Pakistan

In the first week of August myself and Jon Griffith are going to Pakistan. Based from the Charakusa valley in the Hushe region of the Karakorum, we'll have about 40 days to get something big done. The coolest thing about this trip is the idea of not having one fixed objective. Although its fun focusing on one line or idea, and letting it singly absorb all your thoughts and energy, I've learnt from the last expeditions I've been on that the most important thing is to have a variety of options and to keep an open mind, as whether you'll even get to step on to the thing you want to do is probably around 80% luck.

Big faces and no routes. Credit Urban Novak.

So we're just gonna get ourselves there, and try and treat it like a climbing trip - "Hey that looks good, lets get on it."

I found out a few weeks ago that I've been accepted on to the BMG/IFMGA guide scheme. So the day after our Islamabad - Heathrow return flight, i will be in Llanberis for my first induction course, starting the long process of becoming a guide. I'm expecting it to be a hard 4 years which will require a lot of work, patience and sacrifice, but hopefully fulfilling and interesting, with one of the coolest jobs in the world at the end of it.