1) Who are you and what do you do?
I'm Bryn Davies, 20 years old and I'm the gear editor at Adventure Travel magazine.
2) How did you get in to climbing and adventure?
I first got into adventuring and mountaineering at the age of five when I climbed Snowdon. By the age of 12 I'd done Snowdon, Ben Nevis and Scafel Pyke as well as my first few via ferratas in the Alps. I'd been keen on the outdoors and keeping fit and when I was 15 I climbed the Eiger in Switzerland (not by the north face though!), and in doing so became the youngest person to summit the mountain (to my, and anyone I've asked's knowledge). The year after I climbed Mont Blanc and the year after that went for an ascent on the Matterhorn but had to abandon due to bad weather.
3) Why did you choose to write about adventure (for Adventure Travel magazine)?
I chose to work for Adventure Travel magazine in February 2010 after I'd sat my A-level re-sits. I was going to be going to university after 6th form but that plan was ruined when I had open heart surgery in September 09. I was lucky in the fact that my dad's the owner and founder of Adventure Travel magazine.
4) What's your biggest achievement to date?
It's a bit of a toughie this. Climbing the Eiger and Mont Blanc are definitely up there, but I think my biggest achievement, and one that means so much to me was when I cycled 700 miles around Europe. I did this less than a year after having my heart surgery and it really showed me that although I'd been dealt a bit of a shit hand the year before I was on my road to recovery and could/can still do the things I love if I really put my mind to it.
Bryn Davies on Mont Blanc5) Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?
In five-ten years I'm really unsure of where I'll be! I like to take things as they come and I haven't really looked towards the future yet but in the next six-seven years I'm going to be cramming as many adventures in as I can. Because of what happened with my surgery I'm going to have to have open heart surgery again in about six years, so until then I'm going to do and see as much as I can.
6) If you could climb one mountain or take one adventure, what would it be?
Another toughie, there's so many nice ones out there! I'd love to go to one of the Poles or walk a 3,000+ mile long distance trail, but in regards to mountains, I think something in the Himalayas. Everest's a bit of an obvious one, it'd be interesting to see how I could handle the altitude and the freezing temperatures, and it's definitely a challenge I'd jump on if the opportunity arose! I'd also like to give Ama Dablam a go, one of the most beautiful mountains in the world!
7) What advice would you give to those wishing to write about adventure and make a living from it?
The only way you're going to get better and get noticed is to write more. Always look for a story or even a few when you're off on your adventures and write them up as you go along. It's so much easier to write about something immediately after it's happened than to try and put it into words from your memory. Make your writing fun to read as well, nobody really wants to read a clichéd travel story that's boring.
8) Which adventurers or explorers inspire you?
I'd say my dad's been a huge inspiration to me and to be honest he's the reason that I've done what I've done. Without him and his encouragement I'd probably have only left the country to go to Benidorm with my grandparents!
Thanks to Bryn Davies for another fantastic Interview for Exceed Possibility. Do make sure to check out the magazine at the Adventure Travel Magazine website and pick up your copy in any good newsagent.
