Outdoor Instructor Staff Biographies

Tim Ferguson, Director

From: Holmfirth, West Yorkshire

Education: Tim went to Sir John Moores University, Liverpool gaining a BSc (Hons) degree in Sports Science in 1992 followed by a PGCE in Physical Education in 1995.

Tim competing in "Les Deux Alpes", the Mountain of Hell, 2008, French Alps

Outdoor Experience: Tim is a qualified SPA instructor in rock climbing, rock climbing was his passion & obsession for over 10 years, although his approach to climbing is a much more relaxed one these days. He intends to do his MIA shortly and continue his professional development within the sport.

Caving – qualified Level 1 cave leader with the BCA (British Caving Association) and Level 2 Trained. The next step is to become Level 2 Cave Qualified, the enjoyment for Tim in terms of caving is those ‘sporting trips’.

BCU Level 2 Canoe Coach, 1, 2 & 3 star canoe award and CST. In the planning is a 3 week ‘canoe the wilds of Canada’ in an open boat. More of a dream at the moment but it will happen, its a sort of 5 year away holiday plan.

Mountain biking – Advanced Mountain Bike Leader and qualified Mountain Bike Leader Trainer & Assessor. Previous events have been the Polaris & Mountain of Hell, future events Tim is entering include the Enduro Downhill at Fort William, the Mountain of Hell again and the Megavalanche along with several cyclo-sportives such as the Howgill Hammer and Keswick Sportive.

Pictures of Tim mountain biking in the Mountain of Hell, Les Deux Alpes; snow shoeing in Chamonix, French Alps and caving in Goydon, Yorkshire Dales:

First Aid – qualified 4 day 1st Aid at Work and qualified 1st Aid Trainer & assessor.

Hill Walking – qualified summer Mountain Leader.

Archery – GNAS qualified archery instructor.

Tim is also a PCV (Passenger Carrying Vehicle) minibus driver in addition to his DL entitlement, qualifying him to drive 17 seater minibuses.

Tim started in the outdoors with a passion for rock climbing, but has since become much more interested in snow boarding & mountain biking, although ‘all things outdoors’ is of interest ranging from kite surfing & surfing to canyoning & caving.

Other general Information: Tim spent 7 years working as a PE Teacher, in that time he worked as an examination marker for the NEAB (now AQA), wrote a book on ‘GCSE Physical Education – a revision guide’ (published by Human Kinetics) and moved away from the typical PE teacher sports and into a variety of outdoor sports. Tim, Pete & Chris set up High Adventure Outdoor Education Centre & Pro-Active Education in July 2001. Tim has always been obsessed by sports, initially participating and then in coaching, teaching, instructing & leading. Tim started with a passion for games, football, basketball & racket sports before getting the opportunity to rock climb. Tim became an obsessive rock climber, climbing 7 days a week wasn’t enough, but in recent years he has turned this obsession into a love of climbing and an obsession for mountain biking and back country snowboarding. He will one day have retired & only to be found in the Chamonix Valley of the French Alps, but until that day arrives Tim will have to make do with as many snowboarding trips as he can and mountain bike the UK.

Chris Jepson, Director

From: Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire

Education: Chris went to Sir John Moores University, Liverpool gaining a Bed (Hons) degree in Physical Education and English in 1993.

Outdoor Experience: Chris has always had a keen interest in the outdoors, prior to High Adventure his personal interests included: climbing, scrambling, hill walking, mountaineering, mountain biking, sailing and a heavy involvement with Staffordshire County basketball. Since setting up High Adventure with Tim and Pete those personal interests have turned professional and in addition to being a qualified and experienced teacher

Chris has the following qualifications: Climbing instructor (SPA), Caving instructor (BCA), Summer mountain leader (MLTE), archery instructor (GNAS), Mountain bike leader (MIAS), First aid instructor and assessor (1st4aid ), qualified coach driver, holder of national pool plant qualification and Canoe instructor (BCU L2).

