ABOUT ROB MESSENGER MOUNTAIN TRAINING

I spent a lot of my childhood in the fells of Cumbria and this is where my interest and passion in outdoor activities such as hillwalking, rock climbing and canoeing started.

This passion led me to start working in the outdoor industry in 2006 working at a range of outdoor education centres, both commercial and local education authority.

In 2009 I started to volunteer within a UK Search and Rescue Team responding to callouts for lost or injured walkers and climbers as well as searching for missing or vulnerable persons. I have held many different roles within the team most notably as a Search and Rescue Dog Handler with NSARDA.

Joining a search and rescue team came directly as a result of my passion and interest in the outdoors and having been involved in an emergency that required Mountain Rescue help, when a friend hit the ground whilst climbing, I had the desire to put something back in to the outdoor society and use my skills to make a difference to those who need it most.
In 2014 a change in circumstances led me away from the outdoor industry and in to the rope access and industrial climbing industry where I am currently a trainer for a commercial provider, delivering courses to the Ministry of Defence, UK Government, emergency services, mobile telecommunications and other organisations.

In 2021 my first SARDA dog "Penny" retired and now enjoys her time at home in front of the fire or taking leisurely walks around our home near the Peak District meanwhile I am out with my young dog "Ghyll" who I hope to train to also be a search and rescue dog.
I now live near the Peak District National Park with my wife and two dogs. With experience in mountaineering, rock and industrial climbing I joined the British Mountaineering Councils Technical Committee in 2021 where I hope my knowledge and experience will be useful in helping the outdoor community and keep fellow climbers safe.

I love getting out with like minded people who want to enjoy the outdoors or learn some skills which will be useful for them in the future. Being outside clears my mind and gives me an opportunity for some self-care. My enjoyment of getting outside requires me to rely on my equipment and to help me do this I joined Harvey Map's team of outdoor professionals. There maps are waterproof, tough, untearable, lightweight and are a similar price to other maps that are available.

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I'm luck to have been climbing and mountaineering in some amazing places such as Yosemite (California), Death Valley (Nevada), Dolomites (Italy), Julian Alps (Slovenia), Chamonix (French Alps), Paklenika National Park (Dinaric Alps, Croatia) and the Sarca Valley (Italy)

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