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Background
I was first inspired by the outdoors when I was just 14. Back then in 1969, my parents and my two brothers and I lived in Sheffield at the edge of the Peak District. Scared that I would come to an untimely end bogtrotting alone across the Kinder plateau, my parents, in desperation, sent me on an expedition course at Glenmore Lodge. Of course this inspired me more; I joined a rock climbing club and fell in with just the sort of people who you would not feel safe leaving your youngster with - mountaineers and climbing fanatics. Well, I survived; climbing and walking in the mountains of Wales, the Lakes, and Scotland -including Skye. In my early 20s I climbed in the Romsdal area of Norway - where I ended up living and working for almost 2 years. Since then the hills and mountains of the UK have been my second home, and now at 55 I'm devoting my time to developing a "new" career for myself as a mountain guide.

Most people who are drawn to working with groups in an outdoor environment are, I suspect, motivated in two ways, and this is certainly true for me. Firstly, there is the love of wild country itself; the sheer joy of just being there amongst grandure and beauty enhanced by remoteness. The second motivation is to share this fantastic environment with others; offering an opportunity for people to have their own unique wilderness experience. And of course to have fun!

However, pretty much all activity in this magical playground brings a range of responsibilities; the cathedral of nature is fragile and complex; it can also be hostile and dangerous to people. It is important to have basic knowledge about the outdoors, understand good practice and have an appreciation of the subtleties of nature. Part of the job of being a guide means contributing to a culture of respect and value for our wild places; reminding ourselves that we are custodians of these delicate environments and that it is our responsibility to preserve them for our children's children and the generations that follow them. These values are embodied in the training that leads to the Mountain Leadership (ML) qualification.

Providing a "Mountain Experience"
Many different aspirations exist amongst hill goers; for some it is just "to get to the top". But for many, it might be the thrill of watching a buzzard circle above trees, listening to a sky-lark, relaxing by a waterfall, or quietly enjoying the solitude brought on by a mountain mist. The opportunities to see, feel and hear things that we never find in our daily environment at ground level, are vast.

I work with Wild about Wales, a part of Great Adventures UK Ltd., to organise excursions designed to provide quality Mountain experience at appropriate levels for whoever feels the pull of the wilds.