The Mountain People Podcast

Professional climbing, new motherhood, and personal hardship. Colorado based Rab athlete Heather Weidner shares the journey and philosophy behind her elite level sport and trad climbing achievements, and the meaning behind the routes she climbs. A former ballet dancer and veterinary surgeon, Heather recently became a mother. In this podcast episode, she discusses the challenges and joys of climbin...

Balancing bikepacking expeditions to remote wilderness with corporate and family life. Rab ambassador Nat Williams shares the highs and lows of biking in remote regions, from traversing Iceland on two-wheels to the 1900KM Silk Road Mountain Race through Kyrgyzstan. What are the unique challenges of cycling at altitude? How do you prepare for the rugged terrain and harsh weather conditions? What ar...

Managing the mindset for adventure after a life-changing climbing accident. Paralysed in a climbing accident as a young woman, Karen Darke explores the mindset needed to approach extreme adventure, and shares her mantra that ‘ability is a state of mind’. Karen’s curious and creative nature has led her to live a life full of thrills, from traversing Greenland on skis, climbing El Cap, Himalayan han...

After avoiding Patagonia for 20 years, blind adventurer, Erik Weihenmayer recounts his inaugural trip to El Valle de Silencio with his friend, Chilean climber and photographer, Felipe Tapia Nordenflycht. Although from Chile, Felipe has never had the opportunity to visit the climbers' paradise that sits in his home country. They discuss their aim to make Erik the first blind person to stand atop To...

How do you seek out quality new routes? And, how to adapt your beta and approach to accommodate disability?    Born with limb difference in one hand, Scottish new route pioneer Kev Shields discusses how a sense of community and trust in those around him help him achieve his climbing goals, as he embarks on a quest to send his first E8 trad route.    In this episode, Kev shares how he has learnt to...

After losing her lower leg in an avalanche in the Alps, Jo Newton shares her journey through trauma to the international paraclimbing competition stage. A story so powerful it compels you to listen, Jo’s responses to trauma pay testament to the best of the human spirit, courage, friendship and determination. A single mum and Engineering Director working on cutting-edge plastics recycling solutions...

What does it take to become the youngest woman to cycle around the world?  Setting out at just 19 years old, Rab athlete Vedangi Kulkarni became the youngest woman to cycle the 29,000km across 15 countries around the globe.  Vedangi discovered her passion for bikes on a Brighton to London cycle during her university studies. In fact, she loved the experience so much that she carried on to northern...

Environmental education: it’s our responsibility.  In this special edition of The Mountain People Podcast, Debbie Read, our Head of Corporate Communications and CSR, talks with Science Presenter Huw James about why industries should be leading the charge on environmental education and passing on their knowledge to consumers.

Can high-performance outdoor gear ever be completely sustainable? In this special edition episode of The Mountain People Podcast, Science Presenter Huw James and Rab Design Director Tim Fish delve into the challenges and limitations we face when creating more sustainable gear. 

How to source more sustainable outdoor gear: challenges and informed choices. In this special edition episode of The Mountain People Podcast, Science Presenter Huw James joins host Andy Cave to discuss the challenges of buying sustainable gear, understanding what makes it sustainable, and how we can help our customers make informed choices.

Navigating identity, the importance of community, and new motherhood in the outdoors.   Having recently become a new mother to twins, Rab athlete Hetty Kingston shares her journey of gravel biking throughout pregnancy. Hetty gives insight into her lived experiences of pregnancy in the outdoors, and debunks the myths and conflicting advice she encountered along the way.

Discover the transformative power of skill sharing at Climbing Life Kenya, in collaboration with the Global Climbing Initiative. In this episode, Rab athlete and coach Marcus Garcia, Liz Ndindi and Dani Dobrot join host Andy Cave as they reflect on their journey of growth, empowerment, safety and inclusivity as they guide an emerging climbing community on the road to self-discovery. 

From the essential skills and mindset needed to stay safe whilst moving through the mountains, from winter walking, to tackling treacherous climbs on ice and mixed terrain, Glenmore Lodge Chief Instructor, Heather Morning, and Mountain Guide Stu McAleese, are unrivalled in their experience of Scottish winter. Situated in the Cairngorms National Park, Glenmore Lodge has provided to mountain skills...

