Kasia wears many hats: a Mountain Leader, Rock-Climbing Instructor, and an aspiring alpinist. But above all, she's a lover of adventure. Her story began in 2008 when she left Poland in search of a better life. Little did she know, this journey would lead her to incredible heights—both literally and metaphorically.

Life in a new country wasn't easy. Kasia had to work hard, raise a child alone, and worry about making ends meet. But through it all, her passion for the mountains burned bright.

Despite the demands of her daily life, Kasia couldn't ignore the call of the wild. So, she took a leap of faith. She left behind the security of her job to pursue her love for climbing full-time.

Her greatest adventures awaited in the Himalayas, where she tackled peaks that few had ever dared to climb. But for Kasia, the thrill of exploration doesn't end there. Her dream is to keep discovering new corners of the world, to seek out untouched landscapes and experience the beauty of the unknown.

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Show notes

Who is Kasia
Moving to the UK in 2008 at 20 years old
Not being outdoorsy while growing up in Poland
The challenges of first moving to the UK
Learning the language and the culture
The challenge of finding her first job
Getting a job in a chicken factory for 2 years
Not having the energy to spend time outdoors
Work - home - work - home
Becoming a mother in September 2009
Wanting to do more with her life
Applying for new jobs every 2 years
Doing qualifications
Going through a divorce and why it was so chaotic for a few years
Getting her driving licence at 26 years old
Starting to explore the surrounding mountains in Herefordshire
Being invited to a local climbing centre
Starting with bouldering
Spending time outdoors with her young daughter
Getting new gear and finding an outdoor instructor to learn more skills in the outdoors
Sharing her dreams of becoming a member of mountain rescue
Speaking with a mountaineering instructor and receiving advice about how to start
How to get registered with Mountain Training
Providing evidence of her experience in the mountains and building her portfolio
QMDs - Quality Mountain Days
Doing her ML Training in 2020
Passing her Rock Climbing Instructor in 2021
Giving herself between a year and 18 months
Getting qualified and the next steps
Being supported by her partner
Wanting to gain experience with Raleigh International in a volunteer position
Having no job and no experience as a mountain leader
Going through a very stressful time, not knowing what was next
Using FB groups to get work
Working with the British Army
Gaining confidence and new skills working as an outdoor instructor
Managing stress and uncertainty
Going with the flow and why the journey is so important
Not wanting to feed the negative thoughts, or overthink things
Wanting to share her passion for the outdoors
Inspiring other to follow their outdoor dreams
Dealing with Imposter syndrome while working in the outdoors
Working towards her Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor
Having her assessment booked for May 2025
The preparation for her assessment and getting in enough rock climbing experience
The sacrifices that need to be made
The struggle of finding people to climb with
Enjoying the process and meeting so many like minded people who have similar interests and passions
How her love for the mountains has grown
Starting to climb in the Alps
Spending time in the Himalayas in India
Joining the Alpine Club
Learning new skills
Wanting to climb higher and go on expeditions
Womens Trad Festival
Reflecting back on the progress she's made over the past 3 years
How to connect with Kasia on Instagram
Future goals
Final words of advice for other women who want to make a career change
Ignore the negative opinions of the people around you
Keep working hard if you want to achieve your goals.

Social Media

Instagram: @mtns_and_me

Anyone You Want Me To Be

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