#TeamMST
Jon Punshon
Jon has climbed and skied throughout the UK and Western Europe for many years, and in the 1990s passed the MIA and MIC qualifications. The MIC was re-named Winter Mountaineering and Rock Climbing Instructor 2 years ago. These qualifications have allowed Jon to “train the trainers” and he has trained and assessed generations of rock climbing instructors on behalf of Mountain Training UK.
Jon’s main interests lie in the Western Alps and has climbed many “Grandes Courses” with the Comici - Demai on Cimegrande in the Dolomites being his most recent achievement. Jon doesn’t currently have a favourite bit of kit but is currently coping with a deep resentment of an expensive headtorch which failed on an 8 abseil alpine descent in the dark!
Stuart King
Stuart is married to Lisa with two children, Jessica and Jack and they live on the Northumberland Coast.
Stuart learnt his navigation skills in the British Army and has spent the last 20 years mountaineering, climbing and mountain biking around the world.
He is an active Mountain Rescue volunteer and gets involved whenever he has time.
Stuart is a qualified Mountain Leader and Rock Climbing Instructor. He also holds many other cycling and paddle sport qualifications.
His favourite bit of kit is his OMM 35 litre rucksack. It’s a lightweight, go anywhere, do anything bit of kit and it’s bombproof. He's used it winter climbing on the Ben, mountain biking in Sierra Nevada and Christmas shopping in Edinburgh!
Michael Curry
Michael is married with a family and lives on the Northumberland Coast.
He is an all-round outdoor instructor and is qualified to lead in the mountains, on rock as well as in and on the water. He spends most of his summer jumping off cliffs into the cold North Sea. He is a committed mountaineer, member of The Mountain Training Association and is a area volunteer helping on CPD courses in Northumberland.
Michael has walked and climbed in many parts of the world, but is yet to go to the Southern Hemisphere and Patagonia and New Zealand are high on his to do list.
His favourite piece of kit are a pair of Outdoor Research gloves, they live in his rucksack all year, light enough to keep the chill off hands in a chilly breeze and warm enough to withstand a full blown white out on The Cairngorm Plateau.
His favourite place in the UK – Skye, its that full on alpine experience without having to get on a plane.
Simon Tibbitts
Simon has worked in the outdoor industry for over 20 years. He is a roundly qualified and experienced instructor with qualifications in kayaking, canoeing and mountain biking as well as his Mountain Leader and Climbing Wall Instructor awards.
Simon has been lucky enough to live and work in the mountains and on the rivers in the French, Italian and Austrian Alps as well as Colorado and New Zealand before settling down in Northumberland with his wife and two daughters. When not working it's the kids who often get the brunt of Simon's enthusiasm being "forced" onto walking expeditions and wild camps.
His top-tip for all outdoor activities in the UK is to use several smaller dry bags inside your rucksack. This is a great way to keep your equipment organised as well as dry although from time to time you do find yourself looking in a bag, in a bag, in a bag to find the piece of kit you need.
Climbing Instructor for NNAS navigation and mountain skills courses.