Welcome to the autumn/winter issue of Explore, where we bid farewell to the long days of summer and transcend two seasons to showcase a mix of advice, inspiration, and knowledge. In this issue, our ambassador Alex Staniforth shares his stories of community building and the difference it has made (page 6). We delve into the archives and memory banks of one of our most experienced staff members to bring you a brief history of Ice Climbing, and we highlight some of the latest gear that has caught our eye for autumn and beyond. We look forward to the clocks going back to experience the magnificence of our Dark Sky Reserves (page 20). We interview Montane athlete Jesse Dufton (page 12), clip into a via ferrata in the Dolomites, and reveal six of our favourite bothies (page 46). Plus our staff explore Loch Shiel by paddleboard, and our resident running expert Ross gets you prepared for your next Ultra.
Autumn awaits, go and explore!
