Two years ago, I qualified as a Mountain Leader.
At the time, I wasn’t thinking about business or coaching. I simply loved being in the mountains and wanted to build the skills and confidence to explore them safely and share that experience with others.
Living in Brighton, it certainly wasn’t the easiest qualification to pursue. It meant countless trips north, weekends in the hills, annual leave spent hiking, and somehow finding enough quality mountain days to qualify. Looking back, every mile was worth it.
What I didn’t expect was how much becoming a Mountain Leader would shape the way I work.
Since qualifying, I’ve guided hikes across the South Downs, the Lake District and the Isle of Skye, worked alongside the brilliant team at RAW Adventures, explored the Cairngorms, hiked independently in the French and Italian Alps, and discovered places I might never otherwise have experienced.
But the biggest lessons haven’t come from maps or mountain safety. They’ve come from spending time with people outdoors.
One thing I’ve noticed on every hike and retreat is that people rarely remember how many miles they walked. They remember how they felt. The conversations. The confidence they discovered. The perspective they gained. The moment they realised they were capable of more than they thought.
It’s made me realise how much of modern life is spent behind screens or around meeting tables, when some of the clearest thinking happens simply by walking side by side in nature.
When we’re outside, something shifts. We slow down, breathe more deeply and create space for better conversations, fresh ideas and a different perspective.
That’s why hiking has become such an important part of Big Sky.
The mountains aren’t the goal in themselves – they simply create the conditions for people to reconnect with themselves, gain clarity and move forward with greater confidence.
Looking back, becoming a Mountain Leader wasn’t just another qualification. It quietly became one of the foundations of Big Sky Adventures.
The journey isn’t over either. This winter I’ll begin working towards my Winter Mountain Leader qualification, which means plenty more weekends in Scotland (and, hopefully, a fully finished campervan to make those trips a little easier!).
If the last two years have taught me anything, it’s that the decisions that shape our lives aren’t always the obvious ones. Sometimes they’re simply the ones we choose because they genuinely excite us.
I’m excited to see where the next adventure leads.
P.S. The photo at the top of this blog post was taken during my Mountain Leader assessment in North Wales… in August! 🌧️ Safe to say the weather didn’t get the memo it was supposed to be summer. Torrential rain all day – but I suppose if you can navigate in those conditions, you’re well prepared for whatever the mountains throw at you! 😄
