Chris Townsend

BlueDome is pleased to welcome Chris to our growing list of leading outdoor writers. Chris is one of the world's leading long distance wilderness walkers. In 1988 he became the first person to walk the length of the Canadian Rockies, a 1600 mile hike. 1996 saw another first when he climbed all 517 summits over 3000 feet high in the Scottish highlands as listed in Munro's Tables. In Western North America he has also walked the 2600 mile Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada, the 3000 mile Continental Divide from Mexico to Canada and 1000 miles south to north through the Yukon. In Europe he has walked 1300 miles end-to-end through Scandinavia and 1250 miles from Lands End to John O'Groats in Britain.

Chris Townsend has written nine books including the award winning The Backpackers Handbook (Ragged Mountain Press). A new and expanded edition of which was published in 1996. Other books include Classic Hill Walks (Ward Lock 1996), Walking The Yukon (Ragged Mountain Press 1993), Wilderness Sking and Winter Camping (Ragged Mountain Press 1994), Adventure Treks Western North America (Cicerone Press 1990) and Long Walks inn the Pyrenees (Crowood Press 1991).

Chris is a regular columnist for TGO magazine and has written for many other outdoor publications including Backpacker in the USA and Explore in Canada as well as newspapers such as the Daily Telegraph, the Guardian and the Scotsman. He is also a Ski Tour Leader for Mountain and Wildlife Ventures, working mostly in Norway though leading expeditions in places such as Greenland, Spitsbergen and the Yukon.