Between The Mountains

Ray Blakney Giving the Most Insightful View on Culture, Travel, and Languages

“I could never live in the same place, and not wonder what’s over the next hill”

Growing up as a 3rd culture child, Ray Blakney is a nomadic entrepreneur who has travelled to over 50 countries and speaks four languages. Having lived 75% of his life so far as an expat, he has a unique and insightful view on travel, culture, and languages – he’s even set up his own language-learning company called LiveLingua where you can get online tutoring for your language of choice.

In the episode, we discuss growing up as a 3rd culture child (and what that means!), the importance of small things in culture, being more comfortable in foreign countries, volunteering in the Peace Corps, adventure camping on the Great Wall of China, why Morocco is so special, the Inca Trail and watching clouds flow like rivers, an insightful look on the benefits of second languages, and more!

5 Must-Do Adventures on Kauai, Hawaii

For Episode 100 we take a dive in to 5 must-do adventures on Kauai, Hawaii. Naturally, who else to bring on for this momentous occasion than Dustin himself from That Adventure Life.

The episode covers what Dustin decides are 5 Must-Do Adventures for the island, including trails, rivers, and the sea!

Exploring Wild Places and Indigenous Culture with Hayley Gendron

Hayley Gendron is a multi-disciplined and quietly adventurous character who advocates for indigenous and environmental rights. Without making a song and dance about it all, her experience sees her in the Peruvian and Ecuadorian rainforest working with animals, travelling and adventuring from Patagonia to Canada, and mountaineering and rock climbing all while learning her native language Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) and promoting indigenous rights. When she’s not doing this? You can probably find her paddling in the bay around Vancouver or hiking a nearby mountain.

The episode talks about the influence of adventure, purest canoe expeditions (is portaging necessary?), type 2 fun, wearing a hockey helmet for rock climbing, falling in love with landscapes, the Yosemite Of The Sea, indigenous rights and its relation to environmental protection, lessons learned from native languages, an adventure-gone-wrong in Patagonia, and more!

A Life of Alaskan Adventure with Luc Mehl

This episode is supported by Sidetracked Magazine

Luc Mehl is a lover of Alaskan wilderness and nature, with an incredible ‘adventure CV’ under his belt. Born, raised, and residing in Alaska, he has traversed the three highest mountains in North America, headed out to remote and wild regions of Alaska, and completed extreme, multi-day endurance events. For education and vacation he has also travelled and explored places like Norway, Greenland, Iceland, Svalbard, Nepal. All of this while expanding his self-powered method to include hiking, biking, ice-skating, packrafting, and skiing.

In the episode, we discuss traversing the three biggest mountains in North America, discovering – and staying well away from – the line of acceptable risk, adventures in Alaska and the Alaskan Wilderness Classics, experiencing ‘gifts’ of nature, ‘good fear’ and ‘bad fear’, the 60% rule, and so much more such as mindset and even mental health in the outdoors. Luc really delivers on insight, wisdom, and inspiration, so check out the podcast using the links below.

The Sound of Volcanoes, Glaciers, and Rainforests with George Vlad

George Vlad travels to and explores wild and remote places to capture soundscapes. Doing his best to avoid man-made sounds to grasp the purest of sound, his expeditions have led him all over the world from glaciers to volcanoes – providing him with an inspiring and positive view of adventure and conservation along the way.

In this episode, we discuss unique encounters with wildlife, recording poachers and illegal mining, the importance of positivity, expeditions to capture sound, pairing sound capture with expeditions, escaping burnout of 100 hours per week to the Romanian mountains, capturing sound from glaciers to rainforests to volcanoes, and so much more! This one is a must listen.

From Adventure Travel to First Ascents with Rebecca Coles

Rebecca Coles has led expeditions, travelled, and climbed on all 7 continents and in over 70 countries. Her experience ranges right from overland travel from Nepal to the UK, to first ascents, and a love for mountaineering from little old Wales to big and huge peaks.

In this episode we explore her huge depth and width of knowledge, talking about being the first all-women’s team to climb the 4000m peaks in the alps, tackling first ascents in your comfort zone, pushing into the uncomfortable on well known terrain, dealing with the cold and why you should take 4 pairs of gloves to Scotland, why Rebecca adventures, and so much more!

What You Need to Know for Denali and Alaska

This episode is from The Road To Denali series. Click here to read more

Denali is not a mountain you want to head out to unprepared. It’s big, it’s cold, and it’s stormy. So, future guest Luc Mehl offered his expertise to offer a bird’s eye view on Denali and Alaska for us.

In this episode Luc essentially gives us an overview on Denali specifically, but big mountains in Alaska in general. We talk about the importance of keeping warm and crevasses, being patient, altitude, training, winter camping, logistics of getting to Alaskan ranges, equipment, and more!

Travel, The Outdoors, and Achieving Your Passions with Kierra Summer

Kierra Summer is a travel photographer coming out of Alberta, Canada. With her unique entry in to this lifestyle, Kierra has worked and manifested her way towards her view of success. Having built an engaged and brilliant following, Kierra only builds more and more on to her beautiful photography and travel CV.

In this episode we talk about doing what you love, a free trip to Costa Rica, a dodgy experience from saying “yes” to everything, absorbing the knowledge of others, building an engaging audience and staying consistent, Kierra’s travel history, summer hikes in Canada, fast-track exploring countries in Europe, getting fired up for the work as well as the end-goal, van life, gender stereotypes, Alberta and the Canadian Rocky Mountains, unique and quiet Canadian mountain ranges, having no expectations with travel, living in the moment vs. capturing the moment, balancing the future and the present, manifestation, creating your opportunities, and of course: positivity.

