Per the World Health Organization, depression is now the world’s most widespread illness impacting over 300 million people of all ages. This does not include the increasing amount of those experiencing some form of stress, and anxiety disorders. Cases of stress, depression and anxiety are currently at an all-time high.

Despite the rigorous demands of our sport and the amount of energy we expend doing it, many trekkers and hikers tend to have a fairly lax approach to nutrition when on the trail. Compared to other sporting enthusiasts – cyclists, long-distance runners, and weightlifters, for example – we tend to

In the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology in northern Italy, a roughly sewn scrap of deer, bear skin and lime tree bark takes pride of place in the museum’s prized collection of Stone Age artifacts. Dating all the way back to 3,500BC, this curious assemblage of materials was worn by

Telling a thru-hiker, die-hard backpacker what they should or should not carry is rarely advisable. Chances are, they will not look favorably upon any attempt to deprive them of something they’ve already spent days, maybe weeks in their own heads pondering whether or not to add, remove from their already

Accumulating all the necessary kit for serious mountaineering adventures can be a costly business. With ice tools, crampons, cams, clothes, helmets, ropes and various other bits and bobs on the non-negotiable list, most of us find our chances of experiencing moderate poverty rising in tandem with our stash of gear.

I stroll into my Monday morning lessons, my fingers well and truly shredded from a Sunday climbing sesh. Again. My students, as always, greet me with ironic and knowing smiles – in the few years that I’ve known them, they’ve come to expect little else. “I just don’t get why

The advent of mobile navigation devices such as GPS and cell-phone applications has led to a fairly common disregard for the old-school, traditional use of map and compass. Like any electronic device, however, navigation devices have their drawbacks and limitations and are susceptible to a host of undesirable variables such

Italy is known to its inhabits as ‘the beautiful country’ (la bel paese), and for good reason. While famed for its ancient monuments, delicious cuisine, stunning coastlines, colorful politicians and beautiful people, many are unaware that the la bel paese also possesses some of the most outrageously stunning camping spots

A wise person once said of backpacking, “the more you know, the less you need.” After two thru-hikes and decades of multi-day trips I’ve become more confident in choosing the gear that works for me, but I’ve made some poor choices along the way. It took a lot of experience

One of the greatest gifts Mother Nature has granted lovers of the outdoors is our planet’s wealth of alpine lakes. Blessed with fascinating colors and scenic mountainous backdrops, the vast majority of these high-altitude jewels come with a ‘must see’ quality not shared by many of their lower-altitude cousins. National