Often considered the biggest hurdle in the process of becoming a British Mountain Guide, ‘Scotland’ wasn’t without its ups and downs this season. A monumentally crap season conditions-wise (perhaps the…
British Mountain Guide’s Scheme #5 Summer Test
A few months ago I completed the first of the bigger mountain guide tests; the British summer test. I’m happy to say I passed. These tests, which include British summer…
British Mountain Guide’s Scheme #4 Rock 1 Training
I landed in Sheffield two weeks ago to perfect weather and an energy-boosting work meeting for UKClimbing.com. After the meeting we grabbed a couple of 3 star classic routes on the…
British Mountain Guide’s Scheme #3 Winter Induction
I was curled up in a ball, shaking and sweating. It was dark and I couldn’t tell if it was hot or cold, but I felt freezing. My whole body…
British Mountain Guide’s Scheme #2 Ski Induction
Rock climbing is by far my strongest attribute in the series of tests required by the British Mountain Guides, and I’d say skiing is my weakest. That as it may…
British Mountain Guide’s Scheme #1 Summer Induction
It could have started off better, my foray in the world of Mountain Guide training, that’s for sure. Initial impressions count, and you don’t want to look like an idiot…
Peak 41 – An attempt at a Himalayan Giant
Suddenly we weren’t in a rush, and the stress of the summit had been taken away. I slowly pulled the head off another jelly baby, and gazed out across the valley. I sat quietly, knowing that this moment, right now, this was it. This was my life. Never before had I experienced such a sense of being in the moment…
BLOG: Strongly sluffed and a smack in the ear
The rush of snow got stronger until it engulfed me and the bright daylight turned to a black nothingness. I grabbed wildly at the rock wall of the gully with my gloved…
BLOG: Why Mountain Media is Important
After a hectic weekend at the Kendal Mountain Film Festival (KMF), I find myself flung back in to my home life of DIY, work and dreaming of climbing. Once again I’m…
BLOG: Finding Your Limits – Finding Yourself
When climbing becomes so stressful you punch yourself in the head, you’ve got to ask – is it all worth it?
