Ash Routen
LightNews LightNews
banner
ashrouten.com
Ash Routen
@ashrouten.com
2.2K followers 900 following 800 posts
🧭 Adventure Journalist at ExplorersWeb
🗺️ Fellow of RGS
✍️ Bylines in Nat Geo UK, The Guardian, Sidetracked, Outside
🔬Research Fellow in Public Health, PhD

🌐 https://ashrouten.com
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
ashrouten.com
Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · Nov 17
Hello new Bluesky friends 👋

I’m Ash, an adventure writer by day and a University academic by night.

I live in the Leicestershire countryside in the UK and am available for assignment.

My main interest is Arctic travel. Here’s a few pix from a sled trip in Norway from earlier this year.
ashrouten.com
So pleased to see my PhD student publish her second paper on an increasingly important topic in a post-Covid world.
November 5, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Reposted by Ash Routen
newclimber.bsky.social
Our biggest ever buy one get one free bundles have just gone live. secondsandsales.com/collections/...
November 4, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Reposted by Ash Routen
garyglx5.bsky.social
If you're an Everest climb watcher, here's an alt quest that may be of interest. @ashrouten.com reports.
ashrouten.com Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 13d
The first wave of skiers is heading south to Antarctica to begin their expeditions. Compared with last year, there are a few more longer sled journeys.

My latest for ExWeb. I'll be covering the season until late December before other commitments take over.

explorersweb.com/antarctic-ex...
Skiers Head South as the 2025–26 Antarctic Expeditions Begin » Explorersweb
The busy Antarctic season is highlighted by two long crossings, two round trips to the South Pole and back, and an unusual absence of guided tours.
explorersweb.com
November 1, 2025 at 10:55 AM
ashrouten.com
The first wave of skiers is heading south to Antarctica to begin their expeditions. Compared with last year, there are a few more longer sled journeys.

My latest for ExWeb. I'll be covering the season until late December before other commitments take over.

explorersweb.com/antarctic-ex...
Skiers Head South as the 2025–26 Antarctic Expeditions Begin » Explorersweb
The busy Antarctic season is highlighted by two long crossings, two round trips to the South Pole and back, and an unusual absence of guided tours.
explorersweb.com
October 31, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Reposted by Ash Routen
damianshields.bsky.social
Uath Lochans from Farleitter Crag, a recent one from an early stakeout overlooking these bonnie lochans. A long chilly wait before the warm light finally broke through the dreich and spread over the Inshriach forest #Scotland #Cairngorms #Rothiemurchus www.damianshields.com
Uath Lochans from Farleitter Crag, a recent one from an early stakeout overlooking these bonnie lochans. A long chilly wait before the warm light finally broke through the dreich and spread over the Inshriach forest #Scotland #Cairngorms #Rothiemurchus www.damianshields.com
October 30, 2025 at 10:55 AM
ashrouten.com
A fun story I worked on recently. Before Alex Honnold and Netflix's skyscraper stunt, a more introverted breed of climber was free soloing buildings through the night.

"The Origins of Buildering: The Students Who Climbed England’s University Spires After Dark"

explorersweb.com/the-origins-...
October 29, 2025 at 1:50 PM
ashrouten.com
In 2023, 25-year-old German cyclist Max Roving set off eastward from his hometown in northern Germany, aiming to “go as far as I’d like, or can afford.”

explorersweb.com/traveling-th...
October 29, 2025 at 10:22 AM
ashrouten.com
Excited to share that I’ll be speaking at Expedition Finse 2026, taking place 20–22 February 2026 at Hotel Finse 1222, Norway 🇳🇴

There’s a great lineup of speakers including British broadcaster Ben Fogle. More details in the below 👇

www.ashrouten.com/blog/talk-at...
Speaking at Expedition Finse 2026 — ASH ROUTEN
I’m pleased to share that I’ll be giving a talk at Expedition Finse, which takes place from 20–22 February 2026 at Hotel Finse 1222 in Norway. Expedition Finse is an annual festival, run in collabora...
www.ashrouten.com
October 25, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Reposted by Ash Routen
garyglx5.bsky.social
Great Lakes followers, a good read here. Check out the map to see how daunting the trek was. h/t @ashrouten.com for sharing.
ashrouten.com Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 22d
After 480 days and 7,810km of paddling, 24-year-old Peter Frank has completed a canoe journey around most of the Great Loop the “wrong way.” Beginning and ending in Escanaba, Michigan, the U.S. adventurer wrapped up his journey on October 20.

explorersweb.com/pirate-paddl...
'Pirate Paddler' Completes 7,810Km Canoe Journey Around Eastern U.S. » Explorersweb
After 480 days, 24-year-old Peter Frank has canoed the “wrong way” around most of the eastern U.S.'s inland Great Loop waterway.
explorersweb.com
October 22, 2025 at 12:28 PM
ashrouten.com
After 480 days and 7,810km of paddling, 24-year-old Peter Frank has completed a canoe journey around most of the Great Loop the “wrong way.” Beginning and ending in Escanaba, Michigan, the U.S. adventurer wrapped up his journey on October 20.

explorersweb.com/pirate-paddl...
'Pirate Paddler' Completes 7,810Km Canoe Journey Around Eastern U.S. » Explorersweb
After 480 days, 24-year-old Peter Frank has canoed the “wrong way” around most of the eastern U.S.'s inland Great Loop waterway.
explorersweb.com
October 22, 2025 at 10:41 AM
ashrouten.com
So pleased to share one of my favourite pieces I’ve written for ExWeb - a dive into the incredible world of rock climbing giant strangler fig trees in Costa Rica. So cool!

