I’m a multi award-winning author and outdoor writer, who lives in the English Lake District, and is a member of the Outdoor Writers & Photographers Guild (OWPG). The not very subliminal message of this site, is to hopefully inspire you to buy some (all ideally!) of my books, so that I can go and spend a little more time out in the hills, to research and write the next ones 🙂
Books – list of my published books…
- OUT NOW – “Tour Mont Blanc” (Vertebrate, 2020) – link
- “Trail & Fell Running in Lake District” (Cicerone, 2017) – link
- “Trail Running Chamonix Mont Blanc” (Cicerone, 2016) – link
My books were published by Vertebrate Publishing and Cicerone Press, the two leading outdoor guidebook publishers in the UK. You can read more on my author profile of the Amazon central website here.
Articles – mags / blogs / press – view
I regularly write outdoor articles for the outdoor press, and features were published in magazines including; BMC Summit, Ultra Magazine, Trek & Mountain, Snowshoe Magazine, and more. I’m also a regular blogger on various outdoor websites.
About me – the cringe-worthy bit
My love of the mountains started as a child, and they pervade every aspect of my life; I’ve climbed some famous ones, fallen off a few, studied them, led people up them, run around them a fair bit, and rescued people from them, before finding time to write about the mountains too.
In my climbing-bum youth I climbed the 6 classic North Faces of the Alps, and led expeditions to mountains all over the world. When not writing, I’m a UIMLA International Mountain Leader guiding groups and teaching safety skills in the mountains, and I volunteer as an active member of a Lake District mountain rescue team; link.
Personal mountain running bimbles include some ultra running events, including the Tor des Geants, an unhealthy number of UTMB series finishes, and countless UK trail and fell races. A mid pack runner at best, but one who enjoys the suffering disproportionately, and who gets good value for money for the length of time spent completing the ‘race’; link.
As the day job, I run a mountain guiding company (www.icicle.co.uk), and so divide my time between the Alps and the Lake District each year. This peripatetic lifestyle enables me to guide groups in the mountains throughout the year, when not researching or writing another book. I told you at the very beginning, it was all about the mountains!
OWPG – member and award winner
I’m a member of the Outdoor Writers & Photographers Guild. View my profile page on the OWPG website here, or click on the logo.
WINNER Technical Feature Award 2018 – ‘Ridge to Heaven’ article, about climbing the Eiger via the Mittellegi Arête, published by Trek & Mountain.
WINNER Guidebook of the Year Award 2017 – ‘Trail Running Chamonix and the Mont Blanc region’, published by Cicerone.
Highly Commended Technical Feature 2017 – ‘Trail Running in the Alps’, published in issue 73 of the Trek & Mountain magazine.
Environment – mountain ethics & impact
Readers of my books will note that you can travel to the start point of each route by public transport. I firmly believe that mountain walking and running adventures must be enjoyed following leave no trace principles, with minimal impact to the mountain landscapes and the environment. When leading groups, I encourage everyone to immerse themselves in the landscapes, and to forge their own adventures with every step. The only sign of our passing should be the studmarks of our shoes.
Thanks again for visiting my website!
Kingsley