#TeamMST
Stuart King
I’ve always loved being outdoors — whether it’s climbing, mountaineering, wild camping, swimming or paddling, I’m happiest when I’m out in the mountains. I spend much of my time exploring the UK’s wild places and heading over to the European Alps whenever I can. My passion for mountain adventure started during my time in the British Army Reserves. Since then I’ve led expeditions in Morocco, Iceland, and Nepal, and have volunteered as a Mountain Rescue team member.
I enjoy delivering our navigation and mountain skills courses, climbing instruction, and guided walks. I’ve also worked on water and rope safety for TV and film productions. I’m also involved in Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expeditions too — helping young people develop confidence and resilience in the outdoors.
I’m a big believer in the health and wellbeing benefits that come from simply being in the mountains — the sense of calm, clarity, and connection that nature provides. And I love helping others gain the skills and confidence to experience that same sense of freedom in the outdoors.
Karl Wait
Karl Wait lives in Wooler, Northumberland.
His outdoor activities include Fell/Mountain Running, Mountain Climbing, Wild Camping, Kayaking, Climbing, Wild Swimming, Guided Walks and most other things in the outdoors.
Karl regularly provides training in Mountain Skills and navigation in the hills and mountains around the UK as well as safety in the hills.
He is an active Mountain Rescue volunteer and gets involved whenever he has time.
As well as taking part and working on Outdoor/Mountain events as an organiser, marshal and leader Karl also works in the waters of the UK, delivering Coasteering Sessions and wild swimming, he also provides in-water safety for events and TV media productions.
We asked Karl for a profile pic and this is what he sent - mountaineer extraordinaire!!
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!
