A changing of the guard, and a new challenge | Pinnacle Newsletter #56
#56 A changing of the guard, and a new challenge
Four years ago, a couple of months after my first Cape Wrath Trail, I picked up an email from Emily Rodway, editor of TGO, asking me if I'd like to write a feature about my trip for the magazine. The message came as a surprise. I was not a very experienced outdoor writer at that point and I'd had very little published in print. I said yes, of course.
It was the start of a highly rewarding professional relationship. Since that moment, I have written countless print features for The Great Outdoors, including some of my finest published writing. I've put in thousands of hours of work for the magazine overall, including running the website and social channels, representing TGO at events, copy-editing, and much more. Throughout it all, Emily has been a valued mentor and ally – someone I can go to for level-headed advice, and someone I can trust.
A few weeks ago, she told me that she was leaving the magazine to take up a new role at Think Publishing, where she'll be working on the National Trust for Scotland’s members’ magazine. This will be a great role for her, but she'll be missed at TGO. I'm immensely grateful to Emily for everything she has done for me over the years – for the wonderful projects we’ve worked on together, and for the faith she's placed in my abilities as a writer and editor. I have flourished professionally under her watch, and the magazine has flourished too, diversifying to offer something for everyone while still keeping a laser focus on quality and telling the important stories.
Carey Davies (currently Hillwalking Officer at the BMC) will be coming back to TGO as the magazine's new editor in July. I'm thrilled to be working with Carey and I think he will be the best possible choice for the role. There will be a gap of a month between Emily's departure and Carey's appointment, so I will be stepping in as interim editor, with the help of our editorial assistant Chiara Bullen, between 10 June and 8 July. After that period I will resume my current role of digital editor / feature writer.
This will be an interesting new challenge for me before I head off for the Pyrenees on 14 July! I've delivered issues of the magazine before in Emily’s absence, but this will be the first time the buck will stop with me. Fortunately I've been able to make sure that my schedule is otherwise clear during that period.
I've tried to keep my newsletter a well-rounded place, so I appreciate your forbearance with this one – I know it's a very TGO-heavy letter! However, this magazine is a huge part of what I do now, and I also think it's an important publication for both outdoor writers and people who love to read about adventure. Under Carey’s watch I have no doubt that great days are ahead.
In other news…
John Burns has officially announced his big news: that he has signed a deal with Vertebrate to publish his books, including his forthcoming novel Sky Dance. I am working with Vertebrate to deliver Sky Dance and it's been one of the most rewarding projects I've worked on in years. If you love British mountain culture and are interested in conservation and rewilding, this will be one to look out for.
I am delighted that Lynn Robinson, President of the BMC, has completed her crossing of Scotland in the 40th TGO Challenge. She decided to hike the Challenge after attending a talk I gave last year on ultralight backpacking. She had many questions for me afterwards and I’ve since assisted her with gear choices. It’s wonderful to see Lynn enjoy her journey so much – let’s hope her renewed enthusiasm for backpacking leads to greater representation of hillwalking issues at the BMC!
My friends at MyOutdoors have launched a public Patreon funding platform. I wish them all the best of luck with it. Finding a way to make online writing pay is not easy.
Recently published
The June 2019 issue of TGO magazine is in shops now, and in it you’ll find my comparative review of the dehydrated backpacking meals I took on the Cape Wrath Trail this February. Firepot, Expedition Foods and LYO Expedition all score highly.
What I’ve been reading this week – this week’s quality online reads on the environment and outdoors.
Review: Exped Thunder 70 – my review of a good (but not perfect) pack. A little bird tells me that this model is being redesigned to address both of my main criticisms next year.
Until next time,
Alex
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