explorersweb.com/climbing-tre...
Climbing Giant Trees in Costa Rica’s Cloud Forest » Explorersweb
Noah Kane does not climb up branches like a curious kid nor use the rope techniques of a canopy scientist. He climbs on trees like a rock climber.
explorersweb.com
October 20, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Reposted by Ash Routen
markhorrell.bsky.social
Really useful stuff from @ashrouten.com.
Saved me from another disappointing night out 🍺

TL;DR if you're thinking of drinking your own Fosters, do it before you get thirsty.
explorersweb.com/drinking-pee...
Survival Stories Get It Wrong, Drinking Pee Won’t Save You » Explorersweb
By the time you’re dehydrated enough to consider drinking urine, the urine will be so concentrated that it’s just too salty.
explorersweb.com
October 14, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Reposted by Ash Routen
sarahbpolar.bsky.social
2026 calendar available NOW! I only have 9 copies available on the website, and a few more I'll be taking to the Shackleton Autumn School at the end of the month.

I hope you like sea ice and tallships!
Svalbard 2026 Calendar | Barnard Polar
An extremely limited edition A3 size calendar of photographs from my time on the Arctic Circle expeditionary residency in Svalbard. I hope you like sea ice and tallships!**As the situation with US tar...
www.barnardpolar.shop
October 14, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Reposted by Ash Routen
supergios.bsky.social
BLEA CALM - first dawn at Blea Tarn in the Langdales on Saturday morning. A short spell of colour before the fog and mist descended for the weekend.
#FSprintmonday #Sharemondays2025 #Appicoftheweek #SonyAlpha #landscapephotography
@fotospeed.bsky.social
October 13, 2025 at 7:16 AM
ashrouten.com
On October 1, Balin Miller died when he accidentally rappelled off the end of his rope in Yosemite. We examine the flawed media reaction to his death.

explorersweb.com/balin-miller...
How a Climbing Tragedy Became Social Media Content » Explorersweb
On October 1, Balin Miller died when he accidentally rappelled off the end of his rope in Yosemite. We examine the flawed media reaction to his death.
explorersweb.com
October 13, 2025 at 8:21 AM
ashrouten.com
Does the desperate act of drinking your own pee actually work, or is it just a survival myth that refuses to die? Well here’s my answer 👇

explorersweb.com/drinking-pee...
Survival Stories Get It Wrong, Drinking Pee Won’t Save You » Explorersweb
By the time you’re dehydrated enough to consider drinking urine, the urine will be so concentrated that it’s just too salty.
explorersweb.com
October 10, 2025 at 12:35 PM
ashrouten.com
Here's a writeup of my packrafting trip through Assynt in northwest Scotland a few weeks ago. I've only ever written a handful of pieces on my own travels, it's always about someone else, so I hope you enjoy. If you do, feel free to pass it on.

explorersweb.com/a-packraftin...
A Packrafting Journey in Northwest Scotland » Explorersweb
A six-day solo packrafting trip across a region known as Assynt in northwest Scotland introduces a seasoned adventurer to new and addicting style of travel.
explorersweb.com
October 10, 2025 at 11:08 AM
ashrouten.com
Video #1 from packrafting in Assynt last week. A stony beachside camp with the hulking mass of Suilven looming in the background. I’d spent a few hours making very slow progress through a headwind and whitecaps to this point, so the calmer evening was a welcome respite.
October 2, 2025 at 6:54 AM
ashrouten.com
Antarctica is usually unoccupied except for scientists, wealthy tourists, and adventurers. Surprisingly, though, a small number of children have entered the world there. My latest for ExplorersWeb.

explorersweb.com/born-in-anta...
Born in Antarctica: The White Continent Has 11 'Citizens' » Explorersweb
Most of the births occurred at Argentinian and Chilean bases in Antarctica, at a time when those countries sought to strengthen their territorial claims.
explorersweb.com
September 29, 2025 at 1:59 PM
ashrouten.com
Now back home from five days of slow travel packrafting through Assynt, northwest Scotland. Paddling along Lochs Veyatie and Fionn, portaging to, and circling every inch of Sionascaig and its web of smaller lochs and lochans.
September 29, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Reposted by Ash Routen
natalie-berry.com
Grateful to be a finalist for the Banff Mountain Book Festival article prize among excellent company for my @thefence.bsky.social story 'In the Shadow of the Mountain'. www.banffcentre.ca/articles/mou...
2025 Banff Mountain Book Competition category finalists announced
The 50th anniversary Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival is thrilled to announce the 2025 Banff Mountain Book Competition category finalists.
www.banffcentre.ca
September 19, 2025 at 9:46 AM
ashrouten.com
A brief tale of two young men planning their trek using ChatGPT. My latest for ExWeb.

explorersweb.com/when-chatgpt...
When ChatGPT Plans Your Trek: A Cautionary Tale from Kyrgyzstan » Explorersweb
Novices are relying more on AI to plan their outdoor trips, from gear to the amount of food they bring to their route, with potentially disastrous results.
explorersweb.com
September 19, 2025 at 9:16 AM
ashrouten.com
One of my favorite stories I’ve written for ExWeb. Roman Dial is both an Alaskan backcountry legend and a mathematician. He combined the two to come up with a formula on how far you can hike unsupported.

explorersweb.com/how-far-can-...
How Far Can You Hike With Only What’s on Your Back? » Explorersweb
Roman Dial is both an Alaskan backcountry legend and a mathematician. He combined the two to come up with a formula on how far you can hike unsupported.
explorersweb.com
September 18, 2025 at 6:33 AM