Skiing, mountains, and Alpine air are three of my favourite things, and I was delighted to be able to revel in all of them earlier this year thanks to Chilly Powder, a company run by Francesca and Paul Eyre, who run a number of excellent chalets in the Morzine-Avoriaz ski areas of France. They have …
Continue reading “Fancy a great ski-in Morzine hotel? Try Chilly Powder.”
Life, Love, Cows, and Mental Health: A niche guide to the Continental Divide My name is Phill Toomasian, but as I am a long distance hiker or “thru-hiker” I often go by the trail name “Flamingo” when out in the field (or really the mountains). In highschool I commandeered a pair of bright pink pants …
Continue reading “Guest Blog: The CDT, by Triple Crown Hiker ‘Flamingo’”
What do you think the hardest part of writing a book is? If you’d asked me that a year ago I’d have told you it was probably going to be getting an agent. Or perhaps getting a publisher. One comes before the other, and although you can send your book to publishers directly I had …
Continue reading “I Wrote A Book – This Is What I Found Hard”
Newsflash – I just got diagnosed with ADHD. Formally, officially and by a real-deal psychiatrist. That’s a sentence I didn’t ever predict I’d be saying, but I’m not sad about it in any way at all. In fact, it makes me happy. Neurodiversity is just another string to my bow and an opportunity to open …
Continue reading “ADHD and the Truth about My Adventures in the USA”
And I was off! Heading in the car towards Minehead with a still too-heavy pack, I decided to start my trip right at the beginning again. In February I’d hiked approximately 100 miles of the coast path so in some ways I could skip it and start where I left off, but that just didn’t …
I awoke smiling; rested but still sore of course! Prising my creaking joints out of the Bideford Hotel bed I packed my belongings as quickly as I could and switched the kettle on; keen to make a start on the day ahead. I enjoyed ALL of the coffee provided in the hotel room and then …
As I hike along I am finding so many incredible spots that are in my own home county, and am kicking myself for not getting out and exploring more before now. The thing is that I thought I HAD explored… but Cornwall keeps proving there is more to offer around every corner, and that even …
Make no mistake; today I was going round the bend. Right around the very end of Lands End. After a few weeks of facing the wind and strong seas of the North Coast, I was looking forward to the slightly different landscape and weather of the more sheltered South. Perhaps it isn’t really much more …
I was happy to have a friend with me for the second day in a row; someone to share the fun and fitness of hiking big miles and seeing beautiful things. Emily is an old friend and kindred spirit in the ways of adventure so it’s always lovely to chat and walk with her. We …
Packing up my campsite that morning whilst waiting for my sister to arrive, I considered all the places I’d stayed so far on the South West Coast Path. This one was the most expensive one yet! I reflected on the difference between the places I had stayed; from empty farmer’s fields (with permission!), friend’s gardens …
