Taking your first step out the door on a new adventure always fills me with the same amount of excitement and a sprinkling of trepidation about what is to come, but one thing I can be certain of is that my defrosted bread and fridge lucky dip sandwich will taste better than anything I have ever eaten.

As a long-distance hiker, wild camper, and YouTuber, I’m always looking for new challenges and the perfect opportunity to hit the trail. When I spotted an unseasonably warm forecast for Scotland last Wednesday, I knew I couldn’t pass it up. The weather was shaping up to be something special; clear skies, temperatures soaring to 25°C, and, most impressively for Scotland, no wind or rain! This rare window of sunshine was the perfect chance to tackle the West Highland Way before the dreaded midges made their appearance.

March 1st is again the most popular day to start a northbound thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. Whether it is the start of someone’s very first thru-hike, or the last part of their triple crown, hundreds of people will head out from Springer Mountain this year with the hope of reaching Mount Katahdin.

There’s something about setting off when it’s still dark that makes a hike feel like an adventure. Maybe it’s the quiet, or the anticipation of seeing the sunrise from the top of a peak - it’s just a great experience. Jack and I decided to walk up to the Helvellyn ridge for a snowy hike, and it turned out to be one of those days we’ll remember as a highlight of winter.