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 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.
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.
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.
Adventure sailing holidays have the ability to carry passengers to the far reaches of the world, accessing the most remote scenery the world has to offer. Having just returned from my first tall ship sailing adventure off the west coast of Scotland, and with my interest well and truly piqued, I take a look at some adventure sailing holidays I would love to join. The post 7 adventure sailing holidays for your bucket list appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
It was an act of vandalism that scandalised a nation. Britain’s iconic Sycamore Gap tree was cut down with a chainsaw in the early hours of 28th September 2023. The senselessness of the act was particularly poignant. There have been many famous trees cut down by humans, but there has usually been a reason: accident, protest, exploitation. In the case of the Sycamore Gap tree, it appears to be sheer malice. The post 10 famous trees cut down by humans appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
I am not one of those women who move through the world looking sleek, elegant, aloof and inscrutable. You know the ones. They’re usually wearing clothes that are ‘dry clean only’ and their wrists drip with expensive accessories. Men find them attractive but also a little frightening – as if they might turn you to stone if they should deign to look at you. The post On travelling solo as a small brown woman appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
In 2017, during a long trip through Asia, I asked Peter a question: if you could see only five countries before you die, what would they be? My rule was that he couldn’t choose countries he had already visited, nor stateless territories (e.g. Antarctica). Fast forward seven years and he has seen four out of five countries on his original list, so I asked him to come up with a new one. Given that he has been to 100 countries and all seven continents, it wasn’t easy – but he managed it. The post The countries we most want to see appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
It’s easy to see why Cornwall is one of the UK's most popular holiday destinations. The historic county has over 300 miles of jaw-dropping coastline boasting rugged cliffs and golden beaches, quaint fishing villages and bustling ports while inland, dramatic moors and ancient forests are waiting to be roamed. The post Best views in Cornwall: 12 Instagrammable spots appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
In theory, an expert diver should be writing this post. Logically, he or she could tell you what to expect, give you insider tips and prepare you for the challenge ahead. That said, I have one distinct advantage over the experts: I know just how hard it is for nervous first-timers. The post How to pass the PADI Open Water Diver course appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
We began our month-long trip through Central America with a brief jaunt to the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. It was my first visit to this part of the world and I was keen to visit to see the ancient Maya ruins of Chichén Itzá – my seventh world wonder – and dive into the region's famed aquamarine cenotes (freshwater sinkholes). The post Best things to do in Yucatán State: a 4-day itinerary appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
Our selection of the best hikes in Dartmoor National Park showcase the finest of England’s wildest landscape. I’ve always had a fondness for Dartmoor. I first visited as a child on a family holiday and I’ve been returning regularly ever since. Famous for its wild, open moorland and craggy granite tors (free-standing rocky outcrops that rises abruptly from their surroundings), it is one of the few genuinely wild places left in England. Tucked away in England’s southwest, with 368 wild square miles to explore, Dartmoor National Park is home to some of the finest hiking in England. With an excellent array of trails criss-crossing the wide expansive vistas there are a number of different routes available to suit all ages and abilities. The post 10 best hikes in Dartmoor National Park appeared...