The Slapdash Adventurer

I’ve wanted to be an adventurer since I was old enough to open a book. I’d stare wide-eyed at images of polar explorers, mesmerised by icicles hanging off beards, hair whipping frozen cheeks, impossible terrain reflected in battered goggles…

And so was born my ever-present dream to visit the most remote and inhospitable places on earth, to push limits and set an example of determination and endurance.

To be a real-life adventurer.

Imagine my disappointment, then, to find out that I’m absolutely crap at it.

‘It’ll be fine,’ I tell myself. ‘I’ll just have a go, see what happens.’

Inevitably what happens is that it all goes horribly wrong. Like the time I was airlifted off the Everest Base Camp trail with altitude sickness. Or the time I got my timing wrong and fell off the side of a ship, squashing one of the most remote islanders on Earth.

Or the time I got blasted off a road during a squall in Iceland and was forced to ‘abort expedition’. Or the time I set fire to my tent and almost died of hypothermia (slight exaggeration – I slept in my car).

I’m too slapdash to be an adventurer. I’m not serious enough, I don’t mind failing and I tend to plan more than ‘do’.

“It used to churn me up inside that I wasn’t good enough. It hurt to be called the Bridget Jones of adventure by armchair critics. It hurt even more to be called ‘delusional’ by those who pick fault from the safety of their own limits. It was humiliating to report yet another adventure that had ended in failure, to see eyes rolling and hear the inevitable disappointed sighs. And that was always my biggest problem: caring about what people think.”

I felt inadequate for a long time until I decided to draw a line, stop focusing on who I’m not and work with who I am. To embrace the fact that yeah, I’m complete shite at adventure but I’m not afraid to go for my dreams and I’m not afraid of making mistakes.

I love taking risks. I love screwing up. I love hearing myself screech with delight at my own stupidity. I love getting into trouble. And I love the fact that I fail at most of the things I try. Why? Because failure isn’t the opposite of success; failure leads to success.

For me, if you choose to be brave, go all out for your dreams, throw yourself in and take a chance, you learn what your limits are. You begin to focus on what you can do, rather than what you can’t, so your confidence grows and the chances of success improves.

TOUGHEST ADVENTURE?

Trekking to Everest Base Camp whilst effectively carrying a person on my back (150lbs of excess weight). I got to 16,000ft before having to turn back on my first attempt. On my second attempt I got altitude sickness and was airlifted out.

FAVOURITE ADVENTURE?

My attempt to walk 1000 miles solo round Iceland. I’m thrilled I had the guts to follow my dream, even though it was way beyond me. I’ll never forget the feeling of taking that first step with 1000 miles ahead of me and feeling like an epic adventurer.

NEXT ADVENTURE?

Lots of adventures to come but the one that’s calling me most is a 300-mile trek through the Scottish Highlands. I’ll be camping wild most of the way, with Dave, Archie and the van as my support team. I’d like to make a film about my journey.