About Us
Quality training based on experience
Peak Mountain Training is a small team of highly experienced individuals. Neil Johnson, James Thacker, Dave Hollinger and Ruth Taylor. In 2008 we had a chance to combine our knowledge, expertise and love of the mountains to create Peak Mountain Training. Our shared goal is to provide high quality mountain training based on real mountain experience - and real training experience.
In addition to our own programme of skills development and consultancy, we have been approved by Mountain Training England (MTE) to deliver their full range of training and assessment courses - widely regarded as the industry standards in the UK. This means we provide training and assessment courses for the Climbing Wall Award (CWA); Single Pitch Award (SPA); Summer Mountain Leader Award (ML) and Walking Group Leader Award (WGL).
So why us?
Peak Mountain Training may be a new concept but each of us comes with a proven track record in mountain training (see our profiles below). We have all gained a broad cross section of work experience throughout the walking, climbing and mountaineering industry (both voluntary and professional) and continue to be involved in many and most areas of mountain training in the UK such as the National Centres; Local Education Authorities; Voluntary Sector; Independent work; Mountain Rescue etc. Our depth of experience also sees us operating at all levels of mountain training in the UK. Whether it's with those taking their first steps into mountain or leadership skills or those gaining additional training or ongoing development at the highest level we have current, relevant and direct training and assessment experience. As a result we feel we are well placed to understand, communicate, and deliver effective training whatever the level you operate at.
Similarly, as hugely experienced mountaineers, instructors and guides ourselves you can be assured you are accessing a wealth and depth of real experience. Real experience allows us to give you open, honest and realistic answers to the many questions that the dynamic mountain environments create.
Finally, because it's just us. Although we may occasionally use additional staff, we promise that you will spend time on the hills or crags with one of our core team - after all, it's our own personal skills and expertise that make Peak Mountain Training unique.
Profile Dave Hollinger has worked full time as a mountaineering instructor and guide, throughout the UK, since 2001. He has worked both independently and for many well regarded organisations, including the national centres Plas Y Brenin and Glenmore Lodge. With a number of Himalayan expeditions under his belt, and having qualified as a full IFMGA Mountain Guide in 2008, Dave now enjoys an impressive diversity of work in both the UK and abroad. He has been involved with the development and delivery of university mountain training modules, delivered the 'Winter Essentials' safety lectures on behalf of the BMC, as well as offering his own individually tailored instruction and guiding.
Profile Neil Johnson has been at the forefront of mountain training for the last fifteen years, delivering many courses from the Single Pitch Award right through to the Mountain Instructor Certificate. He was, up until recently, a familiar face at the national mountain centre; Plas Y Brenin before leaving to start Peak MT and fulfil his guiding and climbing ambitions abroad. Neil has been heavily involved with the development of the UK awards structure having spent some time developing the Walking Group Leader and Climbing Wall Award schemes as well as delivering the FUNdamentals scheme for the British Mountaineering Council. Dedicated to the cause, Neil has also found the time to amass some impressive ascents including summiting Cerro Torre in Patagonia.
Profile James Thacker has a background in Outdoor Education having worked, in part, for Derbyshire County Council's Local Education Authority Centre (White Hall OEC) alongside running his own successful mountaineering company for a number of years. He now splits his time between private climbing and mountaineering instruction and the delivery of national governing body awards. James is a IFMGA Aspirant Guide and established Mountaineering Instructor (MIC) based in Sheffield. James is often to be found on Derbyshire Gritstone, but is equally passionate about rock climbing in the UK and abroad, the Scottish winter, and alpinism. James' enthusiasm for the crags and mountains have taken him to Arctic Greenland, the Himalayas, the "classic north faces" of the European Alps and remote sea cliff climbing in the Outer Hebrides as well as many popular climbing venues in the UK. For sixteen years James was actively involved with Mountain Rescue in the...
Profile Ruth Taylor is a super keen rock climber and experienced mountain instructor. She holds the MIA, Winter ML and IML qualifications. Ruth grew up in the Peak District and started walking and climbing with her family. She soon moved from the local outcrops to the mountains and sea cliffs around the UK and overseas. She has been working in the outdoors for 15 years, starting as an assistant instructor at her local centre in the Peak. For the last 6 years she has been based in North Wales, working during the summer for Plas y Brenin and spending the winters in Scotland working for Jagged Globe and a number of other providers. She also manages to fit a few climbing coaching trips to Spain. She has climbed all over the world, from short trips to parts of Europe to a 10 week road trip around the USA. The highlights include going new route deep water soloing in Portugal, a trip to Arapiles and desert climbing in Utah.
