Author Archives: gemlaurensmith

The first time I tried ice climbing it was an impromptu hour of top roping into a Moulin on the Mer du Glace last June. So not content with the array of supposedly dangerous mountain activities I already participate in, that short session was all it took for me to decide it was something IContinue reading “Ice Ice Baby – beginner ice climb time”

Everyone has come back from the Christmas break with the usual new year’s resolutions to eat better, exercise more etc etc. but for me 2017 is all about being outside, getting new qualifications and enjoying life. I work in a pretty stressful job at times so getting outside is super important for me, being inContinue reading “Bring on 2017”

Wet. When people ask me how my trip to Kilimanjaro was, wet is the only way to describe it. I don’t think it’s quite the adjective they expect when they ask but forget having beautiful vistas on our assent of the world tallest freestanding mountain all we saw for days was rain, rain and moreContinue reading “African giants”

The Tough Girl Podcast has long been one of my favourite parts of the week, an eagerly anticipated Tuesday morning treat on my commute to work. So when I was asked to be part of the podcast’s 2017 series following seven real women with adventure challenges in 2017 how could I say no. I’m notContinue reading “Talking to the Tough Girl Podcast”

Not making it to the top of a mountain when that’s the sole focus of a trip is hard. This is the first time I’ve had to turn away from a mountain summit, and on Mt Toubkal in Morocco, a mountain I thought would pose no problem. Compared to EBC and Mt Blanc, I thoughtContinue reading “Turning back isn’t easy … but at least there is tea”

Why on earth did I think this was a good idea. At over 4000 meters high, huffing and puffing my way uphill in the dark, I was seriously doubting my holiday plans to climb Mt Blanc.