Between The Mountains Adventure Podcast

As a 50th episode special, I invite Dustin from That Adventure Life back on to the show to chat about one of his favourite places: Hawaii    Dustin recommends 5 adventures to have on the island, with two episodes on two further islands to come!     This was such a fun episode to record, and I hope you enjoy it too!    thatadventurelife.com    www.betweenthemountains.org  If you enjoy the show please subscribe/follow and share with a friend!   If you really enjoy the show please check out our Patreon site here, starting from only £4 (that's only a cup of coffee each month!). To come on the show or work with me, please email on btmtravelpod@gmail.com   Join in with the community. Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @BTMTravelPod

8 Aug 202033min

Lucy Shepherd comes back for her final of three parts to the show. We talk about exploring the High Sierras, dodging avalanches, rationing food, and literally getting lost in the mountains.     I really hope you enjoy it, I certainly did as I listened to this epic journey!    www.lucyshepherd.net    www.betweenthemountains.org  If you enjoy the show please subscribe/follow and share with a friend!   If you really enjoy the show please check out our Patreon site here, starting from only £4 (that's only a cup of coffee each month!). To come on the show or work with me, please email on btmtravelpod@gmail.com   Join in with the community. Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @BTMTravelPod

5 Aug 202048min

Today we invite Two Roaming Souls on to the show to talk about their Van Life, modifications, and travels.   Website: tworoamingsouls.com  Instagram: instagram.com/tworoamingsouls YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0MiZd3gq_hOj7bdT_4V3Qw  Facebook: facebook.com/tworoamingsouls   Twitter: twitter.com/tworoamingsouls   www.betweenthemountains.org  If you enjoy the show please subscribe/follow and share with a friend!   If you really enjoy the show please check out our Patreon site here, starting from only £4 (that's only a cup of coffee each month!). To come on the show or work with me, please email on btmtravelpod@gmail.com   Join in with the community. Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @BTMTravelPod

1 Aug 202043min

To round off and finish July, we welcome back Ly to the podcast. We talk about her time scuba diving in Egypt, which just sounds beautiful. www.betweenthemountains.org  If you enjoy the show please subscribe/follow and share with a friend! If you really enjoy the show please check out our Patreon site here, starting from only £4 (that's only a cup of coffee each month!). To come on the show or work with me, please email on: btmtravelpod@gmail.com Join in with the community. Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @BTMTravelPod

29 Juli 202027min

Graham's dream to climb in the Pakistani Karakoram starts as a kid. After reading about it and seeing the incredible photos, it captured his attention immediately. But, perhaps like a lot of people's dreams sadly, he thought it may never be achievable to climb there.  Fast forward to 2020, Graham joins the podcast to talk about his career and climbing experience in the Karakoram. Through hard-work and drive, he has now taken part in multiple expeditions there, experiencing the fantastic community and brilliant mountains first hand.  Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and all other platforms; just search “Between The Mountains” or Ask Alexa!   One Of The Most Special Places On The Planet  The Karakoram is a mountain range crossing India, China, Pakistan, and even as far as Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Some of the highest mountains in the world reside there, including K2 and other 8000m peaks.  What makes this place special for a climber, as Graham describes, is that most of the rock there is Granite or Granitoid; one of the best rocks for climbing on. Think about El Capitan, or the Mont Blanc Massif.  What comes with this strong and robust rock are some very steep and tall mountains. This is where Graham comes in!  It's been at the forefront of his mind as a kid. Casting his thoughts back to High School, it was a National Geographic article and photos of some of the bigger peaks that sparked the fire for the Karakoram. But, Graham took a humbling and modest approach and just remained in total awe of the mountain ranges. He didn't consider whether he should or shouldn't climb these mountains, but he instead grew a complete appreciate for the range and detail.  Reaching The Karakoram  Before Graham reached the Karakoram, there were a few hurdles. When he first initially was able to go, he first wasn't able to attain a permit in 2012, which was then followed unfortunately by Nanga Parbat massacre in 2013.  So, when they opportunity arose again, there was much convincing to be done. Not only Graham's wife and Mum, but also Graham himself. Graham is widely renowned for his safe and expert climbing across the world. That extends to, quite obviously, potential terrorist attacks.  There's also a lot of preparation both logistically and physically to be done. I cast the question further back and ask if there was a time during any of his climbing where he had ever put skills or ideas aside in case he was to reach the Karakoram.  Graham has worked hard at building progressions into his career. Breaking down his goals in to a step-by-step plan. With climbing in places like Alaska and Patagonia, he had a notion that he was making progress. Looking back, it seems obvious now that he was working towards the bigger mountains of the world.  But the other component, is that climbing is such a passion and just generally so fun for Graham that he'll find his skills and experience build and grow naturally anyway.  A perfect example of living in the moment.  Then, he has that conversation, and confirms to take part in his first expedition to the Pakistani Karakoram. To say he was excited is an understatement!  Listen to the podcast to hear more detail on Graham's passion and experience, training, gear, the the mountains themselves.  Graham Zimmerman  Graham is such a fascinating and fantastic individual. He has achieved so much, and is only growing his accomplishments as he continues to climb mountains and lead against climate change.  You can find Graham’s website here, and find out more about his work with Protect Our Winters here  Listen to the podcast to hear in depth his views and answers on his climbing career and climate change. Also, make sure you check out the YouTube video “An Imperfect Advocate” – it’s a really inspiring video, and relatable in many ways.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYiC5XB2Vyg&t=49s  ------------------------------  If you enjoy the show please subscribe/follow and share with a friend!  If you really enjoy the show please check out our Patreon site here. Supporting through Patreon really helps cover costs and allow to invest more time into the quality! Plus, get free stuff!  To come on the show or work with me, please email on: btmtravelpod@gmail.com  Join in with the community. Instagram/Twitter/Facebook and our new Facebook Page to share your own photos and videos here.  https://betweenthemountains.org/2020/07/25/climbing-in-the-pakistani-karakoram/