Pictures of Chris climbing in the Yorkshire Dales; hill walking in the Lake District and surfing in Devon:

Chris’s professional goals for the future include progressing through the Caving awards to gain CIC status, gaining the MLTE Mountain Instructor Award and of course maintaining High Adventure’s excellent reputation and pushing the business forward.

Outside of work Chris is a keen caver, surfer, mountain biker, snowboarder, climber and mountain walker. He has recently trekked up Killamanjaro in Africa and Fansipan in Vietnam (not on the same day!)

Other general Information: Chris spent 6 years teaching in secondary and middle schools, finishing his teaching career as head of department in a Staffordshire Middle School. Interspersed in this Chris spent two years travelling and gaining all important life experience and the occasional headache!

Pete Oldam, Director

From: Leeds, West Yorkshire

Education: Pete went to Sir John Moores University, Liverpool gaining a BSc (Hons) degree in Sports Science in 1992 followed by a PGCE in Physical Education in 1996.

Pete hill walking in the Lake District

Outdoor Experience: Pete is a Qualified SPA instructor in rock climbing.
Caving – qualified Level 1 cave leader with the BCA (British Caving Association).

Pete is a BCU level 3 Canoe Coach and 5 star canoe training. BCU kayak level 3 coach and 5 star award. Also White water safety test and coaching processes. Sea kayak 4 star award.

Mountain biking – Trail & Technical Mountain Bike Leader Award (MIAS).

First Aid – qualified 4 day 1st Aid at Work and qualified 1st Aid Trainer & Assessor.

Hill Walking – qualified summer Mountain Leader.

Pete is also a PCV (Passenger Carrying Vehicle) minibus driver in addition to his DL entitlement, qualifying him to drive 17 seater minibuses. He also holds the Certificates of Professional Competence for High Adventure Outdoor Education Centre in order for HA to hold a Public Service Vehicle Operators Licence.

Pictures of Pete mountain biking in the French Alps, mountaineering in the Italian Alps and canoeing in the Ardeche:

Pete started in the outdoors with a passion for kayaking, but has since become much more interested in snow boarding & mountain biking, although ‘all things outdoors’ is of interest ranging from kite surfing & surfing to canyoning & caving. Pete is a 2nd dan judo blackbelt and has recently returned to competition in the veteran’s category which seems a world away from his early honours of being British Students Judo Champion whilst at Liverpool University.

Other general Information: Pete spent over ten years in the EBD sector and has worked on outdoor programs in the USA and Europe. Tim, Pete & Chris set up High Adventure Outdoor Education Centre & Pro-Active Education in July 2001.

Mick Ellerton, Centre Manager

From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Education: Mick studied Physical & Outdoor Education at Victoria University, (Melton, Australia),(1997 & 1999). Then completed a Bachelor of Arts in Outdoor Education at La Trobe University, (Bendigo, Australia)(2000-2002)

Outdoor Experience: Mick is a Outdoor Educator that has a range of qualifications from both Australia and the United Kingdom.

Australian qualifications include:
Leaders Wilderness First Aid (2001) (updated 2004)
Canoeing Victoria – River Rescue (Intermediate River Rescue)
Canoeing Vitoria – Flat-water level 1 Instructor (BSI)
La Trobe University Majors in – Climbing Instructor & White-water Instructor
Heavy Vehicle Driving License & Hazardous Area Endorsement (up to 30 seated bus)

Pictures of Mick mountain biking in the Mountain of Hell, Les Deux Alpes; kayaking down Low Force, Tees Barrage and climbing at Almscliffe, Yorkshire Dales

United Kingdom qualifications include:
ITC Level 2 Certificate in Outdoor First Aid
RPL BCU Level 2 Training (OLD Scheme) waiting to complete assessment
BCA Level 1 Cave leader + Level 2 trained
MIAS Level 1 + Level 2 Mountain Bike Instructor
MLTE Single Pitch Climbing Instructor
PCV D1 driving license

