Success Stories

Ronan - Toubkal, Everest Base Camp

I found working with Kate to be invaluable, honestly I can say all of the training and advice Kate had provided me I utilised on a daily basis while on my climbs... be it basics like ensuring my water was treated to more advanced techniques such as descending using crampons and ice axe. All of the training programmes that Kate asigned me in the gym really paid off and I was honestly the strongest I've ever been on any climb. Kate not only provided a comprehensive training programme but more importantly Kate was a sounding board for any concerns or worries that I had in advance of the climb(s). We spoke often and Kate was always available to chat through any items that I had on my mind. This ranged from what snacks to bring, packing of gear/equipment and how to stay healthy on the climbs. Kate was hugely important as well when it came to preparing my mental game...we spoke about what the climb meant to me and how I might feel both in before and after. I completed Kilimanjaro back in 2019 without a coach. When I compare my performance of that climb vs Island Peak.. well it's not really comparable if I'm honest. Kate pushed me to achieve something magnificent and believed in me 100%.... I couldn’t honestly imagine completing another high altitude climb without working with Kate. I would recommend Kate to anyone who wants to succeed in their climbing pursuits - while success is not guaranteed, working with Kate will ensure you bring your A game to whatever climb you choose.

Virginia - Kilimanjaro & Annapurna Circuit Trek

Kate’s coaching style is approachable and encouraging. She is also always trying to adapt to the client’s needs. She is compassionate and disciplined which hugely helps when dealing with internal and external challenges.The most beneficial aspects of working with Kate for me, were the flexibility, close connection and her app that centralized all the information. It made it so easy to track everything and tick off what I had to do each week.

Had I not worked with Kate, I doubt whether I would have been prepared enough (mentally or physically) for the plans I had - I needed to have someone pushing me to be accountable and working with Kate was a real success. I would recommend Kate to anyone, like me, who is taking their first steps into the climbing world and is looking for a solid coach next to her/him/they who can really prepare them.

Tara - Toubkal

When I booked to climb Mount Toubkal, I was attending the gym to increase my physical fitness but I didn't know what to focus on and the PT's at my gym aren't specialised in mountaineering. I reached out to Kate and at the end of our first phone call, I had signed up for her programme. She blew me away with her wealth of knowledge and experience. She designed a training program that helped improve my strength, endurance and flexibility, all essential for mountaineering. I began approaching my training in a completely new way because I knew if I followed the programme, I would be able to climb Mount Toubkal. Kate helped me improve my technique, set realistic goals and through monitoring my progress, encouraged me to push myself harder. I could see my progress in the gym but for me, it really came through when I was out hiking. I could see such a huge improvement in my cardiovascular fitness, I was stronger and for me, most importantly, finally confident in my capability. Working with Kate is the reason I reached the summit of Mount Toubkal. I would highly recommend Kate if you are taking on any type of Mountaineering challenge. Her dedication and professionalism are second to none and she gave me a love and understanding of exercise that I didn't have previously. I look forward to engaging with Kate again for my trip to Kilimanjaro in 2024.

Menaka - Kilimanjaro & Everest Base Camp

I was very lucky to come across Kate when I read her book on Mountaineering & Trekking around the world and knew that she would be the right coach for me. I was 57 at the time and not really fit at all! I was hoping to trek Mt.Kilimanjaro and Everest Base Camp and did not even have the right gear. So I dropped Kate an email and we organised a call and my personal journey began! Kate helped me get fit for Kilimanjaro and Everest Base Camp and I am so pleased to say I managed to summit Kili and get to EBC! I could not have done this without Kate as I do get complacent and if given a chance will happily skip a training session. Kate was always encouraging, takes a lot of her personal time to ensure that you stay on track, address any issues you have with training, taking into account illnesses (like Covid) and gives you 100% support. I have been working with Kate for about 18 months now and I am so delighted with my progress. I would highly recommend Kate if you would like to start on this new mountaineering and trekking adventure! Her enthusiasm and energy is boundless. One of the most positive people I have met! I can honestly say she is not only my coach but also a friend! I am truly grateful for having an opportunity to work with her. There are countless coaches available in todays world with lots of apps but what you get with Kate is unparalleled. Kate is now training me to run The Great Wall of China Marathon ! Thank you Kate!!

