Ever wondered what 500 million years of mountain wisdom could teach you about where you take your business or work from here?

Laurence and Carlos explore how the French Alps create the perfect environment for profound perspective shifts.

Discover why conversations beside Alpine lakes spark innovations that stuffy conference rooms never could, and how shared adventures build deeper connections than any networking event.

More importantly, hear about the magic that happens when exceptional minds gather in an ego-free setting – where CEOs, founders, and changemakers explore and encourage, rather than swap business cards.

Links

• Join the next Alptitude retreat
• Join the next Vision 20/20 cohort

Dawn?

Let's start with

Dawn's question.

Dawn has asked, what led you to creating altitude?

It feels like it happened to us.

I think it wasn't something we intentionally set out to do.

So like a lot of things that we've done with our work the last

10, 12 years, it's been, I think connection, collaboration, really.

So the reason we started the first one, which is still why we go

back, was our friend Jack Hubbard.

Came to speaker our first summer camp back in 2014, and he gave an amazing

talk, which you can still see online called Bucket List Business Planning.

And in that talk, he shared his business journey and how he hadn't fitted in in

other business networks and conferences.

So really aligned with our thinking about doing things differently in business.

And hence he came to summer camp.

He loved it there.

He talked about free range business.

The idea of, um.

Yeah.

Not fitting into business as we've been told to be and be,

be ourselves in the work we do.

And he shared this vision that he had for this place he called Dream Valley.

and he just moved to the mountains.

He just got married out there.

He had a big wedding with like 200 people.

So we got to know all the shallow owners, some guides, some cool people who

live out there and invite us out there just for a, a little wrecky I suppose.

So me, Carlos, said.

I think we've been doing the Happy Startup School for about a year

or two at that point, haven't we?

So we, um, I love the idea of doing an event overseas.

We, we were starting to see a global following from blogging online and

sharing some of the summer camp talks.

And it just felt really exciting to break out of the Brighton bubble and get out of

our comfort zone, really, like physically and mentally it felt like pushing

ourselves to do something different.

So yeah, we did that first trip.

I think Carlos came up with the name and the altitude in that walk, didn't he?

The first, first day we were out there.

That long walk that was maybe about an hour and turned out

to be about three or four.

thanks to Jack.

so that was, I think we went over in December, 2014.

And then the first aptitude happened in May, 2015, so

about five, six months later.

And really behind it was this idea of we'd experienced, um, lots of

conferences, lots of events, and.

The best bits for me were always the in-between bits where we got to meet

people and hang out and maybe do some fun things less so sitting still for eight

hours in sort of solos conference centers.

And yeah, that was the premise of it really.

What if we created a whole week with the in-between bits and

brought some great people to a great place and let it unfold, really?

And that was the intention at the start, was creating that

space and seeing what emerged.

and to be honest, we have changed a little bit.

It's evolved a bit, but the essence of it, I think is still the same.

I, I was busy trying to find

photos of you, me and Tams in Fiona and uh,

okay.

Neil.

Uh, walking through Misty forests, trying to work out what, what, what

is so special about this place?

'cause we can't see anything.

No.

Yeah, we didn't see any mountains on that first trip.

None whatsoever.

But we did stay at this most beautiful chalet.

It was just amazing.

This like four story high-end, 18th, no 19th century.

chalet that had been renovated by, by someone that Jack knew.

Uh, and that I think also swung it in terms of the idea.

'cause it wasn't just roughing it on the side of a mountain.

It was this quite a luxurious space that we could, we had the, the luck of

being able to, to use because he just, this person has just renovated it.

Uh, and so there's that element of, oh yeah, it's great being

in the mountains and personally.

I haven't been brought up with being in nature.

Um, my, my experience of nature a lot of the time is insects and discomfort.

Um, but this idea of going into the mountain and even the

mountains for me was just like.

Cold and, and and basically scrape knees on rocks.

Mm-hmm.

But that idea of being able to take refuge back in a beautiful, luxurious

bed with amazing food in the kitchen, the most amazingly huge kitchen is

ridiculous and interspersed with light.

We'll go for a hike up a mountain.

We'll go and do some whitewater rafting.

We'll go and have a little walk to a lake.

It's like, it was like nature light.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah, which, which allowed us, well for me, allowed me to tap

into this love of nature without being chucked into the deep end.

But yeah, that first chalet was incredible, isn't it?

And um, yeah, that set the tone for everything else really.

I think the thing I loved about that first trip was after the summer

camp, the busyness of that first summer camp, you know, a hundred

people was probably the first one.

