Miscellaneous
Kevin Woods is no stranger to the hills and mountains. He’s fresh back from covering all 282 Munros in just 97 days, straight through the Scottish winter and as the Covid crisis spread like wildfire across the world. This was his fourth round of Munros, and he’s not yet 30. (If you’re not from these parts, Munros are mountains in Scotland over 3,000 feet high, some situated in deeply remote terrain). Kevin is a winter mountain leader and a true man of the mountains. He’s also a talented filmmaker and musician, and guides folk around mountain routes across Scotland when he’s not pursuing his own hardy ambitions in the hills. He’s an all-round open guy, his climbing led by a true and authentic love of these mountain environments rather than an ego-led pursuit of records. When we spoke, he was already planning his return to the hills after lockdown, just a few months after completing his fourth round. We got into a deep dive on what his intense three months in the mountains was like – the suffering, the joys, the solitude and the daily stresses and questioning as Covid hit. Kevin also gives his insight into the planning and logistics of a non-stop winter round; the brutality of the north west highland storms he fought through; the days he feared might be dealbreakers; his start in mountain leading; and his attitude to risk-taking and safety. Watch this space for the film Kevin is producing about his winter adventure!