tested sleeping system for Denali | Atlas & Boots
The coldest I have ever been in my life was while climbing Denali – hardly surprising considering it's one of the coldest and windiest places in the USA. During the expedition, there were several times when I felt the cold intensely, so much so that I even suffered some mild frostbite on my fingers after we were delayed on the fixed ropes for several hours. That said, I was never cold when safely cocooned in my sleeping bag. The post Steep dreams: my tried and tested sleeping system for Denali appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
Climbing Denali: a dream almost slips through my fingers | Atlas & Boots
At around 6.30pm local time on Tuesday 28 May 2024, six grown men stood on the summit of Denali, the highest peak in North America, crying their eyes out. Among us was a triathlon athlete, a veteran of the Marathon des Sables and an Everest summiteer who was returning to Denali for his second attempt. One of our group, a Californian who regularly climbed in the Sierras, was on his knees sobbing over his ice axe. The post Climbing Denali: a dream almost slips through my fingers appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