Grant - Karly Tau, Kyrgyzstan

Working with Kate was a really enjoyable experience - from day one she was super engaged and interested in not just improving my fitness levels, but in my expedition as a whole. When my original plans to climb Elbrus had to change due to the conflict, it felt like Kate genuinely cared about helping me find the right alternative and worked with me to find an even better adventure. The most beneficial aspects of working with Kate were definitely having her deep understanding of Sports Science coupled with mountaineering experience which provided a training plan that was super specific to the type of fitness I needed. On top of that, Kate’s general advice was invaluable - everything from advice on dealing with altitude to tips on tackling those long gruelling days of load carrying - all of which were put into practice on the expedition! Working with Kate both helped me prepare as much as possible prior to the trip AND also armed me with tips, tricks and knowledge to help me face the various challenges of being at altitude in such an incredibly remote part of the world with no porters or assistance. Kate’s commitment to making sure I was doing my training plan and not skipping sessions was really the difference between me feeling as strong as I did versus how unprepared I would have been had I not stuck to her plan. If you’re looking to take on your a high altitude or are fairly new to the climbing world and want to be your absolute strongest on the mountain then you should definitely have a chat with Kate.

Séamus - Mont Blanc

I reached out to Kate over instagram and she quickly responded by email and with a follow up call. I had tried an online training program from a well known high altitude training company before but it felt generic, I couldn’t talk to anyone, ask any questions or voice my concerns so having that first call was a really important aspect for me. Kate is a real person who I could talk to and share my experience, concerns and work/life/kids balance. I felt understood and that she really took into account my concerns and the previous disappointing experience that I had had with a different coach. She took in all the info I shared with her and developed a training plan and nutrition plan that was realistic and fitted my life with two jobs and two kids. Her app was straight forward and easy to follow. I’ve been working with her for 12 weeks now as I prep for Mont Blanc and I have to say, when you have a question she will not only answer it but also follow up and check again later in the week to see how everything’s going - regarding training, food, equipment and mindset. I’ve got 4 more weeks until Mont Blanc and I feel like I have 20 times more energy and focus not just in training but also in my self employed job and as a professional fire fighter. I’ve worked with coaches before but Kate is something else - I feel fitter, stronger and more confident. I would recommend her to everyone from novice hill walkers to someone wanting to climb Everest/K2. Working with Kate has been a life changing experience and I look forward to working with her for all my upcoming climbs.

Ronan - Island Peak

I found working with Kate to be invaluable, honestly I can say all of the training and advice Kate had provided me I utilised on a daily basis while on my climbs... be it basics like ensuring my water was treated to more advanced techniques such as descending using crampons and ice axe. All of the training that Kate assigned me in the gym really paid off and I was honestly the strongest I've ever been on any climb. Kate not only provided a comprehensive training programme but more importantly Kate was a sounding board for any concerns or worries that I had in advance of the climb(s). We spoke often and Kate was always available to chat through any items that I had on my mind. This ranged from what snacks to bring, packing of gear/equipment and how to stay healthy on the climbs. Kate was hugely important as well when it came to preparing my mental game… We spoke about what the climb meant to me and how I might feel both before and after. I completed Kilimanjaro back in 2019 without a coach. When I compare my performance of that climb vs Island Peak..well it's not really comparable if I'm honest. Kate pushed me to achieve something magnificent and believed in me 100%.... I couldn’t honestly imagine completing another high altitude climb without working with Kate. I would recommend Kate to anyone who wants to succeed in their climbing pursuits - while success is not guaranteed, working with Kate will ensure you bring your A game to whatever climb you choose.

