Vivien Day
Vivien, known as Viv, loves leading expeditions abroad and has led in Nepal and Africa. Her favourite part of the job is to help people achieve their goals and to show them the beautiful landscapes, flora and fauna we have all around us.
Viv grew up in the Shetland Isles and this gave her the first taste of wild weather and space to run over heather clad hills. Sadly there was a lack of mountains but this was fixed when the family moved back to England. Viv has always loved exploring the wilder parts of the UK but is still drawn back to the beautiful National Parks.
Further afield, after 16 months exploring New Zealand and Australia she turned everything around and as she knew that being outdoors was the only way to be and so the path leading to the end of 20+ years in the food manufacturing industry began.
This was the springboard for Viv to gain her International Mountaineering Leader qualification and discovering how beautiful the Pyrenees and the Alps are with the summer flowers and the winter snows.
Viv loves leading expeditions abroad and have led expeditions to Nepal and Africa. Her favourite part of taking a group into the great outdoors is to help people achieve their goals and to show them the beautiful landscapes, flora and fauna we have all around us.
As part of my qualification I have to undertake regular Continuing Professional Development Training and First Aid qualifications.
I would be delighted to pass on my energy and enthusiasm to you on a hike.
Viv and her husband, Jason, (also an IML and one of our leaders) spend a significant amount of each year abroad living the dream and helping other people enjoy a life of adventure.
Jason and Viv live in the Alps and divide their time France and Norway. You can find out more about Jason and their trips at DayAwaysAdventure.
Getting to know Vivien Day
The Tamang Heritage trail in Langtang region was the first trek I ever did in Nepal. It was in 2011 and it had recently just opened. It was super quiet and I met some wonderful, kind and smiley locals and saw fantastic scenery that I will never forget.
I took a group on expedition on the Annapurna Circuit, going over the Thorung La pass - a high pass at 5,416m. The sense of achievement that various members of the group had when pushing themselves was just wonderful to see. Although my favourite memory was of a rest day where we trekked up to meet a female high monk who lived in solitude. We all got a blessing for the mountain and I really felt something connect.
My buff - it is so versatile, I use it to stop my neck getting cold, to stop my hair getting in my face, to mop the sweat from my brow, dunked in cool water to cool down the back of my neck and to keep the dust off my face. It is also a super versatile first aid item!
Be used to walking for 8 hours a day - spending an hour in the gym everyday is a completely different sort of fitness to what you need in the mountains. Hiking with a pack, on challenging terrain, learning to use hiking poles and learning to pace yourself - walk slowly. Learn to look at the landscape but don't stop!
I was brought up in the Shetland islands and spend holidays in the hills and mountains of Scotland. I was fortunate that we always lived in rural places and were always out hiking with the dog. I am sad to say that when I came to make a career choice, I did not know that you could do this is a job. However, when I did find out about mountain qualifications I went ahead and did them, working alongside my then career. Eventually I managed to turn this fantastic hobby into my second career and love the opportunities it has created and the people that I meet and can inspire.
I am hiking parts of the GR5, the whole of the Tour de Mont Blanc and exploring some hidden gems in the French Alps as I have just moved here permanently. I am also going to Eswatini (the new name for Swaziland) in the next couple of summers - somewhere I would never have thought of visiting and am really looking forward to.
I would love to go and trek across both outer Mongolia and the long distance trail recently opened in Jordan.
I love the 'No Name Bar' tucked down a tiny alley in the middle of Thamel. It has the added benefit of profits supporting an orphanage too. Although you can't beat a walnut brownie at the Himalayan Java cafe!