• Critical items you ‘Need’ to Survive an Adventure,  Hiking / Trekking,  My Blog

    Insect Repellant Clothing

    Anti-Insect Bite Clothing Based on my own experience I support Craghoppers anti-insect bite clothing range. NosiLife is a treatment built into the fabric that offers defence from the worries of irritating insect bites; also reducing the possibility of infection and contracting diseases. Anti-insect bite clothing gives campers, trekkers and adventurers peace of mind and the opportunity to enjoy travel anywhere! Scottish Midges feasted on me. #livealifetodiefor  #MoreThanMyPast #itsrogerx

  • Adventures,  Hiking / Trekking,  Hiking / Trekking

    Sahara Desert

    To me, the Sahara displays an awe-inspiring uniqueness as did the North Pole. They share extremes of contrasts yet alike in so many ways; legend, mystery and raw beauty. Both can and will kill you if you don’t respect them. The Sahara is the largest non-polar desert on our planet; 3,320,000 square miles (8,600,000 square km) If you take the wrong dune and lose your way, you’re in deep do-do, (shit)! A desert is a barren area, defined by averaging less than 10 inches / 25cm of precipitation (rainfall) each year. Clear skies, light wind and dry air helps the air temperature cool off significantly at night.  Insufferable heat during the…

  • Adventures,  Climbing / Caving,  Expeditions,  Hiking / Trekking,  Mountaineering

    “How I Climbed Kilimanjaro Twice, Once with a Metal Knee”

    Kilimanjaro demands respect, this mighty dormant volcano, soaring from the African plains, stands as the tallest freestanding mountain globally, reaching a staggering 5,895 meters (19,341 feet) above sea level. Undertaking the challenge of conquering Kilimanjaro is not merely a physical feat; it’s a journey of personal determination and endurance. Embarking on this adventure with friends, I faced the monumental task of ascending Africa’s highest peak. In 2010, we tackled the Machame Route, we ascended through heavy scree that tested our limits. Descending was not without difficulties – a dodgy knee and tired legs. In 2012, armed with a newly replaced knee joint, I returned to Kilimanjaro to test the effectiveness…

  • Adventures,  Climbing / Caving,  Hiking / Trekking,  Mountaineering,  Speaking

    Rugby on Everest 2019

      In April 2019 we trekked in the footsteps of Mallory and Irvine, up the Magic Highway’ to Mt Everest’s Advance Base Camp (ABC3) 6,500m/ 21,000 feet; which is just below the North Col to play two games of Rugby on a glacier. Myself and Lesley, trekked and played alongside, Rugby stars Lee Mears, Ollie Phillips, Shane Williams, Tamara Taylor plus 20 inspirational men and women to help raise more than £250,000 for children with disabilities and facing disadvantage across the UK and Ireland. The Rugby Challenge took place across 24 days; our group battled acclimatisation and altitude to play the World Record for highest ever game  of mixed seven-a-side ‘Touch Rugby’ at Everest…

  • Adventures,  Camping / Equipment & Accessories,  Expeditions,  Hiking / Trekking,  Hiking / Trekking,  My Blog,  Speaking

    En Route to the Top of the World – North Pole

    On April 9th, 2009, I faced an extraordinary challenge—the Polar Race. At the age of 61, with 28 years of sobriety shaping my resolve, I stood alongside my teammate, 34-year-old James Trotman. Embarking on the Race to the North Pole was more than a mere contest; it was a daring expedition that served as the ultimate trial of survival in one of Earth’s most breathtaking yet merciless terrains. Our epic odyssey commenced at Resolute Bay, Nunavut, situated precisely at coordinates 74°43’N and 94°53’W. Our ambitious quest? To conquer the formidable 648 kilometers (403 miles) that stretched ahead, aiming to reach the elusive North Magnetic Pole. Furthermore to accomplish this extraordinary…