Attempting To Cross The Darien Gap – One of the World’s Most Dangerous Jungles

Daniel Eggington has set his sights on an expedition, and is only working harder and harder until it’s done. Returning in April 2021 for his 5th time, Dan will look to cross on foot the Darien Gap: one of the world’s most dangerous jungles along the pacific coastline.

In this open conversation with Dan, we talk about planning and researching for expeditions, his passion for Columbia, the drives for trying again, the issues and problems the region faces, his resolution priorities to ensure success, contingencies, connecting with local people, the best place to discover Columbia, and why Dan keeps returning.

Continuously Climbing 282 Mountains, Self-Powered – Project 282

One lovely summer, Emily Scott decided to take on an epic adventure: she was going to climb all 282 Munros, continuously. Emily took on the challenge with the image of a ‘pure’, self-powered journey, in one go of 120 days – the fantastic carbon footprint was just a plus!

In this episode we talk about balancing your social life with the outdoors, preparing for adventures, type 2 weather, beautiful Scotland, the culture shock from almost complete isolation for 4 months straight to the city, and sticky toffee puddings.

Pursuing Happiness, Mountains, and Adventure with Emily Scott

Leaving full-time accounting behind, Emily Scott has chosen adventure and happiness over all else. In doing so, she has become a ski instructor, summer mountain leader, and is shooting for international mountain leader. So, that’s worked out incredibly well so far!

In this episode, we talk about many Ironman Competitions, mountains, adventure, pursuing the importance of happiness, and more!

For more information on Emily’s Project 282 where she climbed all of the 282 Munros continuously, click here

The Road To Denali

This episode is from The Road To Denali series. Click here to read more

I’m Chris, the host of Between The Mountains and I’m going to climb Denali in May 2023.

Well, that kinds of feels like a white lie. There’s still training to be had, money to save, sponsorship to acquire… but we’ll get on to that. The main thing for me, is that my wording has changed.

The main thing for you, is you’re about to receive a whole lot of value! Find out how below.

Exploring Cultures and Wild Places with Ian Finch

Insightful, Inspiring, and Incredible are three words that come to mind when both researching and recording with Ian Finch. With a fisherman Father fascinated by native cultures and with Ian’s own background in the Royal Marines, he has gone on to explore and adventure with culture at the forefront of his mind.

Having paddled the Yukon river, led expeditions across Norway, canoed into the wild Highlands, and so much more, Ian’s experience and stories are unique… and yet the experience connecting with people over the love and necessity of nature can be experienced by all.

Aiming For Everest and Beyond with Bonita Norris

Bonita Norris is a truly inspiring woman and role model for many. With a unique and admirable story behind her climb of Everest, she has gone on to be the youngest British woman to summit Everest and reach the North Pole.

Not only that, but with a huge mountaineering experience and background, we talk about mindset and taking control of your life. Read on and listen to find out more!

High-Altitude Mountains and Overcoming Challenges with Tom Livingstone

Tom Livingstone is an extremely accomplished mountain climber. With experience rooted in Scotland and the European Alps, we explore his high-altitude first ascents, facing adversity, and planning for the mountains.

Relentless Forward Progress and Record-Times with Damian Hall

With a hiking background from Everest Base Camp to New Zealand, Damian Hall has run ultra-marathon’s in the mountains, the desert, and the Arctic. More recently, Damian has achieved the Fastest Known Time of the Pennine Way.

A couple of months ago I had the pleasure of virtually sitting with him and exploring his background and experience further.

Skydiving Everest, Himalayan Mountaineering, and More with Holly Budge

Holly Budge is an incredible adventurer with a CV spanning the globe. Holly was the first person to skydive above Everest, she has ridden and raced semi-wild horses across Mongolia, and taken to mountaineering from the crevasses of Mount Rainier to the North Col of Mount Everest.

Some of her most important work, though, is the conservation effort that Holly puts in to save elephants. 96 elephants are poached each day, and Holly’s work alongside rangers with non-gory exhibitions is helping to reduce that number.

Exploring Fjords and Racing Icebergs in Patagonia

Patagonia is a region covering Chile and Argentina at the bottom of South America. Littered with mountains, fjords, glaciers, lakes, and more Will Copestake returns for a second episode. This time talking about his expeditions in Patagonia. Kayaking along the coastline, exploring the fjords, and camping next to glaciers, Will takes us talks with us about ending each season of guiding in the area with an expedition.

Will seems to have an action packed or funny story behind every comment in this episode, displaying the depths of experience found here. With Type 2 fun written all over this, give it a listen with the links below.

Manaslu Circuit Trek

Nepal has been a honeypot for adventurers alike. From those wanting to explore culture, to the mountains, to the summits, I think everyone can agree just how majestic this place is.

In this episode, Andrew talks through the itinerary for his Manaslu Circuit Trek. Trekking through forests, past waterfalls, viewing 8000 metre peaks, and a rare animal… I’ll let you find out which!

Ski Mountaineering in the Lyngen Alps with TJ David

TJ David is, on paper, a professional skier and trail runner. In real life he is even more than that! Talking about quite possibly his favourite ski mountaineering expedition, hear TJ talk about his time in the Lyngen Alps, Norway taking in the breath-taking mountains reaching straight out of the fjords!

Hitting some popular and some untouched slopes, and finishing the day with beer in a small hut in the snow, TJ dives in to this expedition and will absolutely captivate you as you instinctively start booking your next ski trip!