Ten things you never knew about the lives of elite climbers
“When we do big wall climbs that take several days we bivy (camp) on the side of the wall. Either we find a rock ledge that we can sleep on, or we use portaledges (which is just like it sounds: a portable ledge), which we anchor to the flat face of a ...
What it's like to march as a Roman soldier
Cornwell famously refuses to don any kind of Napoleonic period uniform, and I used to feel the same way about Roman legionary kit. What persuaded me to change my mind? By early 2013, I had written six novels and was finishing the seventh. A full ...
Cold mountain: a beginner's guide to ice climbing
You've got to get yourself to the foot of the climb before you even start, usually by walking and carrying a lot of kit. But don't worry. Learning, as I did, to climb in a controlled environment, on a man-made wall of ice, is a great way to stay safe ...
'Rock climbing is brutal, elegant and a phenomenal challenge'
Try to maintain three points of contact with the rock and, if you feel confident enough, lean slightly away from the wall so you have a clearer view of where your feet can go next. KIT. If you decide you want to invest in kit, the essentials are a ...
Jeremy Hunt says taxpayers should not foot bill for drunks who end up in A&E
Mr Hunt told a phone-in show on LBC Radio that he was 'open' to the idea of fining those who cost taxpayers through their own 'irresponsibility'. 'I have a great deal of sympathy for the people who say we should charge people who use A&E because they ...
How Tough Mudder became a phenomenon
People our age don't talk about what kind of car they drive, but I think they do talk an awful lot about what they did on holiday. Rather like a professional football club, they have a growing list of commercial partners, including a multi-million ...
The secret fitness weapon of Premier League footballers
Consisting of two heavy-duty straps, with a range of hand grips, foot cradles and attachments, it looks like something you might use to tether suitcases to the roof of your car, or to walk a particularly excitable and brawny dog. of kit. It works ...