Climb Every Mountain
Lynne Gilbert - Trekker Extraordinaire
Lynne at Base Camp Everest
Lynne with one of the 360 Expedition Directors Raj Joshi
From top of the coaching tree to top of the world, Lynne Gilbert is a woman who doesn’t shy away from a challenge. Poppy Watt caught up with this outstanding athlete and business guru to discuss how trekking around the globe turned from a hobby to a serious way of life.
I must confess that as I made my way to
If this was one of the perks of regular trekking I made a mental note to get myself signed up as soon as possible!
Lynne Gilbert is a married mother of 3 (her husband is a surgeon and her boys have long since flown the nest) who runs her own business coaching consultancy and is also one of the senior guides for 360 Expeditions, a prestigious UK based adventure holidays’ company. She runs certain treks throughout the year and when she is not donning her “hiking polls” she frequently enjoys bike riding.
Naturally, realising the kind of person she is means her passion isn’t reserved to a leisurely passage around the park on a Sunday afternoon: for Lynne Gilbert cycling means an 80 mile round trip exercise! I feel exhausted just thinking about it!
“Getting involved with 360 Expeditions really answered a calling in me. In my opinion they are the premier adventure holiday company and because they only operate with small groups of people, it helps to maximize the enjoyment for both the organizers and the participants.
What interested me most was how Lynne first got involved with the trekking experience because as we sat taking coffee in a fashionable part of Park Lane, she seemed a million miles away from the kind of person I would expect to emerge from a small tent on a grey morning along the slopes of
“For me it was the start of a long term love affair with the great outdoors. Trekking gives you a sense of freedom and allows you to disconnect yourself from reality. You very quickly disassociate yourself from the trivial distractions of life and focus on what is around you. More than anything, it gives you the feeling that you are 18 again. What more of an incentive could you ever desire?”
Of course when one thinks of these types of treks to remote locations the first image that often comes to mind is someone toned, muscular and male. Even the most strident feminist is going to have to accept that men and women are built differently when it comes to physical challenges so I asked Lynne if there were any advantages to being a woman in this kind of work.‘We all have our strengths so any advantages are down to the individual rather than the gender. Also trekking at altitude is a great leveler. It does not discriminate against gender, age or fitness. However it is an advantage if leading an all female group, especially if there are cultural and ethnic issues involved such as female modesty.”
By this time my interest was rising and I pressed Lynne on what might be a good location for the novice trekker to attempt as a first challenge.
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As Lynne advised me, “The more you prepare the more you will enjoy the experience but it isn’t just down to exercise. You need to ensure you have the appropriate clothing and kit as well.”
Fortunately, 360 Expeditions will be happy to provide you with a comprehensive kit list and at the very top of this is the need to invest in a very good pair of walking boots.“Good boots do cost money but they are a sound investment and you’ll soon appreciate it once you are underway. If your footwear is wrong then nothing else is going to work for you either. You might have the best rucksack and the most hi-tech thermal underwear available but it won’t count for much if you can’t walk straight after the first day!
“People also need to remember to break in a new pair of boots first. If you’re going on a 10 day trek through a“It goes without saying that to embark on any trip of this nature requires that you get suitably fit for the challenge. Once you decide on a destination, 360 Expeditions will look closely at your medical history and give you a fitness plan to work towards. It is never too soon to start training. Raj is a fully qualified doctor and he will be on hand before the expedition takes place to talk confidentially to you about any medical concerns you might have. He is also there to advise you on necessary vaccinations to protect you while you are away.”
As we continued our conversation it was clear that for Lynne, trekking has become less a pass time and more about a lifestyle choice.
“For many people one of our expeditions turns out to be a “once in the life time” experience. We are as far removed from a camping trip in the Cotswold’s as we are from a luxury cruise around the
The first would be to use 360 Expeditions as my company of choice. Their expertise is clearly second to none and if it’s good enough for Cheryl Cole and Chris Moyles then I’m pretty certain it would be good enough for me.
The second was that as a woman I would be inclined to go out on a trek that was at the very least headed up by a woman, since I felt someone of the same sex would better understand my needs.
And lastly, I would insist that woman would most certainly have to be Lynne Gilbert.
If you would like further information on 360 Expeditions then please visit their website at www.360-expeditions.com
Poppy Watt
Posted Sun, 04/19/2009 - 21:53 by lynne gilbert