Sidetracked

In Conversation with Alice Sainsbury Written by Alex Roddie // Photography by Beth Chambers & Kat Bennett ‘Looking at the spectrum, the intersections, is where the work lies. It’s important now more than ever that we take the risk to get curious about other people’s experiences in the world.’ Adaptive design and sustainability specialist Alice Sainsbury has been living with disabilities since 2015.

Written by Daniel Neilson // Photography by John Summerton Produced in partnership with Exped Chances are, the geographical features that make for a good camping spot are also suitable for a witch’s coven. Protection from the wind… and witch hunters. A sheltered spot to make a coffee… or to fire burn and caldron bubble. Where better to appreciate the freedom of backpacking? The devil, who was attending such a coven in the Kilpatrick Hills north of Glasgow (as you do), was late on one occasion.

Story by Masa Sakano // Written by Alex Roddie Photography: Hamish Frost // Film: Rachel Sarah ‘Japan is the place that formed me, Scotland is the place that opened my eyes.’ In Sidetracked Volume 35, we feature Masa Sakano, a Japanese climber who moved to the Scottish Highlands to seek adventure. His story is based on a film directed and edited by Rachel Sarah. In Masa: 居場所 (The Place Where I Am), we root ourselves in exploring the concepts of home and belonging – and what those mean to Masa.

Words: Daniel Neilson // Photography: Bryce Powrie Produced in Partnership with Protect Our Winters UK Transport makes up a third of all harmful emissions from the outdoor sector. The Clean Miles campaign from Protect Our Winters UK is asking you to sign a petition that calls for affordable, well-connected, gear-friendly public transport to our outdoor spaces.

Sasha DiGiulian becomes the first woman to free climb the Platinum Wall on El Capitan. Written by Jenny Tough Photography by Christian Pondella & Pablo Durana // Red Bull Content Pool For nine days and nights, Sasha DiGiulian and Elliot Faber were stranded inside the cramped tent of their portaledge while storms of rain and snow hammered the Platinum Wall. The pair set off on November 2nd.

Creating space for Olympic athletes to pause, recover, and stay present. Produced in Partnership with Corona Cero The Olympic Winter Games are defined by speed, precision, and years of relentless focus. But between the starts and finishes, there is a quieter side to competition. Through its TIME CERO initiative, Corona Cero is creating space for athletes to pause, reconnect with nature, and experience the moments that exist beyond the pursuit of medals.

Stories Behind the Gear: Strike Footwear Written by Daniel Neilson // Photography by Phil Hill Produced in partnership with Strike Footwear Two seals appeared to wave farewell to us as we pulled out of the lock and into the outer harbour. Before us, a Martello stood at the harbour wall, a circular artillery fort built to defend against a Napoleonic invasion.

The Lumina 200 Down Jacket Written by Daniel Neilson // Photography by John Summerton Produced in partnership with La Sportiva When the cold begins to bite, it becomes all-consuming. Functioning becomes harder: taking a photograph, opening a chocolate bar wrapper, putting up a tent. Physically, things just take longer, including what you need to do to get warm: make a hot drink, put up a shelter, get the next layer out of your bag.

Words: Daniel Neilson // Photography: John Summerton Featuring Lena Stoffel // Produced in Partnership with VOITED Skier, surfer, climber, photographer and filmmaker Lena Stoffel has spent decades chasing movement. Motherhood has reshaped that momentum, bringing a slower pace, a focused presence and subtle shifts in how she experiences sport, storytelling and the outdoors. Skiing forces you to be in the present. The obstacles in front of you. The decisions are instinctive.

Written by Daniel Neilson // Photography by Nathan Phua Produced in partnership with SportsShoes For years, orienteering has suffered from misconceptions: a sport of compasses, careful pacing, and quiet corners of countryside. But this is changing. At Kendal Mountain Festival, SportsShoes and British Orienteering put on a very different kind of event – one full of surprises and fun. We spoke to Ben Mounsey and Kay Hawke about changing the perception of the sport.