Damian Hall Expert Interview
Damian Hall, an author and outdoor journalist who's at his happiest in lumpy places. And the sort of person who treks to Everest Base Camp for his honeymoon.
And funny with it. So just the sort of chap we enjoy chatting to.
Our timing could hardly be better either, given that his latest book A year on the Run is out now.
Hi Damien, can you tell us how you first got into the adventure scene?
I don't know to be honest. I grew up being taken outdoors as often as possible - Dartmoor, Wales, the Cotswolds, the Lake District and Scotland especially.
All of our holidays were camping holidays. I loved them and just thought everyone's life was like that. Then you realise some poor kids were taken to Disneyland for their holidays!
Other than being nice to people and not sticking chewing gum under seats, getting outdoors is pretty much the most important thing you can do.
An avid camper from a young age then. You must have some great camping experiences to share?
I remember camping by an Iron Age tomb in Wiltshire somewhere with my parents on Summer Solstice. It was very, very exciting because we were allowed to stay up 'til midnight!
It was a while back now. I was maybe 34 or 35.
Then a few years ago I thought it was a brilliant idea to trek the 102-mile Cotswold Way over four days in a very wet November with only a bivvy bag for shelter. It wasn't.
We'd agree that a decent tent might be a better plan at that time of year! What about your favourite place to spend time?
That's a horrible question.
I do love the Cotswolds where I grew up, but get a bit narked when they're invariably described as cosy, quintessential and chocolate box pretty. You can still have a wild old adventure here. As I, uh, proved in my bivvy bag.
I've also twice run the Cotswold Way Century race, down the Cotswold Way in one go. The Cotswolds certainly didn't feel so 'cosy' 80 miles in to that.
As the author of the official Pennine Way guide, it's inevitable that I'll mention England's oldest and toughest National Trail too. It's amazing how remote you can feel on it.
It's a real national treasure and we're lucky to have it.
Walking the Pennine Way should be on everyone's bucket list. It's a victory for people power over the landed gentry, linked to the Mass Trespass. Plus Alfred Wainwright didn't like it, so that's plenty of reasons.
I also love the melodrama and melancholy of Dartmoor. Having lived abroad a fair bit, there's something uniquely British about a good soggy peat bog.
Soggy bogs - there's something for us Brits to be proud of! The scenery along the Pennine way is beautiful. Do you have a favourite view?
Yes, I'd choose High Cup. The apocalyptic cleft is England's Grand Canyon and should be much more famous.
Outside of the UK, what's been your most life changing adventure so far?
It may have been trekking in Patagonia now I think of it. I was a football journalist before that. Afterwards I became a travel and outdoor journalist. It made me realise I preferred mountains to most things. Even when I fall down them.
And for something a bit smaller? What micro-adventures would you recommend to get people out of their comfort zone?
Wild camping, multi-day hikes, ultramarathons. All these are very wonderful things that you must try.
Forgive us if we skip the ultramarathons for now! Can you share any tips to get people outdoors more?
I struggle to understand why people wouldn't want to go hill walking and hill running. What is better than that? I've tried most other things and they're definitely not as good!
My tips would be to always pack a waterproof. And some snacks. And a flask of tea if you're feeling fancy.
Good advice! Is there an inspiring book you'd recommend?
It's a bit obvious, but Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer had a big effect on me when I first read it. I try to read it every year.
What was it that had such an effect on you?
I guess it's the yearning for authentic adventure, the call of the wild, that we all have - whether we realise it or not.
But also, at the very risk of sounding seriously pretentious, searching for life's big questions. What's important really?
Even if living in an abandoned bus and eating berries in the Alaskan wilds isn't necessarily the answer, that's a pretty good place to look for it I reckon.
Is there always a spark of inspiration that helps you to plan your adventures?
In truth, it depends on what I think I can turn into work.
A nice honest insight into planning adventures on the basis of earning a few quid, thank you! So does it start with an idea that you see an epic story in, or when someone approaches you with a concept?
Outdoor journalism is my livelihood and I have three more mouths to feed (to clarify, the mouths belong to other people, rather than I have four sets of gnashers – though would be an unsustainable toothpaste bill) – so I need to do things that are fresh, interesting and different.
It has to be something that other people will want to hear about - be it in old or new media - and that media will pay me to do and write about.
At the moment that's mostly ultramarathons, which suits me as I don't need to be away form my family as long as I would for long-distance treks, mountaineering in far-flung places or the adventure travel (a euphemism for falling off mules) I used to enjoy.
Recent races have included The Spine Race (twice) and the Dragon's Back Race. But I have some exciting non-event running challenges coming up soon too.
Entertaining stuff Damian, thank you!
You can follow Damian's adventures on his website, or on Twitter.
Image credit: Outdoor Fitness/Jon Phillips