Juls - Alps & Mt Aspiring, NZ

I started training with Kate for the Spaghetti Route in 2021 and successfully summited 10 peaks above 4,000m along that route in 5 days! After that, I extended my training with Kate and have been working with her since then climbing and mountaineering mainly in the Alps but also in New Zealand having successfully summited Mt Aspiring at the start of 2023. At the moment I’m preparing for 2-3 routes in the Swiss Alps with a more technical ascent. Highlight of the season will be the Eiger, via Ostegg and Mittellegigrat! Its super motivating to work with Kate. She adapts the training schedule to my availability and training circumstances (I travel a lot and therefore my schedule needs to be adjusted constantly). Training schedules are fun, diverse and cover all the different aspects of mountaineering. We also have regular catch ups on the phone about the progress, plans and how things feel which is enjoyable and very supporting. Training with Kate definitely helps physically but also mentally. If I go to the mountains now, I know that I trained for it with professional guidance and that I have prepared in the right way. I don’t think I would have managed all my ascents in the last 2 years without Kate’s guidance. I would recommend Kate to anyone who is willing to train regularly, has a route/ peak planned and is looking for regular, professional and highly knowledgable support to prepare for it. Not only beginners, but also for advanced mountaineers.

Jessica - Mont Blanc & Gran Paradiso

When I started working with Kate, I honestly doubted whether I could really climb Mont Blanc & GP. Before working with her, my training had been inconsistent and pretty general but after seeing the first week of my 16 week training plan, I knew that it had been the right decision to work with her. During my program, I also managed to lose 6kg and get in the best shape of my life. Even though I did MB & GP for the mountaineering experience, losing weight was a great and well received side effect of my work with Kate! Overall, her systematic approach to training is simply without comparison; her skills and experience are vast and her positive nature and enthusiasm is infectious. Kate made my goal, her goal and every time we spoke, she helped settle my nerves and reminded me to concentrate on just ticking off the things on my weekly training/mindset plan instead of getting freaked out by the task at hand. I doubt I would have summited either peaks without Kate’s help and for that I absolutely recommend her for anyone wanting to climb MB/GP or any other high altitude peak!

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Jeff - Baruntse

Working with Kate as a coach has been invaluable to me. Even though I’d been climbing for years, I was new to the extreme high altitude realm so when I signed up for Baruntse I knew I’d have to up my training and mindset in a massive way. After reading about Kate’s training methods and coaching approach, it was clear that she knew what she was doing and would be the best option for me. She designed my training plan down to the finest detail, even including grip strength in preparation for ascending and descending fixed lines, specific footwork techniques for steep slopes and breath work to control your pace and endurance. The amount of knowledge and experience Kate has is just immense. It’s very clear that she’s spent a lot of time climbing herself and has been able to translate all of that into a highly effective and mountain specific coaching program. Climbing Baruntse was an unforgettable experience made possible because of the planning and preparation Kate set out for me to follow. I was undoubtedly the fittest in my group. If you’re considering working with her, know that her training is not easy and she’ll call you out if you’re making excuses/skipping sessions but it’ll all be worth it when you’re standing on your summit.

Matt - Denali

I found Kate on Instagram and reached out for some advice about prepping for the West Buttress Route on Denali. She was clearly very knowledgable and gave me some solid advice about training, specifically to haul my sled from camp to camp. My training wasn’t going great so I reached out to her again and signed up to her coaching program. From the very start she strategically set out a very mountain specific training plan and adapted everything to suit me and most importantly get me fit enough for Denali! We focused a lot on mindset and cold adaptation as those were the two areas I was most concerned with. In the build up to Denali, work became increasingly stressful and it became difficult to manage working hours plus my training schedule. After a distressed message to Kate, she got on the phone with me, spoke some good sense and adjusted my training schedule so that it was manageable without compromising on my fitness for Denali. It was a make or break moment/couple of weeks for me and she flawlessly guided me through it and helped me refocus on what was important. Days in the mountains not in the office. If I’m being completely honest, I don’t think I would have even done Denali let alone summited without Kate. She was instrumental in every aspect of my preparation and was the positive and energetic kick up the arse every time I started slacking/skipping sessions. I’d recommend Kate to anyone venturing into the high altitude world whether that’s Kilimanjaro or the likes of Denali.

