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'So how are things *actually*, Alex?'

It's 6.30pm on a Saturday evening in October and I'm flicking back through my blog posts for the year, reflecting on how I've totally failed to carry out my plan of returning to an old-school pattern of blogging. Not necessarily little and often,

'So how are things *actually*, Alex?'
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First steps in medium-format film photography

For me, creativity has never been about the final result, and that's certainly true of photography. There's so much more to enjoy, to learn, to engage with. As someone who finds modern digital photography soulless, who has spent a decade learning how to shoot 35mm film,

First steps in medium-format film photography
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Ten years as a professional writer and editor

In early July 2014, while hiking in the Alps, an idea I'd been considering for some time finally resolved into a plan. I would quit the day job and dive into a new career as a freelance editor and writer. WHOOSH! Hear that? It's the sound

Ten years as a professional writer and editor
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Postcards from Morocco

In late June, I began the long journey from Scotland to Morocco. The goal: to hike the Toubkal Circuit, climb Toubkal itself, and then have further adventures amongst the 4,000m peaks of the Toubkal National Park. This trip was planned and organised by my friend Emily Woodhouse, who is

Postcards from Morocco
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Building Alpenglow Journal: a new type of outdoor publication

Friends, it's time to talk about the future. In my last Substack update, I wrote that I was working on plans for a complete relaunch of The Pinnacle. I hinted at a pivot towards something different – something I hoped to launch in July. Although I’m not quite

Building Alpenglow Journal: a new type of outdoor publication
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Sidetracked Volume 30: the Art of the Journey, and a look back at a decade in print

30 issues. 10 years. Still here, still seeking out those special stories, still offering an antidote to the scrolling. I'm pleased to announce that Volume 30 of Sidetracked magazine is now available to order (or why not subscribe?) Every issue of Sidetracked is special, because we only publish

Sidetracked Volume 30: the Art of the Journey, and a look back at a decade in print
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Elements: a look back at Sidetracked magazine's first festival

We did a thing. And, weather and a few logistical issues aside, it was a good thing. The idea first emerged last November. Picture the scene. Kendal Mountain Festival had finished for another year, and team Sidetracked got together for an AGM. Graphs, plans, ambitions – followed by Jenny Tough'

Elements: a look back at Sidetracked magazine's first festival
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Mountain Style: the first illustrated history of British outdoor clothing

Early this year, I noticed a new account pop up on my 'Explore' tab in Instagram. @mountainstylebook was posting images of classic mountaineering gear adverts, as well as some photos of the gear in use. Dear reader, you know me – such stuff is catnip to my brain, so

Mountain Style: the first illustrated history of British outdoor clothing
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'Embracing constraints taught me to love them'

Tip of the hat to The Cramped, one of my favourite blogs, which pointed me in the direction of this fascinating piece: 'A tale from “ye olden days” of graphic design that taught me to love and embrace constraints'. This post from Mike Rohde is a look back

'Embracing constraints taught me to love them'
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Highs and lows from a winter of outdoor gear testing: spooky summit camps, exploding stoves, and more

Now that a long winter here in Scotland has finally come to an end, it's time for me to look back on the highlights of my season. Regular readers will know that I have been on the team at The Great Outdoors testing and reviewing equipment for some

Highs and lows from a winter of outdoor gear testing: spooky summit camps, exploding stoves, and more

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