Climbing & Mountaineering

I came to climbing relatively late in life at the ripe old age of 29. I had told a friend that I had recently scared myself silly scrambling in Wales and he offered to take me climbing so that I might feel more comfortable on such terrain. I was still terrified, but became strangely addicted to the fear and to the shiny gear, which made me feel as though I knew what I was doing.

Shortly after this I was introduced to the accomplished mountain guide, David Hamilton and we became friends. This friendship led to an invitation to work with him as a trekking guide in Pakistan. After some years learning the ropes, in 2005 David invited me to be his assistant climbing guide on Spantik a 7,023m (23,048ft) peak in the Pakistan Karakorum. It was on this trip that I met my now wife. She and I have climbed throughout Europe almost every year since.