My next online talk, proper walkers, marriage in the mountains, a welcome snow, and taking ultralight backpacking too far | The Pinnacle
We're two weeks into 2022 already, and this is my first newsletter of the year! A lot has changed since I sent my last one out more than a month ago.
January 2022 is a transitional month for me, poised between 2021 routines and the 2022 new order. I'm working more hours at Sidetracked magazine (a job I adore) and gradually winding down some of my other work. In fact, I have recently started work on what will most likely be my final book manuscript for a private author client – and it's a good'un.
From next month, my tweaked schedule will allow for more time in the mountains. Bring on the Scottish winter.
My speaking calendar for 2022 is also beginning to take shape. I'm delighted to be the next author featured on the Adventurous Ink online book club, at 8pm on Thursday the 27th of January – tickets here, and more about the event here. On Wednesday the 23rd of February, I will be speaking about The Farthest Shore as part of a series of online events run by the John Muir Trust. Tickets are £3.83 and available now.
Other news
Many thanks to all of you who have taken the time to pop a review for The Farthest Shore up on Amazon. We're now up to 54 ratings, which is fantastic – and the average rating is 4.6 out of 5! If you have read and enjoyed the book, you can help me out by adding a review of your own. Don't forget, the best place to actually buy the book is direct from Vertebrate Publishing.
Chris Townsend included not one but two of my books in his round-up of outdoor and nature books 2021.
Before Christmas, I was interviewed by Sara Andrade for Condé Nast Traveler Spain. The resulting interview is online now (here's a Google Translated version).
Links of interest
Haroon Mota interview: “Saying we’re not ‘proper walkers’ – that’s awful” – a good interview on The Great Outdoors here with Haroon Mota, whose hiking group Muslim Hikers was subjected to racist online trolling at the end of 2021.
Marriage in the Mountains – a great online piece for Sidetracked by Tim Howell.
A Welcome Snow – Andrew Terrill enjoys a snowy wild camp in Colorado.
The Unpublished Interview (Spanish 3000s) – Emily Woodhouse on her record-breaking traverse of the Spanish Sierra Nevada.
The Art of Getting There – landscape photography in the winter mountains. 'Photography is all about being in the right place at the right time. But what about the journey to get there?'
Cycling 1000km for wild places – Part 1 – Ross Brannigan on his Pedal for Wildness project, cycling 1,000km to raise money for the John Muir Trust.
50 Signs You May Have Taken Ultralight Backpacking Too Far – a few chuckles here from Cam Honan. 38 made me feel attacked...
Until next time,
Alex
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