Rachel Mead
Rejoining Members
Mike Parsons
OWPG new members
New Members
Rachel Mead
Fifty-seven miles, two whopping blood blisters, and a new job. I have a lot to thank the River Parrett for. The springs may burble away just over the border in Dorset, but the river itself is seen as the life blood of Somerset. Not only did I learn that gaiters are essential, even in August, whilst tracking a riverbank footpath for an intensive two day hike, but it was on this commission that I truly learnt how to become a travel writer. On behalf of my client, I had been commissioned to write six articles about this infrequently followed trail for six different publications and websites. Without any editorial duplication, it was fair to say that I was, by the end of the project, a River Parrett nerd. My local librarian knew me by name and had the BBC Mastermind team approached me, I’ d have been more than ready for their black leather chair! As is so often with our line of work, the hours spent on the job certainly didn’ t make this the most profitable of commissions, but it reminded me why I had chosen travel journalism as my career- I was after all, getting paid to write about walking! As a consequence of writing one of those River Parrett articles for Somerset Life magazine, I now, a couple of years later, find myself in the commissioning role as Editor- it’ s funny how things ebb and flow. With Compeeds always at the ready, I’ m anticipating what the next trail has in store. Instagram @ exploreandwriterach
Rejoining Members
© Graham Trott
The Guild is pleased to welcome back former members, Gordon Stainforth who is known for his work in film and television as much as his travel and outdoor writing, and Rudolf Abraham, an award-winning travel writer, photographer and guidebook author specialising in central and southeast Europe.
Mike Parsons
Mike is a familiar face to many in the outdoor industry.
A pioneering innovator and entrepreneur in outdoor equipment design and manufacturing. Mike grew a small family business founded in 1946. A bike shop with a small workshop making bike bags, into an international business making packs and garments, employing 300 people in two factories in Lancashire, UK. As Karrimor, his iconic products included Whillans and Haston Alpiniste packs, the Karrimat, and KS-b boots. He supplied many leading expeditions, including Chris Bonington’ s Annapurna in 1970, Everest by the south-west face in 1975, the Ogre and Kongur. Karrimor was notable for the‘ Lifetime guarantee’, yet Mike was an early pioneer in the world of ultralight gear, too. Designing fast and light packs and clothing based on personal experiences and the Original Mountain Marathon, OMM, a brand he founded in 2004. His outdoor life began bike touring and racing, developing into the mountains, ski touring, sea-kayaking. He has expedition experience across 7 continents, including the first ascents of 18 summits in East Greenland and Kyrgyzstan. Mike is recognised as the leading gear historian based on his coauthorship of 3 books; 1. Invisible on Everest, Innovation and the Gear Makers( 2003, a complete history of all outdoor gear and clothing since 1800. https:// www. amazon. co. uk / Invisible-Everest-Innovation-Gear- Makers / dp / 0970414358 2. Mallory Myths and Mysteries: The Mallory Replica Project( 2006): a report of the research work carried for MHT Mountain Heritage Trust to replicate the Mallory layers using the scraps found when his body was found in 1999. 3. Keeping Dry and Staying Warm( 2020), how to stay warm, dry or cool outdoors. The definitive book on how garments work and how to attain best performance from them. Instagram @ theomm. mike or at www. outdoorgearcoach. co. uk mike @ outdoorgearcoach. co. uk See https:// www. clippings. me / outdoorgearcoach. Spring 2025 OUTDOOR FOCUS 3