Growing up in the flatlands of the Lincolnshire Fens, it was a childhood involvement in D of E and the Scouts that introduced me to adventures in the mountains. However life would lead me away from the hills and my career took me to London. In 2007 I signed up to a charity trek to Kilimanjaro and the snows on the equator were a revelation: my training took me back to the hills and I found myself increasingly finding escape to the hills and mountains on multi-day backpacks in all seasons. This quickly turned into an addiction, and led me to the Alps, then expeditions to Mongolia, Mexican volcanos, Bolivia and Argentina, culminating in two first ascent expeditions to the Puna de Atacama, one successful. Somewhere along this journey I discovered that climbing with others can be fun too and I joined the Rockhoppers Mountaineering Club in London, serving on its Committee, even becoming its President! I am now also a member of the Moray Mountaineering Club and the Cairngorm Club.
Throughout my life I have suffered from mental health issues; anxiety and depression. The realisation that my time in the mountains allowed me to manage these issues led me into the Mountain Leader Scheme, and a change in career. Hopefully as a Mountain Leader I can not only manage my own well-being, but help others along a similar path.
I am studying for a PGCert in Outdoor and Adventure Therapeutic Practice at the University of the Highlands & Islands. I am a volunteer ranger with the Cairngorms National Park.