mountains – The Paps Life

Trekking with goats

A few years ago on a father-son hunting trip, George’s son was shocked at the small amount his father could carry and suggested he get some packgoats, after reading about them in America. George has always been keen on animals; as a child, if it crawled, he kept it, so it took little persuasion toContinue reading “Trekking with goats”

Mountaintop moments

I sit on the rock and think about all the times I’ve been here, at the top of Mount John, but I’ve lost count. I think back to the first time; March 2014. I wore my green walking trousers and a black t-shirt that was a size bigger than I’d usually buy, the result ofContinue reading “Mountaintop moments”

Ultra-Trail Australia: 50km and 2500m of sheer joy

Or should that be sheer hell? One of the hardest races I’ve done, but one of the most satisfying and one of the best weekends for fun. Each year in May the town of Katoomba is descended upon by thousands of runners keen to take on the quad-busting ascents and descents of the trails inContinue reading “Ultra-Trail Australia: 50km and 2500m of sheer joy”

Currently loving: July

Eggs Benny New Zealand loves a good eggs benny, and it comes in all different varieties. In fact, a lot of the time it’s not with ham and english muffins, but they still call any permetation of eggs and hollandaise Eggs Benny. My absolute fave is when it’s with smashed spuds or a rosti insteadContinue reading “Currently loving: July”

Cycling the Carretera Austral, Chile

It’s Christmas 2016 and I’m running full pelt through Madrid airport to catch a connecting flight that’s about to leave (I’d already missed my original one due to delays) to take me to Santiago, Chile. I eventually arrive to find my luggage didn’t make it. I’m not surprised; delays and me catching a different flightContinue reading “Cycling the Carretera Austral, Chile”

An Introduction to Buddhism and meditation

In July 2013, I spent 10 days in silence at a Buddhist meditation retreat in India. Here’s what I had to say about it back then: I’ve just spent 10 days in silence. Actual silence. No talking, no communicating with anyone. You might find this funny. Or wonder how I did it. You see, IContinue reading “An Introduction to Buddhism and meditation”