House-Anderson, Mt Alberta, Canadian Rockies

This was the first big alpine route outside of the alps, it felt really committing and I will never forget walking along the base of the face at 2am.

Gandiva 5.11 M5+ 1400m Arjuna (6100m), Northern India

An all free 1400m new route with two great friends on our first trip to the Himalaya, hard to beats those memories.

Giant VII, 7 First Winter Ascent, Creag an Dubh Loch, Scotland

I climbed this my dad, he had spotted the line in the eighties and this was my first new route in Scotland.

Running in the Shadows VI AI5 M6 A0, 2000m. Emperor Face, Yexyexescen (Mt. Robson) Canadian Rockies

Putting up a new route on such a famous face was a truly special experience, practically roadside but with a Himalayan scale.

Cuillin Ridge winter traverse, Isle of Skye, Scotland (4hrs 57)

These are my local mountains and to be able to traverse them in a short day felt special and I was faster than Findlay Wild...

1. Just go try, you will learn and gain confidence every time even if you don’t start climbing, you will also get good at bailing which is important too.
2. Get a good partner, not just one who is good at climbing. One who you trust, has a similar risk tolerance to you and most importantly you like spending time with, alpinism involves a lot of down time.
3. Lead in blocks, British climbers sometimes find this odd, but it makes a big difference if you are still swinging leads on an alpine climb go back to the 90’s.
4. Efficiency is better than speed. Its very cool to be super-fast and start sprinting up the ice fields at them base of the route but if you just burn out its completely pointless. Consider efficiency in absolutely everything you do, and you will be faster without being needlessly tired.
5. Enjoy being in the mountains. Relax, enjoy being there, have a laugh with your friends. It helps break down any unnecessary fear or tension. After all that’s the point if you aren’t enjoying it then maybe you should just go sport climbing.