Three days we were there probably five days coming away from it,

like feeling exhausted I think.

'cause it was, you just dunno what you don't know when

you run an event like that.

So going to altitude, it just felt so spacious.

So we had so much time.

I think I was chatting to Jack about this recently.

The thing I remember about that trip was, and this is.

Where you learn really quickly seeing, um, one of our participants,

Kuran, our Indian friend, um, walking around the supermarket trying to find

somewhere to buy lunch on the second day because we only did breakfast and

dinner and we realized quite quickly, yeah, we don't wanna have that happen.

This is not the experience we wanna create.

So the next altitude.

All inclusive.

Uh, yeah, we just wanted to take any decisions away from people and

create as much space for connection and conversation as possible.

there was a few learnings, but ultimate, oh, the other thing, we

brought kids to that first one.

Oh yes.

Oh yes.

That was a lesson we learned very quickly.

They didn't come back.

I mean, we've still got those kids and there were other kids, but, uh,

I think it was more challenging for the people with kids and not everyone

else seemed to be quite cool with it.

We had two different shallows, one with those with families, that one without.

Um, but yeah, it, I found it hard to be fully present when kids were around,

especially young, young children.

So, um, well, this for me

is, kind of the story of an evolving vision because.

If I remember correctly, Lawrence, the vision was how can we basically

integrate our lives into our work?

You know, that's ultimately the big vision.

And so that meant family.

It's like how could we go to these beautiful places and bring family along?

And so on one hand it was very true to that intention.

And then there's the practicalities and the practicalities because on one level

it's like, others bring their kids along and they can get along and you know,

they can play while we are doing stuff.

But then some didn't have kids.

And so what did that mean?

And then it, it starts to evolve that what is the real intention of this for

us as well as for the attendees, so that we can then manage that space in a way.

The people get what they need and, and definitely now where we're at, where it

is about finding some peace to really.

Think more clearly, having kids running around does not

contribute to that vision anymore.

And from a logistical point of view, I mean, anyone who's run an event, might

be useful to know, just not knowing how many, like people have different

amounts of kids, different age kids.

So in terms of logistics, organizing rooms, organizing the size of the

group, organizing meals, it just adds a layer of complexity to it,

as well as different ways of parenting.

Yes.

So we discover.

Uh, you really get to know people when you go on holiday with their kids.

Um, so yeah, talking a bit to more to Harry's, Question or comment, you know,

here to hear about the experiencing the experiences of running retreats in nature.

I would say.

One of the learnings is to create, um, a helpful cadence.

is having that balance.

Uh, and the balance that we have broadly tried to create was having

the mornings for conversations, structured health spaces.

then the afternoons for free time to then, whether you want to continue those

conversations or whether you want to go off and just be by yourself or you wanna

adventure to take that time for yourself.

Uh, and the, the benefit of having that structure in the morning

that I've seen is a, everyone knows where to be at what time.

'cause that's the other thing.

Mm-hmm.

When you have 15, 20 people.

Many of whom are entrepreneurs, creative freedom types, it can get chaotic.

Very quickly.

And so if you said, alright, yeah, we might meet in the mornings for

a chat and there's only two of you and the other 3, 4, 5, 6, you

know, you dunno where anyone is.

It doesn't create for a connecting vibe.

So having, you know, to be, and this is why it's great to have Claire, to have

someone who can, I'm not saying Claire is strict, but she gives us very clear

instructions about where we need to be and when having that is a godsend.

I, I believe that's really, really important if you're gonna create

the vibe that we're trying to create, which is about connection,

because you, especially around meal

times as well.

'cause those, those times are so connecting.

I think it's not just about eating, it's about, um, yeah, these are,

these are touch points with the group.

Well

the logistically and energetically.

It's important to people to be in sync at a certain level.

And all of this is dependent, I believe, on what kind of culture

in the end you want to create.

Mm-hmm.

What kind of environment you wanna create.

So it isn't like this is the way, but from how many have we done now these,

uh, retreats, including India and the us?

15, 16?

well I think I worked out including out, including summer camp.

We're talking 30 retreats, if you include that.

So yeah.

So 30 experiences in nature.

and having, you know, to hold a group of people together, there is a, a

container that needs to be created.

It can't be just a free for all.

well, we would not be comfortable if it was just a free for all.

That's, whatever the word.

No.

Yeah.

Because in terms of, you know, there's, while there's a, a structure, well,

while there's a cadence to the day and the week, uh, the content can shift and

change depending on the people there.

