 For me,It's not a case of sack him or I won't buy Trail again, it's more a case of, think BEFORE you write/publish shite like this, and when we have an opinion on an issue like this, don't just air our views on the forum, let the people who are the subject of the grievence have the chance to see what is being said!, that way they will, hopefully, learn from their mistakes, and think more about the effects of their actions!
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It is clear from all the messages that Piers Pickard has lost all credibility with regards to his judgement, understanding, and knowledge of the outdoors.
I don't think that it would be right for TRAIL to sack him for writing the article; we do have freedom of speech, but as I pointed out in my e-mail to Guy Proctor, how can the readers of TRAIL trust anything that he writes in the future.
As Piers Pickard has demonstrated such an appalling lack of judgement in writing that article, there is nothing to say that anything he writes for TRAIL in the future will not be based on the same lack of judgement.
In view of the potential damage to TRAIL, who is the innocent party in all this, I would suggest that the only honourable course Piers Pickard can take, would be to resign from his position with TRAIL and return the gutter with FHM.
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 Here Here, Dave Kay.
I was about to type a loathing post, but what's the point?
Is 'peirs pickard' an anagram of pricked ar$e ? Does it matter.....?
I'll still buy Trail, but any words formed by pr!ck pickturd will go straight to the dartboard.
He is lower than a Rattlesnake's belly; maybe he could get a job with 'the news of the world' ?
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 Well I will still get Trail, my annual subscription was renewed in February LOL.
Guy Proctor is in a very difficult position; Pickard wasn't acting with his authority or even knowledge.
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 Well I just took ma moment to read the article in the observer. what the hell does this guy Pickard think he's on. He is an A1 Arse. Incredibly ignorant and extremely insensitive. But then he writes for that pile of s**t FHM. What should we expect from such brainless publications. I can't imagine that the journalists (if they can be called that) who work for this magazine do any real research. Should we send him on a trip up some high mountains....if only to sample a high altitude head ache. If he can't stomach that idea then maybe he should be made to publicly apologise to the friends and relatives who have lost loved ones in the mountains.
Unbelievable!!
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 What a terrible, thoughtless, disgusting article, and just gobsmacking that it came from a Trail mag employee.
I've just emailed Trail with my thoughts - hopefully the more mails they get the more likely they are to do something about it, if they can.
Andy
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 Have to say that no one seems to have mentioned the shocking and quite tasteless pictures the article carried. Obviously nothing to do with Piers more FHM but still not nice!
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Some of you people make my head spin with your self righteousness.
It goes without saying that the FHM article was in the worst possible taste, and represents a gross error of judgement on the part of Piers Pickard and FHM.
However, the tone some of you choose to take towards FHM and to the large readership they have is breathtaking in its superciliousness. Some men enjoy football, drinking and looking at pictures of pretty women. Those are harmless pass times and no less valid than your own, but from the way you talk they should be rounded up and shot.
They have different opinions to you and, though they may be incapable of articulating them, maybe those opinions are that men who choose to leave wives, parents and children who love them and go running up mountains where they run a high risk of being killed in order to 'push their personal limits' deserve ridicule more than they deserve to be called heroic.
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 I'll say this - considering they regularly run articles on the top # adventure holidays in the world, encouraging people to put their balls on the line and go for something a little less sedentry than sunbathing in the Costa, ooh, such as climbing Everest, it's ridiculous to run an article like this. We struggle with hero worship in this country though, don't you think - we'd sooner knock em' down than build 'em up.......pitiful.
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 It's easier to sell papers and mags when knocking something down rather than building it up.
Consider how much press the Eden Project or The London Eye got compaired to the Dome.
BTW, also consider the way some men enjoy drinking. And also consider just what friendly, happy go lucky places our town and city centres at like on a Saturday night.
Ohhhh and they way some enjoy football...Need I say more?
I don't pass judgement on those past-times (I enjoy drinking and football - and I have even looked at the odd picture of a pretty girl (or two)) but I don't choose to be disrespectful of people who have died.
Imagine if Pickard had written a story about Hysel, or Hillsborough...
(BTW did anyone notice that Pickard is now the "features editor" of Trail. A promotion no less.)
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There is clearly general agreement that Mr Pickard messed up big time with the article he wrote, in a private capacity, for FHM. It was a gross error of judgement but who amongst us has not done, said or written things we deeply regret? However, it is surely time a line was drawn under this issue now.
I am quite sure he will have learnt from this unfortunate episode. Moreover, I am quite sure his promotion to "Features Editor" was thoroughly deserved based, as it must have been, on his work for Trail which appears to have been exemplary if his articles for that magazine are anything to go by.
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 What does FHM stand for anyway ? I have been trying to guess, but most of my efforts are unprintable.
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 For Him Magazine
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Oh, how boring. I think I prefer my versions. ;-)
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 While I believe in freedom of speech I also believe that you must live with the consequences of the actions you choose to take. I am a radiographer and if I said something like that about other members of my profesion then I would expect to not only loose my job but also my registration which would prevent me working as a radiographer ever again.
His job is very different to mine and I appreciate that, the problem for Trail is not the article as such but can Trail retain credibility with him working for them
They have both a moral and a financial desision to make.
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I for one want to hear Alison's versions....
...and maybe T.R.A.I.L. is an acronym for....what?
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hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
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Well the F is obvious, the only issue is whether of not it ends in an "s" or an "ing"
The H is "him" or "his" or maybe "hard"
The M can be anything you like :-)
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The Ramblers Association Is Lovely ??
I'm speaking on behalf of it's readership you understand...
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