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Ash Routen

@ashrouten.com
2.4K followers 915 following 844 posts

Adventure journalist and editor of 'At the Edge of the Map', covering expeditions and adventure globally. By-lines include ExWeb, Nat Geo, Sidetracked, and Outside. Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and The Explorers Club. ashrouten.com

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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 20/08/2026
Two months ago, I launched At the Edge of the Map to provide independent reporting and analysis on global adventure, expeditions and exploration. Today, we've reached 55 paid subscribers. 🙏
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 25/07/2026
If we know each other through the adventure and expedition world, I'd love to share a new project I'm launching. At the Edge of the Map is a new independent publication covering global expeditions, adventure and exploration through original reporting, interviews and analysis. Continued 👇
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 25/07/2026
The legendary bicycle tourist Heinz Stucke died a couple of days ago. Stucke spent more than 50 years cycling around the globe, covering an estimated 600k miles. He started in 1962 and finished in 2014 at the age of 74.
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 07/07/2026
Yesterday, four Swiss adventurers began an attempt to row unsupported from Longyearbyen, Svalbard, to Scotland’s north coast. They aim to reach Scotland in 40-60 days time after rowing an estimated 3,100km. open.substack.com/pub/theedgeo...
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 02/07/2026
Coming soon… theedgeofthemap.substack.com/about
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 25/03/2026
Two weeks ago, we reported on several Arctic expeditions scheduled to begin in late March and April. Some are already underway, while others are about to start. explorersweb.com/arctic-round...
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 27/02/2026
I had a great time at the Expedition Finse festival last weekend in 🇳🇴 As well as giving a talk it was great to hear from and chat to Ben Fogle. A real highlight was meeting the great Erling Kagge and attending the Shackleton Award dinner. A few pics below and a blog post to come next week.
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 24/01/2026
I’ve been nominated for Best Social Media Handle at the 2026 Outdoor Media Awards — an industry event that recognises journalism, storytelling and creators in the outdoor space. It’s pretty wild given I spend most of my time spotlighting lesser-known expeditions and calling out adventure hype.
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 05/12/2025
For regular readers of ExWeb, I won’t be posting here for a little while. I became a father to a beautiful daughter a few weeks ago. She came five weeks early but is all healthy and happy. I’m off writing duties for a bit, but will be sharing ExWeb stuff over on Instagram inbetween nappy changes ☺️
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 29/10/2025
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-...
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 29/10/2025
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...
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 02/10/2025
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.
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 29/09/2025
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.
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 18/09/2025
Yeah his model graphed out is like a parabola. As you add more food (and thus range in terms of days), the distance first increases, reaches a peak at the sweet spot, then curves back down as the food "penalty" overwhelms you. But as Dial suggests, this doesn't account for your pack lightening.
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 02/09/2025
In this new paper colleagues and I argue that ring-fencing paid work time for physical activity is a pragmatic strategy that would provide employees with the opportunity to be more active, likely without harming productivity. journals.humankinetics.com/view/journal...
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 05/08/2025
Resharing this old piece for a new audience. Guinness World Records is losing credibility in adventure sports - awarding dubious records, demoting trailblazers like Messner, and pushing commercial stunts over real feats. explorersweb.com/guinness-wor...
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 14/07/2025
🆕 Our new BMJ opinion piece 🚨 Failing to collect ethnicity data in research fuels health inequalities. ⚠️ Without it: misdiagnosis & unequal care. 📈 UK (but not US) regulators are acting to improve diversity in clinical trials. 🔗 www.bmj.com/content/390/...
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 09/07/2025
The Pinch of Salt Path author Raynor Winn has published a rebuttal on her website. www.raynorwinn.co.uk?fbclid=PAQ0x...
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 07/07/2025
Thankfully I haven't watched or read The Pinch of Salt Path. Surely they could have made the story a bit more challenging and dramatic. Toddling along the South West Coast path in your 50's is a luxury holiday. Much better to amputate your own leg and then try climbing K2 in winter. Amateurs.
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 27/06/2025
Another developer consultation in the post for our local area where green belt is now grey. Is the biodiversity net gain claim pictured below just a licence to tarmac over nature?
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 22/06/2025
I don’t think I’ve previously camped on summer solstice, so I made the effort to get out there last night. A new camp spot for me, in the Northwest corner of the Peak District. I’ve walked this ridgeline before but it’s even better when you can sit there and watch the sun melt into the horizon 👌
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 17/06/2025
An old but brilliant piece on North Pole Trekkers with the catchy headline: 'If it's explorer season, why can't we shoot them?' www.uphere.ca/articles/if-...
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 10/05/2025
