Ash Routen is a British outdoor and adventure writer. His writing has appeared in a range of well-known magazines and newspapers, including National Geographic UK, Sidetracked, The Guardian, and Outside Magazine. Ash has interviewed legendary adventurers such as Reinhold Messner and Borge Ousland, and his writing has been mentioned in newspapers such as The Washington Post and The Globe and Mail.

During his free time, Ash enjoys travelling in the Arctic regions through winter treks and summer backpacking. He is based in the county of Leicestershire in the UK.

Ash has also authored a blog for us on Hiking the Arctic Circle Trail. 

QUICK FIRE Q+A

Favourite season?

Winter - for the light, the soundscape, the crisp clarity of the air, and the resolve and patience required to travel on foot during this season.

What sparked your love for the outdoors?

It was a mixture of influences: my parents worked abroad and travelled before I was born, my Dad had hiked and trekked in the UK, the Atlas, and Himalaya, and I joined the scouting movement at a young age. This all came to a head with a visit to the Swiss Alps at age 16 with the Scouts, which kickstarted my interest in the mountains and expeditions. 

What outdoor adventure has had the most significant impact on your life?

In 2018 a friend and I trekked for 20 days across a frozen Lake Baikal in Siberia. The trip opened up the possibilities of long-range winter trips in the backcountry for me and gave me the confidence and will to do more.

If you could choose any gear to create the perfect kit for your favourite type of trip, what would it include?

For an arctic sledding trip, I would lean on the Thermarest range to create a combined sleeping mat system using the NeoAir XTherm NXT and Z Lite Sol.

Dream expedition! Where would you go and what would you do?

In March 2020 I was two days away from flying out to the Canadian Arctic for a 700km sled trip with my friend and editor Jerry Kobalenko. We had planned a route along the frozen shoreline and fiords of Baffin Island. Then of course Covid-19 came along and we had to cancel. I still want to do that trip someday as the route is probably one of the most beautiful in the Arctic.