Andrea - Kazbek, Mera & Island Peak

Since working with Kate I’ve successfully climbed Kazbek, Mera Peak, Island Peak and now I’m aiming for Ama Dablam. It’s still a fair bit outside of my technical ability but Kate has yet again adapted my training plan to be focused on exactly what level of strength and fitness I need for it. She has me doing some of the craziest things that get some strange looks but it’s the best way I can prep for Ama Dablam living in a big, very flat city. Kate is a dedicated, highly skilled and passionate mountaineering coach. She impressed me from the very first call we had and continued to do so throughout my 6 month program with her to the point where I wouldn’t prep for a high altitude peak without her. She is empathetic and understanding but never accepts any of my excuses and always pushed me to go beyond the story I tell myself. She has been there with me every step of the way and always seems to know exactly what to say and when to say it to get the best performance (mentally and physically) out of me. I would highly recommend Kate to anyone wanting to do a high altitude peak/route - her training plans, advice and overall guidance is second to none.

Kelly - Lobuche East

Kate is the real thing: an exceptional coach who is skilled, intuitive, ultra responsive, and communicative. I came to Kate as a novice trekker, with an audacious goal — climb Lobuche East, despite having never done a high altitude peak let alone a big expedition! Kate guided me to reach my (in retrospect crazy) goal. I started from scratch, with below average fitness levels, fear of falling, AMS, gear issues, and especially, steep slopes. On top of the training plan, Kate also taught me different ascending and descending strategies, breathing techniques, how to develop a “mountaineers mindset”, safety maneuvers, and lots more. Most of all, she supported and encouraged me from day to day. I successfully summited Lobuche East on the 16th October 2022 and will forever remember the feeling of pride and strength despite the serious hard work it took to get to that moment. Kate has opened up an entirely new aspect of being in the mountains for me! I am enormously appreciative of Kate’s knowledge, Sports Science approach to training and most of all, her belief in me even when I didn’t see it/feel it!

Maria - Aconcagua

I had decided to get back into mountaineering and climb Aconcagua after almost a decade of devoting my free time to kids, pets, etc. I made some progress training on my own, but it was inconsistent and felt inadequate. Kate was the obvious choice for me as I had read her book the previous year and gained so much from it. The training plan she set for me was divided into three phases over 6 months and helped me manageably and realistically move from basically zero fitness to what I needed to climb Aconcagua. She continually adapted it as I got fitter and pushed me on a weekly basis to improve my mindset in incremental yet powerful ways. Kate is a great coach who obviously knows what she’s doing in the high altitude mountaineering world but more importantly knows how to shift her coaching approach for each individual client in order to help them really reach their best mental and physical state. If you’re thinking about climbing Aconcagua - you should absolutely do Kate’s 6 month coaching program. You’ll see yourself on the summit long before you even get there!

Terrance - Lobuche East & Island Peak

Having done a lot of climbing in the Alps, I decided to set my goals a little higher and climb Lobuche East and Island Peak. I was concerned about my fitness and how to best prepare for an expedition vs the alpine climbs that I was used to in the Alps. I had been following Kate on Instagram for a while and so I knew she was the right coach for me. If you’ve seen her profile then you’ll know how valuable her content is but quite frankly, that doesn’t even touch sides with the tips, advice, planning and crazy amount of high altitude knowledge that she’ll share with you as her client. Apart from the training plan Kate built for me, I found her positive, upbeat attitude the second most important part of this physical endeavour. They say climbing a mountain is 20% training and 80% mental and I can say from my perspective that those percentages hold true. I was fitter than I've ever been before but most importantly I was mentally stronger than all of the challenges we faced on both peaks thanks to the mindset coaching that Kate took me through in addition to my training. Working with Kate will undoubtedly make all difference on your high altitude expedition - highly recommend her coaching program!