Blog
Building Alpenglow Journal: going all-in on Substack
I'm no Substack evangelist, but sometimes you've just got to go where the readers are. Have you noticed a few changes around here? Practical updates first, followed by delving a bit deeper into the weeds. This publication's overall name is now Alpenglow Journal. I
Unplugged #13: Seminal moments outside, the invisible cost of staying dry, and romanticising Romanticism
A few analogue adventure treasures from this week, plus a tweaked Unplugged format Hello and welcome to the first issue of Unplugged published under this publication's new overall name on Substack, Alpenglow Journal. Confused? I'll have a new 'Building Alpenglow Journal' entry ready for
The adventure film camera comparison no one asked for: Olympus Trip 35 vs. Olympus XA2
Looking for a film camera for your adventures? Balking at the cost of a new Pentax 17? Look no further than the Olympus Trip 35 or XA2... but which is best? 💡A reminder that I am now cross-posting entries on both alexroddie.com and Substack. For more info, read this
Unplugged #12: The Meta book heist, tall fences and old trees, growing is painful, and the pursuit of perfection
In which I try to join the dots between Meta's colossal data theft from creatives, the future of outdoor storytelling, and thinking with simple tools... 💡A reminder that I am now cross-posting entries on both alexroddie.com and Substack. For more info, read this FAQ. Please feel free
Freezeframe – one last journey into the Cairngorms before the world changed
Five years ago, with the first Covid lockdown imminent and a perfect forecast, I decided to seize the opportunity to complete a long-dreamed-of Cairngorms traverse in perfect winter conditions... 🌄Author's note: A version of this story was first published by The Great Outdoors magazine in 2021. At the
Unplugged #11: Uncertainty and adventure, a wildfire outside, the enshittification of komoot, and the rise of New Romanticism
What do Cicerone guidebooks, an adventure app acquisition, the Luddite uprising of 1811, the Outside crisis, and the music of Ludwig van Beethoven have in common? Dear reader, I am glad you asked... 💡A reminder that I am now cross-posting entries on both alexroddie.com and Substack. For more info,
Unplugged #10: adventure plus purpose, in search of winter, a new mountain magazine, and the Great Chiasmus
One of the big questions I've been mulling over for the last six years or so is this: can adventure have a higher purpose beyond our own enjoyment? 💡A reminder that I am now cross-posting entries on both alexroddie.com and Substack. For more info, read this FAQ.
Unplugged #9: Back from the Alps, rewilding's human cost, and a death knell for critical thinking
A reminder that I am now cross-posting entries on both alexroddie.com and Substack. For more info, read this FAQ. Please feel free to subscribe using whichever platform you prefer. I'm back from the Alps with more than 2,000 digital photos to cull, process and file. This
Unplugged #8: off to the Alps, outdoor recreation vs. conservation, environmental pragmatism, and the one change that worked
I'm packing for a photo shoot in the Alps. Here's the gear I'm bringing. 💡A reminder that I am now cross-posting entries on both alexroddie.com and Substack. For more info, read this FAQ. Please feel free to subscribe using whichever platform you prefer.
Unplugged #7: the outdoors for 'normal people', waking up from a bad run, the Field Notes thing, and microspikes vs. crampons
People like me – outdoor enthusiasts who also work in outdoors media, who have friends that work in outdoors media, and spend all day reading outdoors media – sometimes have a skewed view of what is commonly called 'the outdoors'. 💡A reminder that I am now cross-posting entries on both
