For the Outdoor-Obsessed Dads

In this extract from The Gap Years, Tom French returns to Ecuador, a country he first discovered through mountaineering in his youth. Now in his 60s and several years into a personal journey of rediscovering adventure, he joins climbing partner Mark Pattison for an ascent of Cotopaxi, Ecuador’s iconic 19,300-foot volcano. What begins as a relaxed acclimatisation trip quickly becomes a race against deteriorating weather and time. From torrential storms and flooded mountain roads to a freezing ascent through the darkness, French captures both the exhilaration and suffering of high-altitude climbing, culminating in a spectacular sunrise summit and a hard-earned lesson in the meaning of Type 2 fun.

For Dads who love the great outdoors

Here’s Why That Matters

Backyard ultra world-record holder Phil Gore is taking on 168 laps in 168 hours in WA, with 1,127km and seven sleepless days ahead.