The Mountain People Podcast

From the essential skills and mindset needed to stay safe whilst moving through the mountains, from winter walking, to tackling treacherous climbs on ice and mixed terrain, Glenmore Lodge Chief Instructor, Heather Morning, and Mountain Guide Stu McAleese, are unrivalled in their experience of Scottish winter. Situated in the Cairngorms National Park, Glenmore Lodge has provided to mountain skills training, and opportunities to gain qualifications, for over seventy years.

Sharp decision making, thorough preparation, and understanding conditions and risks.  Born and raised beneath Monte Bianco, Rab and Lowe Alpine's Head of Design, Jacopo Buffachi, discusses the mindset and preparation needed to stay safe and make the most of backcountry ski touring.  What are common hazards early season versus later in the year? What is the standard avalanche safety kit to carry before skiing off piste?  And, how does his experience as a mountain guide and mountain rescue team member influence the gear he helps create? 

Season after season, Rab athlete Greg Boswell and Guy Robertson push the boundaries of the possible, making bold first ascents, often ground up, with little prior knowledge of what lies ahead. We ask them about the secret to finding good conditions, falling off, and balancing a climbing obsession with a regular job and family life. And, what went into filming Ephemeral, the Scottish winter climbing film shot by Al Lee?

We chat to ski freeride legend Julian Carr about tackling huge cliff drops, his mental preparation and how to say ‘no', even with a large film crew in tow. Having appeared in multiple Warren Miller ski movies, Julian is a true professional, savouring every moment of being a full-time skier.

In this episode, Chamonix-based mountain guide, Boris Langenstein discusses the challenges of high-altitude skiing, with a big pack and little chance of rescue. This is true exploration where partnership and acceptance of risk are essential. How do you make good decisions when tired at such altitudes? What happens when one person is not strong enough to continue?

Meticulous planning, physical and mental strain, and strong emotions: Rab athlete Jon Gupta talks us through the make-up of high-altitude mountaineering expeditions in the Himalayas. So, what kit is needed? What's the secret of getting people to bond? How integral are Sherpas to a team's success? And, how much does a trip like this cost?

Based out of Squamish, Canada, Rab athletes Bronwyn Hodgins and Jacob Cook are no strangers to ambitious journeys across vast landscapes in search of adventurous first ascents. Having recently completed a 65-day human powered expedition along the coast of Greenland, the duo share insight into how they plan these impressive missions, how they secure their success, and the moments that make it all worthwhile.

Hailing from a land with little culture of alpinism, Rab athlete Faiçal Bourkiba discusses his dreams of developing winter climbing possibilities in Morocco, and the challenges of sourcing equipment from local markets. Full of alpine aspiration, Faiçal teamed up with fellow Rab athlete Jeff Mercier to bring two different worlds together for a first ascent in the remote Atlas Mountains of Morocco in winter. Documented in the film ‘Land of the Cold Sun', this story takes us beyond the superficial, to ponder what alpinism truly means.

From groundbreaking first descents, to gnarly backcountry touring missions, Rab athlete and extreme snowboarder, Krister Kopala finds inspiration in exploring the mountain ranges of Northern Norway. Krister talks of cutting edge descents (including his latest film 'The White Giant'), and his journey from the speed of freeride snowboard to more nuanced technical steep snowboarding where the consequences of one mistake can be fatal. As well as the continual learning and challenge of finding the courage to turn back when conditions seem uncertain.

Chamonix-based Dutch mountain guide, Roeland Van Oss, set out to climb all 4000m peaks in the Alps in a summer, without using any powered transport to travel between them. In a year where the effects of climate change were felt across Europe more than ever, Roeland wanted to set an example of how we can all do small things to impact change. Just a few weeks into Roeland's challenge tragic news broke of a colossal Glacier collapse on the Marmolada, in the Dolomites. By foot and by bike, Roeland ticked off all 82 peaks in just over 10 weeks.

When Marie Uri first got in to climbing, there were very few women who looked like her, neither her size nor her colour. Marie has type 2 diabetes, is neurodiverse and describes herself as being ‘a generous body type person'. Raised in Guadeloupe before moving to the suburbs of Paris to finish her schooling, Marie's passion for languages ultimately brought her to London, where she joined the Marylebone Mountaineering Club. She was so engrossed in learning how to climb that it did not occur to her to question whether climbing was for her. Instead, she just indulged herself in the places, the movement, the people. Marie is simply in love with trad climbing and now mentors other women at the start of their journeys.

London-based, proud Mum Chelle Nevill has struggled with her mental health over the years. It wasn't until she discovered climbing, when she really started to make lasting progress. Chelle was diagnosed with depression in 2009 and says, “I have always done my best to try and be strong and overcome my own obstacles, but it wasn't until I found climbing that I started to really make progress that was lasting and didn't feel like a mask for my issues, but more of a tool-box that gave me what I needed to better understand myself.” We chat about Womens Trad festival and her dream of one day climbing a Yosemite big wall.

