Anna Wells

I’m Anna, a 34-year-old climber and mountaineer, recently returned to my roots in the Scottish Highlands. I thrive on outdoor adventure of almost any variety, fuelled with an insatiable appetite for moving in the mountains, experiencing wild landscapes, watching sunrises, and building memories. I am probably best known among my friends for early starts, silly ideas, and big days out. Whilst rock climbing was my first love, my passions have broadened to include hill running, alpinism, ice climbing, ski mountaineering, outdoor swimming, mountain biking and most recently... a lot of paragliding!

My background was in competition climbing, representing GB in several Ice Climbing World Cups and pushing my grade on hard dry tooling routes in the UK. I’ve had the privilege to climb all over the world, including El Capitan in Yosemite (twice!), the islands of Arctic Norway, remote sandstone towers in the Wadi Rum desert, and hundreds of days in the European Alps.

Over time I have learned that my biggest passion and strength lies in fast-and-light objectives which combine semi-technical climbing with endurance. I set the female speed record on the Cuillin Ridge in both summer and winter and have undertaken many big alpine linkups, climbing multiple 4000ers as single-day summits from valley to valley. I love the quirky and the unusual, more recently dabbling in rope-soloing and climbing the Old Man of Stoer sea-stack completely alone, as well as many climbing-paragliding linkups in Scotland.

My career has been as diverse as my climbing. I spent nine years in university studying mathematics and then Medicine, but after two years working as a Doctor, I realised that I struggled with the reality of the job, lacking in self-confidence.

I went to Chamonix for a break, and amidst a whirlwind of climbing, skiing and alpinism - funded by babysitting and transfer driving- I decided to pursue my mountaineering instructor qualifications. I set up my own company and spent two highly enjoyable years guiding and instructing in Scotland, largely in the Skye Cuillin. Eventually I decided to return to my mathematics roots, now working as an analyst for a bank. I find that the routine lifestyle suits me well and I have embraced the concept of micro-adventures. I enjoy the contrast between the physicality of blasting around the mountains and the intellectual challenge of my job. I still manage a little guiding during the warmer months!

My current focus is to try and complete a Winter Munro Round this season. Beyond that, I have a few ideas brewing, but to be honest I will see where my heart leads me! The diversity of activities encompassed within "climbing" is what keeps me continually inspired, along with the incredible friends I get to share such experiences with.