Sharp decision making, thorough preparation, and understanding conditions and risks.    Born and raised beneath Monte Bianco, Rab and Lowe Alpine’s Head of Design, Jacopo Buffachi, discusses the mindset and preparation needed to stay safe and make the most of backcountry ski touring.    What are common hazards early season versus later in the year? What is the standard avalanche safety kit to carr...

Season after season, Rab athlete Greg Boswell and Guy Robertson push the boundaries of the possible, making bold first ascents, often ground up, with little prior knowledge of what lies ahead. We ask them about the secret to finding good conditions, falling off, and balancing a climbing obsession with a regular job and family life. And, what went into filming Ephemeral, the Scottish winter climbin...

We chat to ski freeride legend Julian Carr about tackling huge cliff drops, his mental preparation and how to say ‘no’, even with a large film crew in tow. Having appeared in multiple Warren Miller ski movies, Julian is a true professional, savouring every moment of being a full-time skier.

In this episode, Chamonix-based mountain guide, Boris Langenstein discusses the challenges of high-altitude skiing, with a big pack and little chance of rescue. This is true exploration where partnership and acceptance of risk are essential. How do you make good decisions when tired at such altitudes? What happens when one person is not strong enough to continue?

Meticulous planning, physical and mental strain, and strong emotions: Rab athlete Jon Gupta talks us through the make-up of high-altitude mountaineering expeditions in the Himalayas. So, what kit is needed? What’s the secret of getting people to bond? How integral are Sherpas to a team’s success? And, how much does a trip like this cost?

Based out of Squamish, Canada, Rab athletes Bronwyn Hodgins and Jacob Cook are no strangers to ambitious journeys across vast landscapes in search of adventurous first ascents. Having recently completed a 65-day human powered expedition along the coast of Greenland, the duo share insight into how they plan these impressive missions, how they secure their success, and the moments that make it all w...

Hailing from a land with little culture of alpinism, Rab athlete Faiçal Bourkiba discusses his dreams of developing winter climbing possibilities in Morocco, and the challenges of sourcing equipment from local markets. Full of alpine aspiration, Faiçal teamed up with fellow Rab athlete Jeff Mercier to bring two different worlds together for a first ascent in the remote Atlas Mountains of Morocco i...

From groundbreaking first descents, to gnarly backcountry touring missions, Rab athlete and extreme snowboarder, Krister Kopala finds inspiration in exploring the mountain ranges of Northern Norway. Krister talks of cutting edge descents (including his latest film 'The White Giant'), and his journey from the speed of freeride snowboard to more nuanced technical steep snowboarding where the consequ...

Chamonix-based Dutch mountain guide, Roeland Van Oss, set out to climb all 4000m peaks in the Alps in a summer, without using any powered transport to travel between them. In a year where the effects of climate change were felt across Europe more than ever, Roeland wanted to set an example of how we can all do small things to impact change. Just a few weeks into Roeland’s challenge tragic news bro...

When Marie Uri first got in to climbing, there were very few women who looked like her, neither her size nor her colour. Marie has type 2 diabetes, is neurodiverse and describes herself as being ‘a generous body type person’. Raised in Guadeloupe before moving to the suburbs of Paris to finish her schooling, Marie’s passion for languages ultimately brought her to London, where she joined the Maryl...

London-based, proud Mum Chelle Nevill has struggled with her mental health over the years. It wasn’t until she discovered climbing, when she really started to make lasting progress. Chelle was diagnosed with depression in 2009 and says, “I have always done my best to try and be strong and overcome my own obstacles, but it wasn't until I found climbing that I started to really make progress that wa...

Rachael Crewesmith works as an instructor, coach and mentor across a variety of mountain sports. Whether its winter climbing on Ben Nevis, mountain biking across Nepal or trad climbing on a sea cliff, Rachael loves it all and is passionate about sharing her knowledge and skill. She combines her technical knowledge with a strong background in coaching, including coaching climbing for the BMC, and i...