There are such a lot of nice bloggers, YouTubers, podcasters, and photographers on the market creating wonderful out of doors content material every day.
Not solely did I need to personally get to know them higher, however I additionally wished to discover their out of doors influences and keenness for nature.
Thus, we’ve launched the I Love The Open air Interview Collection.
If you’re keen on collaborating within the collection, please contact us and tell us!
Steve Cleverdon
1. Inform us a bit of about your self.
Hey, I’m Steve. I’ve simply turned 35, and I stay on the South coast of England with my different half, Becci, and our two younger boys, plus our loopy cocker spaniel Max.
2. What’s your favourite out of doors exercise?
I really like multi-day hikes, which embody nights tenting beneath the celebs.
After I was youthful I’d go on epic hikes, protecting a whole bunch of miles, spending each night time in my tent, however in recent times, since having children, my adventures now have a tendency to suit neatly right into a weekend or the occasional night time midweek every time I really feel the urge, I’ll pack a small bag and hike to a secluded spot on the South Downs for an evening of wild tenting, then be again dwelling earlier than the youngsters wake within the morning.
Typically, the most effective adventures are these transient, stolen moments amidst the each day grind.
3. The place is your favourite path?
Again in 2013, I used to be joined by my good friend Paul, also called my, “brother from one other mom” (we share the very same birthday), who flew over from New Zealand to hike the GR20 in Corsica with me.
Not for the faint-hearted, this trek is often known as “Europe’s hardest hike” or “one of many high trails on this planet.”
The GR20 passes diagonally over the mountains of the small Mediterranean island, from north to south.
The trek took us roughly 2 weeks to cowl the 180km stretch of the path.
This path was notably memorable for the truth that each myself and Paul celebrated our twenty fifth birthdays collectively, sitting atop a mountain.
4. The place is your favourite tenting spot?
I’ve very not too long ago made a last-minute choice to flee to the Brecon Beacons for a weekend of mountain climbing and tenting in Wales.
It was on this journey that I found my now favorite spot for wild tenting.
Positioned within the west of the Brecon Beacon is the black mountain vary which is the place you’ll discover a small lake (or Llyn in Welsh) generally known as Llyn y Fan Fach and the right location to pitch a tent.
The mountains behind the lake present an epic backdrop to this unimaginable tenting spot. It’s additionally an incredible place for a spot of untamed swimming or as a place to begin to hike the Black Mountain.
5. What was your first out of doors reminiscence as a child?
I can’t actually pinpoint one actual reminiscence as I used to be at all times outdoor, wading by means of streams within the woods on canine walks with my mum, taking part in within the waves alongside the seashores of the south coast, or exploring small lanes and cycle paths with my dad.
I used to be lucky to develop up in an space of excellent pure magnificence, inside minutes of my entrance door I might discover myself in open fields or climbing bushes within the woods so on daily basis was a brand new journey for me.
6. Who was your largest out of doors affect?
In my early years, it might have undoubtedly been my mum. We have been at all times strolling or constructing forts outdoor, however as I grew older and began seeking to broaden my horizons one adventurer stands out above the remainder, and that adventurer can be Alastair Humphreys.
I first heard of Al in my early 20s as he was within the means of biking world wide. He spent over 4 years biking throughout the continents, seeing a lot of the world on a shoestring finances.
Following his journey impressed me to take by myself grand journey which led me to stroll all the size of New Zealand in 2010.
In recent times Alastair has change into extra extensively recognized for coining the time period “micro-adventure” – which is, in essence, a brief, low-cost, and easy journey, but nonetheless difficult, thrilling, and, most significantly, enjoyable that anybody can do.
For me, micro-adventures present my journey repair in between my longer stints away within the mountains.
Different inspirations over time embody Ed Stafford who walked the Amazon, Mark Beaumont who has damaged the world document for the quickest cycle world wide quite a few instances, Bear Grylls, well-known for his outlandish survival exhibits, and naturally, Sir David Attenborough, who I grew up watching as he shared the wonders of the pure world.
7. What was your all-time greatest tenting or mountain climbing expertise?
It’s bought to be the GR20 in Corsica once more.
Though not the longest hike I’ve ever achieved, it was actually probably the most rewarding.
I cherished the truth that the route was so distant, solely passing by means of a couple of tiny villages alongside the way in which meant you actually felt as if you have been really alone within the huge mountain panorama.
8. Who’s your favourite particular person to camp or hike with?
As a rule, I’m a little bit of a lone wolf on the subject of getting outdoor.
Not as a result of I don’t love the corporate, it’s simply powerful planning round different folks’s schedules, and I simply need to get outdoor.
This 12 months, I’ve loved getting away with a couple of buddies who’re new to climbing mountains and sleeping outdoor.
First to Snowdonia in Wales, then later within the 12 months, we visited the Lake District within the north of England.
It’s at all times enjoyable sharing my ardour with different folks, and to date, everybody who has joined me appears eager to hitch me once more.
9. What’s your favourite piece of substances & why?
I really like an incredible cup of espresso, which is why my favorite piece of substances is my Aeropress Go.
I usually pack it alongside a flask of scorching water in order that I can get pleasure from a extremely tasty brew wherever I’m whereas on the go.
Excellent for a celebratory cuppa on high of a mountain or for a much-needed hit of caffeine when waking up pre-dawn to observe the dawn from inside my tent porch,
10. What do you like in regards to the outdoor?
It is a powerful one to place into phrases. After I’m outdoor my thoughts empties, all my worries disappear, and I really feel at peace but alive on the similar time.
As I discussed earlier, I usually journey alone.
Personally, I actually get pleasure from my very own firm and the solitude permits me much-needed headspace to recalibrate.
I additionally love the bodily problem that usually comes with being outdoor and the sense of accomplishment every time I full an enormous journey.
The mountains are my pleased place and the place I really feel probably the most content material however an in depth second to this may be floating down a river on my paddleboard at dawn.
11. What out of doors locations are in your bucket record?
So many locations… Within the UK, I’d like to rise up to Scotland once more. I scratched the floor a couple of years in the past after I hiked the West Highland Manner nevertheless it solely left me hungry for extra.
While the UK has its fair proportion of mountain ranges, they’re fairly small within the grand scheme of issues, so over the subsequent few years, I plan to go to the Alps and conquer a few of Europe’s tallest peaks. I’d notably love to go to the Dolomites area in Italy.
Additional afield the record is countless, there actually is an excessive amount of to see, Nevertheless, I do have unfastened plans with a superb good friend to hike as much as Everest base camp for his fortieth birthday in a couple of years’ time. Fingers crossed we will make {that a} actuality!
12. What’s your purpose as an outside content material creator? How can we help you, & the place can we discover your content material?
My final purpose as an outside content material creator? To interrupt free from the confines of the 9-to-5 and immerse myself within the nice outdoor across the clock.
I’d like to fill my days trekking up mountain trails, sleeping underneath starlit skies, or sharing my data on matters, equivalent to the most effective mountain climbing tools or gear to pack for an evening of untamed tenting by way of my weblog.
At some point, my dream is to share extra of my adventures on movie, however that’s a chapter I’ll hopefully unfold in 2024, after I plan to transition absolutely into this adventurous way of life.
You may help me by merely following me on
Steve, thanks for the good interview and for collaborating within the I Love The Open air Interview Collection!
If you’re keen on collaborating and sharing your story, please contact us and tell us!