25 Juli 20201h 8min

Based currently out of Oregon, and with nearly 2 decades of mountain climbing experience consisting of many first ascents, awards for excellence and New Zealand alpinist of the year, Graham is extremely established within the climbing and expedition community.  Graham Zimmerman is more than just an alpinist though.  Graham has a hydro glaciology degree which led him to work as a geo-physicist and search and rescue technician for many years. Now, climbing full time, this love has led him to not only continue to climb big mountains in awe of their beauty, but also give back and work with companies such as “Protect Our Winters” towards raising awareness and creating an impact towards climate change.  Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and all other platforms; just search “Between The Mountains” or Ask Alexa!   An Award Winning Alpinist  Starting at 15, Graham cut his teeth in the Southern Alps, New Zealand. Since then, Graham has gone on to climb in areas such as Alaska, Patagonia, the Pakistani Karakorum, Canadian Rockies, Himalayas, and Kyrgyzstan, always searching for that perfect route up the mountain.  Beginning the podcast, we chat about the differences between New Zealand and America. Starting off broadly, and then zeroing into the climbing aspect. Reflecting on his background, Graham talks about his goal to do high-end, technical routes that have never been done before on big mountains.  “One of my favourite things about climbing is we each get to choose how we get at it”, Graham says. “There are no rules in climbing besides be nice to the people around you and be nice to the environment. If you’re doing those two things you can climb however you want“. This came about because I mentioned his new route “The Indirect American“, and what his ‘why’s were for climbing new routes.  Describing Type 2 fun almost to the book, Graham describes how falling in love with wild places, heavy exertion, and a sense of exploration drive his passion and achievements for climbing new routes.  It is these reasons that have led Graham to win his most recent award: the Piolet d’Or, or the “gold medal of alpine climbing”, for his first ascent of Link Sar in Pakistan, alongside Chris Wright, Steve Swenson, and Mark Richey.  Telling Stories As An Imperfect Advocate  For years, Graham travelled wherever he could to climb. Due to this, he often wrote off any capability of fighting climate change because of his carbon footprint.  Even if he thought he could, finding out how to go about raising awareness and creating change was proving difficult.  Enter Protect Our Winters, stage left.  Protect Our Winters essentially takes athletes and ‘weaponizes’ them to become climate activists. They provide all the information and tools for these athletes to tell and share their stories and become extremely effective in the climate policy space.  Since then, Graham has spent a lot of time lobbying in Washington D.C., lobbying in the state capital in Oregon, and presenting to thousands of people across the United States.  Discussions on climate tend to be extremely partisan and divided. It gets people’s back up, and, as Graham puts it, “once you get people feeling like they’re in a confrontation, they stop listening, and you stop being effective”.  What Graham and Protect Our Winters do, is use the tool and powers of telling stories to meet people in the muddle, and use the power of other’s people’s impact and perspectives to bring about change. It engages with our shared humanity, and brings about a connection on the issue.  “The difference between climate change and ducking out of high winds is that climate change is not something we can avoid”  Graham Zimmerman  Graham is such a fascinating and fantastic individual. He has achieved so much, and is only growing his accomplishments as he continues to climb mountains and lead against climate change.  You can find Graham’s website here, and find out more about his work with Protect Our Winters here  Listen to the podcast to hear in depth his views and answers on his climbing career and climate change. Also, make sure you check out the YouTube video “An Imperfect Advocate” – it’s a really inspiring video, and relatable in many ways.  ---------------------------- If you enjoy the show please subscribe/follow and share with a friend!  If you really enjoy the show please check out our Patreon site here. Supporting through Patreon really helps cover costs and allow to invest more time into the quality! Plus, get free stuff!  To come on the show or work with me, please email on: btmtravelpod@gmail.com  Join in with the community. Instagram/Twitter/Facebook and our new Facebook Page to share your own photos and videos here.  https://betweenthemountains.org/2020/07/25/graham-zimmerman/