Mick intends to complete the following qualifications shortly:
MLTE Mountain Leaders Training
MIAS Level 3 Mountain Bike Leader
BCA Level 2 Cave Instructor
BCU Level 2 Canoe & Kayak Instructor

Other general Information: Mick has been involved in Outdoor Education since he started as Cub-Scout when he was 8 years old, getting involved in sailing, climbing canoeing, biking and anything that allowed him to explore the great outdoors. In that time he has been involved in arrange of outdoor adventures including, a 18 day walk in 2001 & a 52 day walk in 2003 in Australian alpine area. The Mountain of Hell Mountain Bike race in the French Alps in 2008 & 2009. Mick was also involved in the mapping of several caves in the Naracoorte region of South Austraia in 2002. He has spent 6 months working in the Swiss and French Alps where he returns every year to ski. Mick has worked as an Outdoor Educator for several years working on a range in a range of outdoor educational settings such as; expeditions on the Murray River for Mowbray College taking year 9 students on a canoe/raft/walking journeys over two weeks, taking university students on a range of single & multi pitch climbing trips as well as working with a St Luke’s Anglcare running a positive mentoring outdoor activities programme for ‘Youth at Risk’ groups. Prior to leaving Australia Mick would spend large amounts of the winter volunteering as a ski patroller on Mt Stirling in the Victorian Alpine area. Mick has a passion for being in the outdoors which he hopes to share with others.

Henry Exon, Chief Instructor

From: Education:

Outdoor Experience:

Pictures of Henry canoeing on Lake Windermere, kayaking on the Tees Barrage and mountain biking in the Yorkshire Dales:

Other general Information:

David Maw, Instructor

From: Oxenhope, West Yorkshire

Education: David went to Staffordshire University, gaining a BA (Hons) degree in Product Design in 2002.

Outdoor Experience: David is a qualified SPA instructor in rock climbing, rock climbing is his passion & obsession since aged 4 and was shown the basics of climb by his mother and I my first love was made. He intends to do his MIA within the next summer season.

Hill walking, qualified summer mountain leader, spent many years walking in the Lakes, Wales and Scottish highlands gaining a wealth of experience in navigation and camp craft. David in now moving slowly into the winter hill walking and climbing, a natural progression to summit ‘Monte Blanc and the Matterhorn’

Caving – qualified Level 1 cave leader with the BCA and Level 2 Trained. David is halfway to becoming a Level 2 Cave Leader waiting to do his final part of his assessment in March time. The main enjoyment for David in terms of caving is the big vertical trips that bring a sense of ‘exploratory adventure’.

BCU Level 1 Canoe / Kayack Coach with Level 2 training, 1, 2 & 3 star canoe award and CST. In the long term planning is a ‘canoe source to sea Amazon’ in an open boat. More of a back burner at the moment but it will happen, its a sort of 10 year plan.

Mountain biking Level 2 qualified MIAS instructor. Looking to expand into the level three qualification, when Tim gets a time / chance to arrange the course. David is looking forward to a trip to Scotland and Chamonix in two years to compete in the ‘mountain of hell’.

First Aid – qualified (2 day 1st Aid in the outdoors and Work.)

David also has a PCV (Passenger Carrying Vehicle) minibus driver qualification, allowing him to drive minibuses with up to 17 seats.

David came into the outdoors with a passion for rock climbing, but has expanded into a much more rounded instructor. David spends a lot of time outside work not just climbing but caving, walking, mountain biking, canyoning & and the list is still growing with the industry.

Other general Information: David has always been obsessed by sports, initially participating and then coaching and, instructing. David started with a passion for, football, Athletics, Tennis & Gymnastics that has all help David in his understanding of body mechanics and helped to push his rock climb to new heights in his university days. David has currently spent the last few years under ground, as a fascination of rope work and management with the thrill of danger and the chance to explore the hydrology and geology of the Dales has become a newfound passion.