Lapas Negras is one of the most epic and also probably up there as one of the steepest trails on Madeira. Located on the coast of Sao Vicente, Lapas Negras leads you directly up the side of a rocky cliff face. It’s a challenging, exposed, and difficult ascent that often seems close to vertical. With …
PORTUGAL
This was my last full week on Madeira to mark the end of my six month stay on the island. What better way to finish it off than to walk around the entire island, which is exactly what we did. Together with my friends Chris and João, we hiked the Caminho Real 23, which is …
Luck is such an interesting concept. While there will always be an element of chance, the idea of good or bad luck is essentially a false idea. We simply attribute good or bad luck to people and/or situations based on the outcome. However, as a bystander to a certain situation we never take in all …
2020 made it easy to forget that I was a nomad. I mean it’s possible to stop being a nomad but that isn’t what I wanted to do. I was forced to remain stationary for months on end. I then based in Madeira for the last five months to avoid the obstacles of lockdowns, shut-outs, …
It has snowed on Madeira a couple of times now yet each time I have ventured out on a snow trek, it has been cold, raining and I’ve found myself inside a wall of clouds. It’s been fun but my desire to see Madeira’s snow-capped peaks with nice visibility and to dream further, with golden …
Snow has fallen on the island of Madeira for the second time since I arrived last year. Just like last time, I didn’t let the opportunity pass and headed on up into the mountains to explore the snowcapped peaks of Madeira. With roads closed, you have to make up your own trail and that is …
It’s a new year. 2021 is here. So that means it is time to make a new years resolution or some goals you hope to achieve by the end of the year. I’ve never been one to make a new years resolution as I prefer to create a sustainable lifestyle not a radical action but …
I think the biggest lesson from this year is that you can’t keep waiting for things to be perfect or to improve. It’s taught us that in certain situations, we need to improve the situation rather than waiting for the situation to improve itself. As 2020 draws to a close and 2021 is just around …
Consistency can be hard to come by when you are constantly on the move. It can be even harder when you are trying to travel non-stop and be constantly training to improve your fitness and hiking capabilities. Sometimes you are in the mountains and at other times in the city. Some weeks you are busy …
Hiking the Madeira Island Ultra Trail was one of the toughest trails I’ve ever done. 115 kilometers from Porto Moniz to Machico, visiting many of the island’s tallest peaks along the way. 8000 meters of incline made the four-day journey a brutal adventure through some of Madeira’s most beautiful regions. We packed our camping gear …
2020 will always be one for the books. Everyone has been on their own rollercoaster. Some have had a scarier ride than others but we’ve all had to deal with some ups and downs. However, not for one second do I think I had a tough 2020. There were three parts to the year. My …
There are hundreds of peaks on Madeira but many seem a little bit too steep, slightly out of reach or comprise of unstable rocks. When you hike from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo, it already seems quite an adventure but all around this trail are other peaks. When you meet the right people, instead …