22 Juli 20201h 19min

In today's episode we welcome Emily Thomas to the podcast.  For those who don’t know Emily is Associate Professor in Philosophy at Durham University. Alongside working in the Netherlands and and writing on metaphysics, Emily has a book called the Meaning Of Travel, now released. After reading just the start of the book, I knew I wanted to interview her on the podcast. The book is an incredible read, and I recommend that you check it out! www.betweenthemountains.org  If you enjoy the show please subscribe/follow and share with a friend! If you really enjoy the show please check out our Patreon site here, starting from only £4 (that's only a cup of coffee each month!). To come on the show or work with me, please email on: btmtravelpod@gmail.com Join in with the community. Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @BTMTravelPod

18 Juli 202058min

As the world globalises more and more, it seems harder and harder to find something that no-one has done before. Yet, they are still incredible adventurers, like Lucy Shepherd, who still manage to do so.  After having a more-than-dodgy experience with a Jaguar the last time she visited the jungle, Lucy returned to trek across the Kanuka Mountains.  Scratching That Itch  After her last time in the jungle, Lucy can't be blamed for swearing off ever returning again. The jungle is a place where everything is just designed to kill you.  As the years (and expeditions) went on, though, there was something missing.  Lucy was achieving so much; all of her adventure boxes were being ticked. Challenging? Check. Risky moments? Got 'em. Lots of these moments? Absolutely!  But, there was still something that wasn't quite testing her. It didn't take long for Lucy realised she had to go back to the jungle.  Finding Her 'Why's  In her interview, we spoke about balancing 'achievement' and 'escapism'. In Lucy's case, the latter comes before the former. While she had her 'escapism' reason to go, her partner pressed her - and with good reason, the last time she went to the jungle there was a rather uncomfortable experience with a jaguar.  Knowing that she wanted to head back to Guyana, Lucy started making a few phone calls and exploring her options. It was at this point she discovered the Kanukus. Despite attempts across the hard terrain, no-one was yet to complete crossing the region. With that, Lucy had her 'achievement' found, and got the planning in motion.  Listen to the podcast to find out more about Lucy's prep and expedition across the jungle!  Lucy Shepherd  Lucy is a fantastic, humble, modest, and experienced adventurer and it was a pleasure having her on the podcast.  You can check out her website here, or catch her on Instagram for regular updates here.  Or, check out one of her YouTube videos below:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zS6zQzmtYZU  ---------------------------- If you enjoy the show please subscribe/follow and share with a friend!  If you really enjoy the show please check out our Patreon site here. Supporting through Patreon really helps cover costs and allow to invest more time into the quality! Plus, get free stuff!  To come on the show or work with me, please email on: btmtravelpod@gmail.com  Join in with the community. Instagram/Twitter/Facebook and our new Facebook Page to share your own photos and videos here.  https://betweenthemountains.org/2020/07/25/trekking-the-kanuka-mountains-guyana/

15 Juli 20201h 8min