My background
I’m Chris, a former School teacher with a PGCE in Outdoor Education. I'm a qualified Mountaineering & Climbing Instructor and Winter Mountain Leader with a great passion for the outdoors and have been passing on knowledge to others for the last 30 years, leading and participating in Youth Expeditions all over the world. I'm a member of Penrith Mountain Rescue Team and also volunteer with Notts ACF as their Adventure Training Officer, having previously served with the 4th Battalion The Parachute Regiment. I'm also a keen Trail and Mountain Ultrarunner and have completed a number of 100+ mile races including the UTMB (2018) and Winter Spine (2023).
I also have an academic backround as a Biology Doctorate and can discuss and explain the human physiology underpinning performance.
I've been inspired by others to take on new challenges and hope to inspire you. I'm a strong advocate of experiential learning and have honed effective teaching methods. By tailoring each session to maximise your skill acquisition, I aim to build your confidence and ability to carry out your own adventures safely. I'm approachable and an experienced instructor who can tailor mountaineering activities to your needs.
I’m used to working with people of all age groups, from 8-18 and including those in their later years too. I believe that it is never too late to learn a new skill. I started running ultramarathons at 50 and have been on an interesting journey of self-discovery through progressive challenge.
I’m experienced, safe and reliable in my instructing and I always try to be flexible, travelling to and from venues across the UK.
What Mountain Training England say
"Chris had a lovely manner with the candidate’s. He had a fun approach which put candidates at ease. He delivered all elements of the syllabus in bite size chunks so the candidates never felt overwhelmed by too much information. He also delivered the syllabus as the opportunities arose but in a logical order. This was a really well delivered course by a very experienced teacher who knows how to ensure his candidates received a top class experience."