My Story #14: Susan Byrne, Mountain Leader and Outdoor Youth Worker

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WRITTEN by SUSAN BYRNE & ANNE ENSOLL

In this series we’re sharing the stories of outdoor instructors, mountain guides and enthusiasts who work and play in the mountains. Links to all the previous posts can be found at the bottom of this post. 

We first met Susan Byrne in August 2019 when she came on our Contour Masterclass and Mountain Leader Steep Ground Masterclass in preparation for her Mountain Leader assessment, which she completed with us in October 2019. She is currently a mentee on our Chris Ensoll Mountain Mentor programme.

standing in front of himalayan mountains

What are your first memories of adventures in the outdoors as a child or teenager?

My first memories of being in the outdoors as a child were based on the moors out the back of my auntie’s house. We would spend hours and hours running around playing mostly dinosaur themed games, climbing on the little crags and jumping in the heather. We stole a camping cooker from my auntie’s outdoor kit and hid it in one of the caves (baked bean cave). We would sneak out of the window in the night and go and play in the cave and cook things we had ‘borrowed’ from the kitchen!

I also have really strong memories of my mum and dad dragging us up Catbells as children, me and my sisters went on strike and refused to walk anymore until we started to find sweets on the path, excellent motivation to keep walking.

Another main thing that sticks out for me is going to High Borrans with school and there being a female instructor. It was a real moment of, “Hang on, I could do something like that?!?! Woohaaaa!!!!”

walking in the mountains in winter

What do you remember about your outdoor adventures when you started doing them independently?

Other than one mountain rescue incident as a teenager (oops, and thank you Northumberland Mountain Rescue) I had a fairly smooth transition into doing outdoor activities independently as I did the Duke Of Edinburgh award and then went on to volunteer with them. I’ve always been into going out walking, climbing, swimming, canoeing or anything with friends. I’ve done some solo traveling abroad but my real love of walking alone has been a fairly recent thing. Since Mountain Leader training I have spent lots of time on the UK mountains without a mate to chat too and its been amazing, you really notice a lot more and get a totally different experience when that social aspect of being in the outdoors is taken away. It was a really important period of learning and confidence building for me. 

When did it change from a hobby to a career?

As a young adult I volunteered then worked doing forest schools with Outdoor Learning in Northumberland, I was so lucky to be put through forest school training with them. I went to Cumbria Uni and did a year of outdoor studies, and then worked for Robinwood so that was all nice and outside! I have always worked outside and had many interesting jobs including; mobile skate park assistant, first aider, woodland Christmas elf, events face painter and festival stall owner. I still work at Scotswood community gardens too.

prayer flags and trekkers in the himalayas

What has the path been since then?

The transition into more ‘proper outdoor' mountain based work is still happening. I’ve just been offered some work with World Challenge which I am chuffed about (take me to South America please!!!!) I have loads of plans in the pipeline for 2021 for my new business, Where We Tread, so that is super exciting. I also hope to get some nice freelance work booked in too. I’m really keen to keep learning: I have a Far From Help first aid course coming up at Glenmore Lodge and am in the process of getting qualified to teach outdoor first aid for ICT First. I am also toying with the idea of International Mountain Leader but we shall see! 

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to work in the outdoors what would it be?

My one piece of advice for anyone wanting to get into the outdoor industry is just do it! Don't be put off thinking you’re not good enough, you might well be already be there and if you’re not now you can be soon! It took me years to do my Mountain Leader assessment because I had made it into a huge thing in my head, but it’s not. If you love being outdoors and you love learning you will love the process. DO IT! (I can also highly recommend Chris and Anne for the supportive environment they create before and on assessment. Anne rescued me from an “I don't want to do my assessment” melt down with a lovely email and Chris creates a great environment during assessment where you are both supported and challenged).  It might take some investment and some time but it’s so worth it to be doing something that makes you happy and excited everyday. 

pointing the way in the mountains