I'm Fabian, and I've been out and about exploring the high places of Britain since 2001. I've worked with, and been a member of many University and other mountaineering clubs and have a passion for enthusing others with the mountain environments and landscapes.
My interest in the mountains began when I had the amazing opportunity to work in Antarctica for six months (the Antarctic summer of 2001-2002) researching how lichens were surviving in one of the most extreme environments in the world.
Since returning to Britain from such an experience, I became hooked on mountains - especially in winter! I have climbed all of the 282 Munros (Scottish hills over 3,000ft), all of the 3,000ft peaks across the UK, as well as many other mountains across Northern Britain. But I am equally happy exploring coast, moors, the wild plateaux's of the Pennines, discovering remote glens or climbing and scrambling crags and cliffs. I have also been mountaineering in the European Alps.
I am based in the beautiful and historic city of York, and this is a great launchpad to many of the mountainous (and often overlooked and near-deserted) wild areas of England and access to the Scottish Highlands.
I hold the Summer and Winter Mountain Leader Awards, and the Rock Climbing Instructor Award and run my own small venture - AFS Mountaineering - as well as work as a freelance ML for others. I am also accredited to provide Bronze and Silver navigation training through the National Navigation Award Scheme and I am a member of the Board of Directors. I'm a member of Mountain Training Association and the British Mountaineering Council
I have a PhD in microbiology and molecular genetics and I have published peer-reviewed research articles on the breeding systems of microbial life (specifically lichens) in extreme habitats. When I'm not in the hills, I'm a freelance university lecturer, bringing my passion for hands-on, contextual learning to the classroom