Rachael Crewesmith works as an instructor, coach and mentor across a variety of mountain sports. Whether its winter climbing on Ben Nevis, mountain biking across Nepal or trad climbing on a sea cliff, Rachael loves it all and is passionate about sharing her knowledge and skill. She combines her technical knowledge with a strong background in coaching, including coaching climbing for the BMC, and is also a key part of the Women's Trad festival. Rachael talks about her work and is uniquely placed to share insights on dealing with a fear of heights, a fear of falling, being bold and generally getting the best from yourself.

Angus has climbed hard free routes on El Capitan, he climbed the infamous E9 Indian face on Cloggy as a youth, and recently set his sights on climbing a 9a sport route in Spain. Suffice to say, Angus Kille knows a thing or two about ‘being bold'. He talks about setting ambitious goals and making them a reality. How he handles the pressure on the climb and off it, and more specifically how he manages deep-seated fear of falling or the thought of it. He also answers questions such as ‘how do you prepare for a 9a' and ‘what's it like trying the same 9a big project as your partner', in his case Hazel Findlay?

Jerry Moffatt is a living legend. He was one of the best climbers through the 1980s and 90s. Jerry excelled in all disciplines of rock climbing consistently pushing standards to new heights around the world - in bouldering, trad climbing, redpointing, flashing and on-sighting. But it wasn't all plain sailing. Jerry battled with injuries and initially struggled to realise his best form in competitions. He shares the strategies he used to start winning. Jerry, like many people, believe the mind is the most important muscle, he's even written a book on the subject – Mastermind, Mental Training for Climbers.

Rab athlete Bronwyn Hodgins shares her mental approach to preparing for Golden Gate 5:13a, a desperate 30 plus pitch free route on El Capitan, Yosemite. As a guide, mentor and elite rock climber based in Squamish BC Canada, Bronwyn shares insights into the workshops she runs to help people overcome the fear of falling. Bronwyn also regales stories of her recent adventures in South America, big walls in Mexico, and new free ascents in Cochomo, Chile. She rarely sits still. We also ask her what she does on rest days? I mean does she even need rest days?

A candid chat with Professor Lew Hardy, who trained as a British mountain guide but went on to help set up the Institute for the Psychology of Elite Performance at Bangor University. He worked on research projects with Royal Marines, England's cricket team, Olympians and countless other groups. Lew shares insights into what drives high achievers and how we might realise our potential. We chat about self-belief, resilience, what can help us make good decisions even under pressure and why some folk can seemingly handle risk better than others.

Rab athlete, Tom Randall, has travelled the world in search of the quirkiest crack climbs that nature has to offer. Faced with the prospect of a year without international travel, Tom and his climbing partner, Pete Whittaker, needed a project closer to home. And so ‘The Great Rift' was born. In this exclusive interview, he explains how an almost 800m, perfectly smooth, horizontal concrete crack under a motorway bridge on the M5 caught his eye.

Ryan Vachon is a climate scientist and videographer. When he's not researching frozen bits of the world, digging up ice cores, or making films about how caribou survive Arctic winters, he likes to climb. Being based in Denver, Colorado, he's got plenty on the doorstep. Ryan's big passion is to inspire people to engage in informed decisions on how they relate to the natural world. He speaks about the importance of brands to act responsibly as well as what we as individuals can do to lessen our impact on the environment. Ryan is currently collaborating with Rab to produce a film about perspectives within the climbing community on a changing climate.

The energy and enthusiasm of Tim Fish are infectious. He rarely sits still, but I made him! This is a rare opportunity to glimpse into the mind of an innovative product design leader. Tim Fish loves trad climbing andbouldering. Hislove of wild places began whilst visiting his gran in Snowdonia as a kid. At school he was always drawn to art, design and has always enjoyed solving problems. Tim speaks about the importance of a brand not imitating others and also gives us a glimpse of the work Rab is doing in terms of sustainability. As the Product Director of Rab with a young family, Tim is a busy man, but being Sheffield based, means he can climb on the local grit at any opportunity.

Jacopo was born in Courmayeur beneath the giant Italian face of Mt Blanc. He was skiing well before he started school and dreamed of becoming a mountain guide. Jacopo shares the thrill of climbing his first 4000 metre peak with his father, about his work as a guide and his passion for supporting mountain guides in the countries of South America. He talks about the inherent risks and how he transitioned to work as a designer. Most of all I wanted to ask, why are Italians always so well dressed and what does he really think of British food?

