Did Rudyard Kipling’s explorer see Hamish MacInnes looking behind the ranges?

February 8, 2023 History eiger, everest, exploration, hamish macinnes, himalayas, mountain films, mountain literature, new zealand, rudyard kipling 2 Comments

The title of Hamish MacInnes’s book Look Behind the Ranges is taken from Rudyard Kipling’s poem The Explorer about a man who is urged to cross the mountains behind his home by an inner voice. But what would Kipling’s explorer have made of Hamish MacInnes?

A short history of Everest by Kenton Cool

January 25, 2023 Reviews and tributes everest, history of mountaineering, kenton cool, mountain talks 1 Comment

The two things I miss most since moving from London to the Cotswolds are live jazz and mountaineering lectures. Imagine my delight then, to learn that Kenton Cool would be giving a lecture about Everest a few fields away from where I live.

How to survive a wet and wintry week in Glen Coe, Scotland

January 11, 2023 Trip reports aonach eagach, britain, chris townsend, glen coe, hill walking, munros, scotland 3 Comments

For many years the idea of a week in Scotland at the end of December was far from my thoughts. There are only a few hours of daylight, a high chance of rain every day, howling winds and thick mist over the hills. But it’s still possible to enjoy yourself in these circumstances.