Ultra endurance events are typically dominated by men with women making up only 10% to 20% of the field at best. The Costa Rica Coastal Challenge is a 6 day multi-stage running race covering 230km and 10,000m of vertical through the breathtaking jungles, mountains, rivers and beaches of Cost Rica. Unlike other events, the field … Continue reading Chasing strong women in Costa Rica (the Coastal Challenge Race Report)
I had unfinished business with the Obergabelhorn after high winds and a pressing flight to South Africa frustrated my first attempt to climb the mountain from the Rothorn hut. Foolishly, I had suggested to Bertrand (my guide) that I would like to start attempting more difficult routes as the “normal” routes I now find less … Continue reading Summit Report – Obergabelhorn, 4,063m via the South East ridge AD+
Hindsight is a wonderful thing and it might have been more sensible to attempt a less ambitious mountain than the Dom des Mischabel as my first, un-guided, “grown-up” 4,000m peak. The “Dom” is the third highest mountain in the Alps, the second highest in Switzerland and apparently the highest mountain entirely in Switzerland. It is … Continue reading Summit Report – The Dom des Mischabel (fail)
A siren started wailing as the sun was setting at the end of stage four and we saw other competitors walking towards the finishing line. We had no idea what was going on but as everyone else was heading in that direction our tent thought we should follow suit. When we joined the crowd we … Continue reading Marathon Des Sables 2018 Race Report
This Sunday witnessed a mass, chaotic and dangerous retreat from Dent Blanche as the weather made summitting the mountain too challenging for many. Dent Blanche is a proper mountain. When you tell people that you are targeting Dent Blanche, those with some knowledge of mountaineering nod knowingly in recognition that this is a serious endeavour. … Continue reading Dent Blanche (4,357m) Summit Report
Tristan, aged 10, had decided he wanted to climb a 4,000m peak but as I have largely done all the “easy” ones it was decided that we would attempt the Allalinhorn by the East Ridge which is a mixture of glacier, snowy ridges and rock climbing. To prepare, TT had been walking to school for … Continue reading Allalinhorn East Ridge (4,027m) Summit and Parenting Report
Climbing Zinalrothorn allows you to enjoy a loo with the most stunning view in the world but you have to contend with flying loo paper! The hike up to the Rotorn Hut begins in a lush green valley, before eventually opening up onto a moraine field. It was hot and so to avoid having to … Continue reading Zinalrothorn (4,221m) and Obergabelhorn (fail) Summit Report, 25th August 2018
Inspired by my father-in-law Arthur, I have recently set myself the goal of climbing every one of the fifty-one 4,000m peaks in Switzerland before I reach the age of 70. Last week I added eight new summits which means I have now completed 18. This is a brief report on those adventures. Lagginhorn (4,010m) is … Continue reading Summit Report – Lagginhorn, Pollux, Castor and the Breithorn Traverse
I joined my friend Andrew Noble and his guide Olivier Roduit on a three day ski mountaineering trip with the goal of climbing the Breithorn, Nordent and Dufourspitze, the latter being the highest mountain in Switzerland. We took the cable car out of Zermatt as high as we could (this is not considered cheating apparently) … Continue reading Summit Report (and near-death experience) – Dufourspitze (4,634m)
Oman Desert Marathon Race Report 165km self-sufficient, 6 stage foot race through the desert of Oman to the Arabian Sea The 105 runners got off the coaches and climbed into a fleet of 25 Land Cruisers which then gunned their way through the sand with the Omani drivers demonstrating a recklessness that would leave me … Continue reading Oman Desert Marathon 2017
Expeditions 