Neil McAdie is a man who loves a journey. If it involves climbing, particularly adventurous climbing, even better. He has climbed everywhere, literally; Gogarth, Ben Nevis, Bolivia, Mt Blanc, first ascents of giant Himalayan mountains - he has crammed in a lifetime of quests. Neil shares stories of the places and characters he's encountered along the way. Neil was the Sales Director of Equip between 2002 to 2020 and, armed with a strong work ethic and sound business acumen, he was part of the team that contributed to the continuing rise of the Rab brand. He gives insight in how to manage rapid growth whilst keeping the trust of authentic outdoor users.

Rab athlete Tom Randall swapped life as a London city trader to become a cutting-edge rock climber. His visionary first ascents included the famous Century Crack, a project that he and his Wideboyz partner Pete Whittaker trained for in Tom's legendary Sheffield cellar. Tom is a serial entrepreneur and founder of the global climbing performance Lattice Training. I caught up with Tom – once he'd put his kids to bed – to find out where he finds all the energy and whether he could envisage life without some ludicrous stretch project.

Dick Turnbull is the man behind a great British climbing institution, the Outside shop in Hathersage, Peak District. When it comes to climbing kit and clothing his knowledge is unparalleled. An accomplished mountaineer, through the 1980s and 90s Dick climbed many of the formidable Alpine north faces in winter. He talks about working with outdoor brands over the years and the importance having solid mountain people as staff, folk that walk the talk. He shares a remarkable journey from Eton to adventures on the Eiger with ‘Flying Frank the decorator'. Not to mention becoming trapped in the ice, in the attic in his boat.

Rab Carrington is a climbing legend. In 1981 he began making down sleeping bags in his house in Sheffield. Rab likes solving problems whether on a mountain or designing and making kit for people heading to the mountains. In this second episode Rab talks about a ground-breaking and committing alpine-style ascent of the Himalayan giant Jannu. Rab talks about starting out making sleeping bags, the trade partnerships along the way, as well as his values. We also get to hear about Sean Connery's jet and the joy of climbing your first 8a aged 60.

Rab Carrington is a climbing legend. In 1981 he began making down sleeping bags in his house in Sheffield. Rab likes solving problems whether on a mountain or designing and making kit for people heading to the mountains. In this first episode Rab talks about growing up in Glasgow and starting out climbing in the 1960s. Later Rab formed a formidable partnership with Al Rouse, exploring the Alps in winter as well as undertaking a legendary trip to south America, pioneering difficult routes in an audacious, lightweight style. Hitchhiking to the Alps in kilts and getting arrested in Buenos Aeries. Rab is candid, he tells it as it is.

Hetty Key and Charlie Low wanted a climbing community. So, they built one for themselves. The Women's Trad Fest has gone from strength to strength since its inception in 2016. Connecting, inspiring, including and supporting women, as they transition from indoor climbing to outdoor trad in the Peak District, UK. In this episode we chat about their personal stories and the motivations behind the festival. We delve into Hetty's research about mental wellbeing and discuss the barriers facing women who want to get outdoors.

Bronwyn Hodgins has boundless energy. And she's been putting it to excellent use. For 35 days she journeyed by pack raft through the Auyuittuq National Park, on Baffin Island. With her husband, Jacob Cook, and two friends in tow, she climbed some of the world's biggest and most remote walls. We catch up on this latest expedition and hear about where it all started for her. From her outdoor family life, to professional river guiding, to her pursuit of big climbing adventures with outcomes unknown.

Angus Kille has pushed himself in all the disciplines of rock climbing. From Shropshire sandstone, to the Indian Face on Cloggy, and big free climb adventures on El Capitan. We talk about life on a big wall, climbing partnerships and pushing yourself physically and mentally. Angus has done so much and he's still young. Perhaps his secret is to stay in the moment and not worry too much about the outcome. He's also very passionate about all young people being given the opportunity to discover the outdoors.

Kev Shields is straight talking and funny. He understands adversity. He climbs rock and ice at a very high standard, with only one fully formed hand. Kev claims that discovering climbing changed his life and helped him deal with tough times. We chat about what drives him and whether he thinks attitudes to disabled people have really changed all that much.

Former kickboxing champion Nasim Eshqi is one of Iran's rock strongest climbers. A pioneer of new routes, we hear about the obstacles she has had to overcome, in climbing and in life. She tells us what she learned on her travels outside of Iran and explains why the liberation and energy she gets from nature is one of the her main attractions to climbing.

Julia Virat is one of a handful of French women to become a Chamonix High Mountain Guide. Here she shares how she broke through barriers into an elite male dominated world, recounting tales of adventures, on skis, in a yacht and on the world's biggest rock walls. She relives the drama of getting lost on Yosemite's 3,000 foot El Capitan. Solo. In the dark. And admits, that in this case, her mum had the best advice.