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The Armchair Mountaineer

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Wilderness & Wellbeing BLOG

My name is Tom Smallwood and here you will find my posts and those of guests, on the positive effects of time spent outdoors.

wild swimming for health

A Moment Of Surrender - A Guest Post by Matt Allen

March 26, 2018

A storm had brewed through the night and was still releasing it’s menacing self on one memorable winter morning, it was 5am and dark outside. a comfortable pillow and a warm blanket tempted me to stay all snuggled up but a calling from the sea is a calling to which I can not say no.

I saddled up on my bike and made my way to the sea, the wind slowed me to almost a walking pace. I should have known at this point that danger was on the horizon, however a part of me knew I was going to dance with the thundering waves.

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Tags Swimming, Mental Health
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Plunging into the Present - A Guest Post by Camilla Barnard

March 5, 2018

It was mid-July, and my first experience of the French Alps bare of snow. Based in Morzine in the Haute Savoie for a spot of climbing, via ferrata and a substantial hike, it was a trip that I had been looking forward to with childlike enthusiasm.

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In Guest Post Tags Swimming, Mountains
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A Few Years Ago I Wouldn't Have Done This.

September 18, 2017

Dan and I had stopped to take out the Thermos and have a cup of tea, as two balding forty-two year old men should do. Then my "adventure mentor" suggested we should dive into the dark green waters of the river Ouse.

Dan is a relatively experienced open water swimmer. When compared to me, he is a dolphin. It is an obvious statement to say that age makes us less self-conscious but to my surprise (and probably to his) I was willing to take an impromptu alfresco dip. I mean, what is the worst that could happen? Get chilly? Have a random dog-walker see two less-than-perfect men, naked and laughing ... anyway, I didn't notice anyone passing by.

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Tags MicroAdventure, Swimming
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