articles
I've been writing articles about trips, techniques and gear for quite a while now, for magazines such as Climb, Climbing, Climber (mmm - that sounds like I've got a stutter) and Alpinist, along with long dead mags like On the Edge and High.
I loved making a living as a journo - even though I can't spell and have no clue about proper grammar, or English like (my daughter is old enough now that I can ask her what an adverb is), and miss having the hit a deadline and the stamp money you got in return for your labour.
Unfortunately once you bang out a book I guess editors think you're a bit up yourself and stop calling (they used to call a lot - but primerly asking
Clothing | Nov 09, 08
The Truth About Gloves
A no-nonsense guide to winter climbing gloves, exploring warmth, dexterity, durability, and the myth of waterproofness—plus practical strategies for staying functional in brutal conditions.
| Jun 09, 16
Avoiding the Deck
| Nov 26, 15
Holding On
| Sep 27, 15
The Skinny
| Sep 16, 15
Pay Grade
| Sep 11, 15
Over and Under Cam
| Aug 25, 15
Egg Basket
| Jun 13, 15
Keeping it clean
| Jun 08, 15
Swallow the Fear
| May 15, 15
Stone Hitch
A canyoning trick worth stealing — how to lock off both rappel strands for safer, faster descents
| May 14, 15
physical humility
| May 13, 15
Rope Wrangler
| May 12, 15
Locking Munter
| May 11, 15
Critical Thinking
| May 10, 15
Black Dog Insurance
| May 10, 15
Sweet Spot
| May 09, 15
Shallow Cams
| May 08, 15
Flow
| May 07, 15
Nut Tool Rules
| May 06, 15
Rope Loop Belaying?
| May 05, 15
Stepping Stones
| May 04, 15
K.I.S.S Belays
| May 03, 15
Committed
| May 02, 15
Nuts that stay put
| May 01, 15
The Rear Gear loop
| Apr 30, 15
How many Quick-draws?
| Apr 29, 15
Snap Gates
Winter Climbing tips | Feb 10, 11
Winter Slings
Slings are one of the biggest causes of faff on a climb—tangling, knotting, clipping into the wrong things and creating chaos at belays. This guide looks at simple systems for colour-coding, racking, shortening and managing slings so they stay organised, accessible and don’t turn into a cluster at the worst possible moment.
Winter Climbing tips | Feb 10, 11
One Mitt sytem
A no-nonsense look at the one-mitt winter climbing system—why ditching complex glove setups for a simple oversized mitt can mean warmer hands, faster climbing, and less faff on cold routes.
Winter Climbing tips | Feb 10, 11
Dot to Dot
Big winter routes are rarely defeated by strength alone. More often, climbers lose the battle in their heads long before their arms give out. This piece explores how breaking climbs into manageable sections, using positive internal language, and removing hesitation can transform your performance—turning intimidating grades into a series of simple, solvable moves.