How did your career in the outdoors start?
Following a series of (mostly) fortunate events...
I stumbled upon a marketing job for an expedition company that saw people hiking and cycling overseas and in the UK for charity and absolutely fell in love with it. I soon learnt the ins and outs of expedition life, the importance of a solid plan for any eventuality and it inspired me to seek out more adventure whatever that looked like. After summiting Kilimanjaro on New Years Eve, I decided I wanted to do more in the outdoors. However the pandemic happened shortly after. Instead, it would be when things first started opening up that I was able to move to the French Pyrenees, work for another expedition company helping individuals climb even higher mountains, and spend all my spare time hiking, running, cycling, and swimming in the mountains.
The seed of inspiration grew and after several years, I returned to the UK to gain my Mountain Leader qualification and begin working on events here in the UK. The Lake District became my new base and the coincidental home of The Adventure Element where I now make up one half of the Marketing Department providing marketing, content and communications. You'll still see me out on the hill and at events so come say hello!
What's been your most memorable outdoor experience?
Sunset over the Great Wall of China, a cloud inversion in the Pyrenees, camping under pastel skies with the mountains to yourself: it's those stand still moments of appreciation that stay burnt in my memory. In contrast, it is often in the imperfect moments, when you have to reroute as the snow is too deep or you enthusiastically lunge for your cheese-covered stanley knife and cut your hand, that the stories are written.
And when you get to the end of a long day of adventure, the real satisfaction comes from tired legs and a clear mind.
What's your one piece of 'can't do without' kit?
I like doing things in threes. In the summer, we're talking sunglasses, pepperoni sticks and satsumas as the holy trinity of happy exploring.
When it comes to winter, it's an old down jacket that rolls up to nothing, can be bashed around a bit and adds that extra layer of warmth. While chocolate and cheese are my ultimate snacks of choice for a boost in cool conditions.