Take me back ❤️ Finnish Lapland, March 2025
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 28/04/2025
Another really enjoyable walk and camp in a quieter side of a busy part of the Peak District. Looking forward to more nights under canvas in the coming months ✌️
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 15/04/2025
After completing our 11 day circular ski tour of a frozen lake Inarijarvi in Finland last month I promised friends I'd share a few photos from our journey. Here's four scenes from different locations on the lake. You can see more on Instagram (@ashrouten).
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 24/03/2025
😂😂😂 they’re currently covered for winter travel mate!
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 24/03/2025
1/3 - For some, sledding expeditions are all about athletics. For me, it’s about connecting with the land and its inhabitants. That’s why I was so pleased to spot a small herd of reindeer on our recent Lake Inari adventure.
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 20/03/2025
My pleasure Dave. What were you up on Ellesmere for? Here's a couple of my favourite northern outhouses, on the west coast of Greenland.
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 20/03/2025
On our recent Lake Inari ski expedition, morning snowfall often gave way to brilliant sunshine and ethereal light that is typical of the far north. Here’s just one example of a superb camp on this frozen gem in Finnish Lapland.
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 19/03/2025
I’m just starting to process the images from our Lake Inari expedition. Moments like this scene really crystallise for me that my purpose and meaning in life is to be found through adventure. Spending time on the land and making hard physical effort to travel and make shelter gets inside you.
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 14/03/2025
Last night in the cabin in 🇫🇮 following our sled journey and nature lays on a parting gift 👌
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 13/03/2025
Our Lake Inari arctic adventure is now at a successful close. Something like 205km in just under 11 days, including a tent day. We were blessed to have great weather and some wonderful camp spots. More images to come in due course 🇫🇮✌️
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 24/02/2025
Pleased to have been a part of this new paper from the UK Health Data Research Alliance, which presents five recommendations for improving data collection for inclusive health research. It resulted from 4 workshops with relevant stakeholders and public members. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 17/02/2025
Preet Chandi not going to the North Pole this year. An update to follow on from my article for ExWeb on the difficulties of planning this journey. explorersweb.com/1-million-to...
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 12/02/2025
The parent company of Outside magazine has laid off 20 members of the magazine’s editorial and business staffs, leaving doubt about the ongoing viability of the publication in print and online. www.adventure-journal.com/2025/02/outs...
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 09/02/2025
My first newsletter of the year 👇 ashrouten.substack.com/p/gearing-up...
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 27/01/2025
Great to see Adventure Journal @adventurejournal.bsky.social and editor @stephencasimiro.bsky.social now on Bluesky!
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 17/01/2025
Not my first, but age 23 in 2009 I also enjoyed a French cycling experience: Portsmouth to Montpellier. Including watching the Tour on Mont Ventoux 👌
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 16/01/2025
Why is this shite on the opening columns of BBC News online? Apparently it's 'culture' and is currently the most read article on the site 😂
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 13/01/2025
Arctic Norway or the Peak District? Amazing snow conditions and bluebird skies this weekend. Very grateful to have experienced this only a few hours from my doorstep 🙏
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 11/01/2025
Tonight’s camp in the Peak District 😍
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 10/01/2025
"Climate change does not respect borders; it does not respect who you are - rich and poor, small and big. Therefore, it is what we call 'global challenges,' which require global solidarity." ~ Ban Ki-Moon, Former Secretary-General of the United Nations
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 02/01/2025
My favourite (incorrect) comment on the article so far 😂
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 30/12/2024
Back Problems Halt Harila’s Expedition to the South Pole after 700 km kristinharila.com/back-problem...
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 25/12/2024
All sorted with outdoor reads for the next few months! 🙏🎄
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 25/12/2024
🎄🎉🙏
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 19/12/2024
Last night I completed Chris Townsend's 'High Summer'. It's a very enjoyable read. Like every good travel story you become immersed with Chris as he bushwhacks dense forest, fords rivers, makes camp, climbs lofty passes, and encounters the kindness of strangers on a truly remarkable journey ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 18/12/2024
Hiker trash friends, what binos do you use? I’m evaluating these at the moment. Current winner to keep is the Hawke Nature trek 10x25 monocular. Ideally looking at anything <=300g.
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 12/12/2024
⚡ The Chief Medical Officer's Annual report for 2024 was released today. We contributed a chapter on Urban areas, ethnicity and health. The overall report focuses on the health of cities in England. Link to the full report is below. www.gov.uk/government/p...
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Ash Routen @ashrouten.com · 05/12/2024
It’s a good book! I know you have adulting to be getting on with nowadays, but do you think there is one more grand adventure that might tempt you?…
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