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      Rob Gale

      Rob Gale

      Curious | Dependable | Tenacious

      Mini Bio

      It’s a long way from a hill farm in Somerset to the Scottish Highlands, but it was that journey that brought me to the life I now lead.

      Early involvement with an outdoor activities club at the local tech college built a love of hillwalking. Two weeks in a minibus exploring the Summer Isles opened my horizons further! Achiltibuie, Suilven, Ben Mor Coigach, Stac Pollaidh, and other such names worked their magic on me and left an everlasting impression on how I feel about Scotland and all other wild places.

      Since then, I have worked all over Scotland and the UK with every type of group, frequently returning to get my ‘fix’ of Scotland. As an active outdoors leader, instructor and educator, I see the natural environment as more than just a venue or facility; it is a vital thing that needs our care and attention so that we can pass it on to those who follow.

      Favourite Place to Play

      It is hard to pick just one!
      In Scotland, I’d have to say the Trossachs, Glen Shiel, Applecross Peninsula and Torridon.
      In England, don’t miss the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and North Pennines.
      Each one has something special.

      Not a lot of People Know This

      As part of my assessment for a Dance & Movement module in a post-graduate course, I performed in a charity dance production with members of a ballet school. Graceful I am not, but nor were several others from my course who were also ‘convinced’ to strut their terpsichorean stuff clad in highly revealing leotards.

      Think rugby, hockey and football students moving with the eloquence of a tired and nearly defeated team in the last quarter of a gruelling match in deep mud, and you’ll get the picture.

      I am so grateful that video cameras and the internet were a long way from being deployed and that any visual record of this is held only in memories.

      “As an active outdoors leader, instructor, and educator, I see the natural environment as more than just a venue or facility; it is a vital thing that needs our care and attention so that we can pass it on to those who follow.”
      Expand All
      Qualifications Read More
      • International Mountain Leader,
      • Mountain Leader (Summer)
      • Rock Climbing Instructor
      • Cave Leader Vertical
      • Exped & Remote First Aid
      Experience Read More

      I am an experienced, committed, and knowledgeable International Mountain Leader who has trekked, climbed, trail-run and generally played and worked in many of Europe’s Alpine and mountainous areas. I have a long-standing acquaintance with the Mont Blanc massif, the Tour du Mont Blanc, Haute Route, Dolomites and other parts of the Western Alps—a region that is heavily used but in which I still find new and less-travelled parts every year.

      I spent the summers in the Western States of the USA for 10 years. I enjoyed exploring the Rockies and desert/arid areas in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Arizona, Nevada, and Montana. I walked or ran many of the 14’ers (14,000-ft peaks of Colorado), and mountain biked at Moab and the Four Corners area even before it became the popular destination it is now.

      In my spare time, I run a not-for-profit organisation that works with individuals, organisations and communities to inspire engagement with nature and thus support positive physical and mental well-being.

      Biggest Adventure Read More

      I hope it’s still to come! In the meantime, I’ve had so many adventures with friends and clients that it’s hard to pick the biggest, but one of my fondest memories is free diving through all of the feasible sumps (flooded cave passages) without bottled oxygen down to Sump 9 in Swildon’s Hole in the Mendips.

      With two other friends, really minimal personal equipment and unreliable light sources, it was an ‘adventure’ from which I learnt so much. Namely, how not to make such ill-considered and hasty decisions again! Learning from experience is crucially important for anyone, but I resolved to stack the odds far more in my favour after that particular day.

      Specialist Subject Read More

      Wherever I travel or work, I make a point of seeking out the best local coffee shops and bakeries—places with character, quality and a good flat white.

      As a secondary interest, I also look for great bars, pubs and restaurants—ideal spots to unwind and enjoy good company after a day out. I’m always happy to share recommendations.

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