I've always loved books, so here are five of my favourites, which in some way or another have influenced the Woman with Altitude project: My Journey to Lhasa by Alexandra David-Néel This is the book that directly inspired the whole Woman with Altitude project, My Journey to Lhasa by Alexandra David-Néel. I first read this book when I was 16, and I was so amazed and in awe of her journey that I've been a little bit obsessed with her ever since! I've written a full blog post on

I have to say, I've been learning an awful lot whilst organising this expedition to India, especially when it comes to the old kit I'll be taking with me. I've had history lessons on many items including backpacks, hats, walking boots and probably the best of all, sunglasses! Sunglasses were actually in mass production in the 1920's, so I'm going to be taking a few options with me. Here they are: The Himalayan classics: These are very simple sunglasses that were traditionally

I decided that the only way to truly understand what Alexandra David-Néel went through during the long walks she made throughout her 14 year journey, and the only way to do her journey the justice it deserves, is to take with me only what she had in the early 1900s. This means I will be taking NO modern day equipment....no Rab jacket, no Buff, no high-tech hiking boots...no lip balm...... On her final journey to Lhasa, Alexandra carried everything she had on her back, which i

Here are 5 of my favourite quotes from the one and only Alexandra David-Néel.

The last time I attempted to summit a mountain at altitude was in 2015. It was a stupid idea, as six days later I was running the London Marathon on a last minute stand-in place for Friends of Conservation, a charity that Exodus Travels works very closely with. At the time I wrote a blog post about my experiences, comparing which challenge was the tougher one. I thought that looking back over it would fill be with confidence and inspiration….but does a marathon seriously hurt

I met my wonderful friend Bryony on a beach in Sri Lanka. We were both there to learn how to surf, on a week long "intensive surf course". If you've never been surfing before, a warning for your first time - it's not as easy as it looks and you don't look anything like the surfer girls do in the Quicksilver videos. The reality is mouthfuls of sand and salty water and very grazed knees. Saying this, you will have the most fun you've ever had, and laugh more than you've ever la

This famous image of Alexandra David-Néel below will be the inspiration behind everything I'll be wearing on my journey. The image was taken in 1923, before the final stages of her 14 year journey around Asia, when she dressed as an elderly beggar woman, and secretly entered the capital of Tibet, Lhasa. From looking at the picture, I imagine the hardest items to find will be the yak wool coat, the rubber soled Himalayan boots and the wooden backpack. I've also been re-readin