I grew up in Tottenham, inner city London
My family weren’t outdoorsy at all but a friend of mine invited me to come and join her at the Air Cadets and it was from there I had the opportunity to do The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award – they took us out on different expeditions and took us into the countryside. It opened up a whole new world for me. I learnt to use a map and compass and become more independent in the outdoors. When I left there, in my late teens being outside became my hobby and it has been for the last 30 years.
Being outside is my job now
I’m a freelance outdoor instructor. I tend to focus my work with women and young people – that’s an area I gravitate towards. My background is working with young people, being an ex-school teacher and working with young people on the The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award – something I still do today. I really love helping young people on their journey to loving the outdoors, giving them the opportunity that I had when I was a teenager to explore the outdoors and be confident outdoors.
I spend my winters in Scotland
For the last five years I’ve been working towards my Winter Mountain Leader qualification, spending my winters in Scotland. That’s worked really well, as my main work as an outdoor instructor is from March to October, so I had time to do it. I now have the qualification, so I’ll spend my winters in Scotland, working. I get the best of both worlds – living in London, this amazing city, with everything it has to offer and getting to travel to amazing places across the UK and abroad for my work.
I’m a leader at Merrell Hiking Club
For the past few years I’ve been working with Merrell Hiking Club as their Community Lead, building awareness of the hiking club and getting more people outdoors. My role has changed slightly in the last year but it’s still basically helping get more people outdoors – it’s an inclusive club but being female led, it does bring more women into the outdoors.
I hope I won’t be the only black Winter Mountain Leader for long
I am the first recorded black person to achieve the Winter Mountain Leader qualification, in the forty years history of the awards, sadly. I am proud of the work I’ve done to get the award, of the qualification and in terms of representation, but I didn’t set out to be the first and I don’t want to be the only one. I know I won’t be.
My Garmin fenix and smartphone are the tech I use outdoors
I’m old school in terms of using a map and compass – navigating without relying on GPS is one of my areas of expertise. I do have GPS, on my smartphone, as a back-up for safety and particularly if I’m on my own, but largely I’ll use analogue methods. With the satellite capabilities on smartphones these days, I really don’t feel there is a need for separate GPS devices. The only benefit of a separate GPS unit for me would be it being slightly more robust, but I use a case, and longer battery life, but I use power banks instead.
Peru and the Himalayas have been my favourite expeditions abroad
The Salkantay Trek in Peru was a work trip highlight for me. It’s an alternative to the Inca Trail, going up into the mountains, down through the valleys and then you end up at the base of Matcha Picchu – it’s just incredible. Earlier this year I took a personal trip to Everest Base Camp – the Himalayas are also incredible.
Snowdonia Nation Park is where it’s at in the UK
If I was able to be picked up and go on a hike anywhere in the UK tomorrow, I would head to Snowdonia Nation Park and do the Nantlle Ridge which is my favourite walk there. It’s away from the really popular trails and Snowdon itself – it’s a ridge walk which is really stunning. In terms of the outdoors, I find beauty everywhere – in London there are lots of green spaces, so I’m able to get out and have a really nice day out – all the things I get from nature, I know I can actually get not far from my front door.
I’ve run about fifteen marathons
I love running. It gives me space – it’s almost meditative for me to run long distances alone. I tend to run linking up green spaces around London. I run mostly on my own but I do like running socially as well, so I link up with different running clubs and friends too.
My idea of relaxing generally isn’t the same as other peoples…
Sports are my passion. In the last year or so, I’ve gotten into Hyrox and, as well as running, I also love cycling and swimming. As an older woman, I’m looking at how I can keep my body as robust, so I can keep doing my job for as long as possible. When I got my first mountain leader qualification as Summer Mountain Leader, I was in my 40s and now getting my Winter Mountain Leader qualification in my 50s, I realise I’m not a young person with a lifetime ahead of me of being able to do this job.
I drive electric car and a classic camper
We have an electric family car, a BMW i4 eDrive35 but at the other end of the spectrum we have a 54-year-old VW Type 2 Bay camper – polar opposites! I use the BMW for work but some of the issues, particularly if I’m driving to remote places, is the range – on the next car we get the range will be more important.
Find out about the Merrell Hiking Club here.
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