On A Remote Canadian Glacier…

My frozen hands scrambled to unclog my ski bindings from packed snow.

“Not now…”

My harness and rope were irritating obstacles that just added to the hassle.

“If only I could take this crap off…”

The three of us stood on a glacier we were desperate to get off. Surrounded by hidden crevasses that threatened to suck us into their depths.

The unsettling crack and rumble of an avalanche a few hundred metres to our left had confirmed that we needed to get back into safer terrain immediately.

My numb digits couldn’t get the icy-snow out of my bindings, and panic began to settle in.

A distant voice whispered to me. The memory of an admittedly terrifying sergeant who helped put me through Royal Marines training…

“Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.”

Why was this bloke’s face and voice in my mind at such an urgent time?

“Oh, it’s a lesson!”

I took a breath, detached from the situation, and slowed down.

The solution came to me, I had to melt the snow with the only warm liquid I had: my own pee.

Now I think back to that remote glacier in British Columbia, Canada, and laugh. My two friends’ faces as I began to urinate on my own skis in a hostile alpine environment was a picture.

But this isn’t a blog about tactical tips, it’s a blog about who you fundamentally are, and more interestingly, who you have the potential to become.

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The Character Forge of Adventure

Adventure has given me far more than fun stories, epic photos and piss-soaked skis, it has given me an avenue to develop who I fundamentally am. From pub walks in a soggy English field, to an upcoming 2 week ski mountaineering trip in the Karakoram Mountains…

…And from the constant agony of Commando training, to teaching friends how to tie into a climbing harness with a sea sunset in the background, adventures have provided me with a forge for my character.

Mishaps are the furnace of resilience. Challenge & difficulties, the anvils of a cool, calm mind. Deep connection with nature and friends, the hearth of love.n And peak experiences a glimpse of something truly transcendent. Without adventure, I would be a fraction of the man I am today – it has shown me who I am meant to be, and I’m guessing it has done the same for you too.

But it’s my opinion that we can use adventure as a more intentional tool, rather than relying on the perfect circumstance.

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The Hero’s Journey

My day job is coaching people to become who they’re meant to be. When I do this, I continually refer them to Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey.

The Hero’s Journey is a narrative framework that outlines a common pattern of stages many heroes undergo in myths and stories worldwide.

It begins with the hero receiving a call to adventure, leading them to leave their ordinary world. They cross into an unfamiliar, challenging realm, where they face trials, meet allies and enemies, and undergo a central crisis.

This crisis leads to a victory or achievement, after which the hero returns to the ordinary world, transformed by the experience and often with a boon or insight to benefit their community.

The Hero’s Journey is not only a framework for every great movie you’ve seen, it’s a structure for personal development that is pre-built into every single one of us.

One of the key concepts is that once we accept the call to adventure, we are littered with progressively more challenging trials to pass.

The obstacle in front of us requires every sinew of our character and skill set to overcome.

It feels beyond our capacity.

Yet succeed in that challenge we do, which only brings us to an even greater challenge which looms in front of us; intimidating and dangerous.

But when we meet this challenge, we are not the same person we were when we planned our first hike.

That person would have been massively insufficient for a challenge of this scale. You have grown.

Yes, your skill set has developed, but so have you. You have activated parts of you that have been dormant until challenge brought them out to play.

Adventure is your most intuitive mentor, the perfect balance of maternal and paternal encouragement.

I intentionally use adventure to help myself and my clients grow.

First, we can learn to see the adventure in all of life. From becoming a parent, to aiming at career progression, it’s all an adventure.

Then we can consistently put ourselves into the environments that will extract the best from ourselves.

By answering the call to adventure, you are answering the call to your better self.

So, what’s next on your adventure list?

A Bit About Tom

Tom Foxley helps freedom seekers become who they’re meant to be. He was formerly a Royal Marines Commando and is a skier, mountaineer, climber, and business owner. He coaches people through a combination of mindset coaching, biohacking, and actionable philosophy. For more info, connect with him at the following:

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Getting Started

Hey there, fellow adventurers! I’m Ben, a lover of all things climbing and mountaineering. I came across KitUp last year and have since used it as both an Owner and as a Renter (they have a great selection of winter climbing equipment available). Having just had one of the best Scottish winter weekends I thought it would be great time to share it with the community.

The day started with an incredibly early departure from my parents house in Glasgow, where we charged ourselves with strong coffee and popped ‘Ben Nevis’ into the GPS – the goal was to summit Tower Ridge, possibly the best mountaineering route in the UK. As with any mountaineering trip (especially in Scotland) it needs some prior planning – route selection, weather checks, equipment etc and this was one of those rare occasions that all went to plan and we were able to do exactly what we wanted to.

Upon arriving at the car park just after sunrise, we were greeted by postcard views of the snow-capped peaks that towered above us and the crisp mountain air. We knew that this was going to be a truly special day out.

Ryan, trying hard not to fall into the freezing cold water at the foot of Ben Nevis (also taking a cracking photo for the Gram!).

Time To Get The Crampons On!

As we hiked up the slopes to the bottom of the climb, the beginning of Eastern Traverse, the snow started coming in hard but thankfully the winter was not too strong. This is where having the appropriate kit, especially clothing, comes in very handy. The mixture of wind, rain and snow that often characterise Scottish mountaineering require some sturdy stuff!

To begin the real climb we entered Douglas Gap a 20m groove/chimney leads to the crest of the ridge, which rises gently to become quite narrow (picture below). Whilst waiting for the others to come up behind me, it was a great time to snap a quick pic and enjoy just how picturesque the area is. It can be a busy climb but luckily, we were almost totally alone.

The Douglas Gap on the West Gully of Ben Nevis. Ben is starting to feel a little chilly at this point!

Crux Time (The Difficult Part)

After the Douglas Gap we were faced with 3-4 pitches of harder climbing on the ‘Little Tower’ which took a good couple of hours to get through. We have all done a lot of climbing so this was not beyond our ability (if relatively new to winter hiking/climbing then I would recommend getting a guide from the likes of Lochaber Guides). This was then followed by a traverse across a steep bank of snow and then another pitch of climbing to the ‘Great Tower’, which the route is named after.

We then climbed up through the chimney (image below) via a series of steep wall sections and ledges. For those not wanting to do this, there are other, simpler routes to get to the summit.

Ryan climbing The Chimney – probably the toughest part of the climb!

After popping out of the top of the chimney it’s pretty smooth sailing to the summit – time for a quick cup of tea and a picture! Doing something like this with a group of friends is one of the best experiences. It creates a bond of trust and comfort that you won’t have with too many others.

An After-thought

As I reflect on this epic day on Ben Nevis, I can’t help but feel grateful for the opportunity. I totally understand the commitment that it takes to buy and store this equipment (for most people it is used so infrequently) but for the vast majority, its deeply unnecessary if nothing else. KitUp is a really valuable resource for not only trying new activities but for anyone that is limited by what they can travel with. The ability to rent equipment ahead of time also means that you meet new people and hopefully learn about new routes!

So, to all you aspiring adventurers out there, I urge you to seize the day and embark on your own winter climbing escapade. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or not, there’s something truly special about exploring the great outdoors and pushing your limits in the most breathtaking of settings.

With equipment from KitUp and a spirit of adventure in your heart, the possibilities are endless. So go ahead, grab your boots, pack your kit, and let’s make some memories that will last a lifetime. The Grampians are calling – will you answer?

Ben and Ryan at the bottom of Little Tower, during a climb of Tower Ridge on Ben Nevis.

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Adventure’s Role in Self-Discovery with Former Marine, Tom Foxley