I'm John Paul McLoughlin (@glocky9), an outdoor adventurer and working family man. I wander with my right-hand dog "Alfred", named after Alfred Wainwright. He's a self-proclaimed "Mountain Ambassadog" that skirts the boundary between no fear & no sense.

I've climbed, walked & scrambled over the Lake District Fells/mountains for years, summiting over 600 times. I have completed the 214 Wainwright peaks in 8 years, averaging 1 every other week; a long time to complete but the mountains weren't going anywhere.

My passion is to encourage people of all ages to get outside amongst the Fells & lakes as I believe that "mountain experiences feed the soul". I take "GoPro" pics on my wanders but I'm definitely NOT a photographer. I offer free advice & tips on Lakeland routes via social media: @glocky9.

Next adventure... Sleeping with the mountains... Wild camping.

The day I realised I needed Grangers in my life, amongst other things...

I first caught the "Mountain Bug" years ago when an Ex-Parachute Regiment friend & I decided to climb up Scafell Pike, England's highest peak. This was my friend's training ground from years earlier in the armed forces but my first mountain.

We headed out from Great Langdale, midwinter, in snow, ice & mist. I was ill-prepared with no crampons, ice axe, compass or map. I had basic kit but none of it was waterproof.

It was dangerous: we got lost and the route took twice as long as it should have, I was soaked through to the bone and I couldn't walk properly for 3 days. However, it was a walk in the park for my well-prepared Ex-Para friend. He introduced me to "Grangers Clothing Repel" 2 days later.

I was instantly addicted & exhilarated by the Fells and I wanted more. This was a hard lesson learned and I quickly discovered the key to enjoying outdoor mountain life was preparation, the correct equipment & knowing how to use it.