And that's the mm-hmm.

And that's the, that's the letting unfold bit, Mm-hmm.

Is allowing.

Um, those who attend to share and take part in whichever way they want.

Uh, and while, you know, having done this, these experiences in nature 30

times, there is a lot that we can share and we can talk to and teach even.

We also know that there is, uh, a beauty in the emergent space where people are

allowed to bring what they know and what they think and, and their own experiences.

Yeah.

so it's, it's, it's about having, uh, a place where you feel really comfortable

and someone who makes that experience even more comfortable is just about to join us.

Hey, Claire, How are you?

Yeah.

Good.

Yes.

Loving, loving hearing this conversation.

It's so nice to be now.

Thinking about altitude and it's just on the horizon really, isn't it?

my role at Altitude is to coordinate the event and work with Lawrence

and Carlos to make sure everything's running nice and smoothly and everybody

has what they need and we are where we need to be at the right times.

Which is a lovely job.

And it sounds, yeah, it sounds all a bit clipboardy Andy, but it's not, it's

more about, well, it's that, but it's also about, you know, understanding

what's needed and when it's needed, which is, is lovely 'cause that that's

based on the people that are there and what's happening when we're there.

Yeah.

I think this is an important part for me, for anyone thinking about doing this.

Work and we did it at the beginning.

It was just myself, Lawrence, and, and at the time, Fiona, uh, actually I was

thinking about even with summer camp, just not really being clear about the

roles and essentially Lawrence and myself still trying to do everything.

And at the beginning, I think it's really important to go through that

pain and it is pain to really know what's needed and to be able to

understand what, what, what are the bits and pieces that need to be done.

But if you are going to be a host and if you are gonna be holding space,

and if you are going to try and.

Essentially manage, not necessarily the logistics, but the personalities,

the needs, the energies.

You can't be doing that while you're trying to work out what's for

lunch and where's this and where's that and where people are going.

And it, it will blow your mind and it It will, that energy

will leak into the group.

And I think that's the beauty of it as well, is that you've experienced

it enough where you, you're not just there logistically either.

There is something, you are part of the group.

Mm. And you do, uh, contribute to holding the space, being with

others, even just getting something out of it yourself, would you say?

Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

Well, yeah, absolutely.

Yeah.

I mean, I, yeah, for many years worked in various different sorts

of events, whether it's press events or whether it's a corporate event.

And what I love about these events that we work on together is that.

you know, the content of everything is so enriching as, as somebody who's working on

the event as well, you know, to be around.

Everybody when you know, there's the group discussions or whether people

are coming to realizations about things or learning about themselves or their

business or whatever it is, all of those personal moments, yeah, that's

what makes it so special, I think, versus, doing, uh, kind of like more

cut and dry event where you are, you are just, you are just purely delivering.

you've sort of carved out a little space for yourself on

the final day, haven't you?

I dunno what's, we haven't even talked about what you're gonna do this

year, but you think you did a vision board session a couple years ago?

Last year it was literally the whole group altogether just making, um,

We were weaving, weren't we?

We, that was it.

Yeah.

We were weaving and everyone, it's so funny.

Everyone just got so, I dunno.

It felt like they tapped into the inner child.

I'm trying to dig out a picture because you were, it was such a lovely moment.

Music was on, the sun was out.

Everyone was just in that creative space and reflecting on the week together.

yeah, there's, it's, there's like a processing moment, isn't it?

I mean, a lot happens over the week, um, and there's lots of different

experiences and it's about making that space and time to process that.

Individually together.

Yeah.

And it's just not, yeah.

It's just lovely to do something that's a bit like with your hands, you know?

That hand mind connection is so important.

Well, this for me speaks to the emergent aspect of, of.

The retreat.

Within the seven days itself, we have people from all sorts of backgrounds

and geographies and they'll bring stories and, and because of that we

never know exactly what might turn up and what might, what we might learn.

Mm-hmm.

And just over the arc of the last three or years or so, you not even

10, 11 years of just doing this that we've always tried to work out, you

know, how do we reflect on this week?

Because it's like, it's quite a lot for some people and, and sometimes that the

last two days feel like there's just go, you know, you just like first two

days feel like I've been here a month.

The last two days would feel like they've just gone.

and what was lovely is like you bringing your skills and your knowledge,

and

what you do naturally, that lended itself to, well, what about

using this as a way to reflect?

So rather than us controlling it, saying, all right, this is how it should work.

We're gonna sit there, we're gonna journal and we're gonna blah, blah, blah.

You know how, why don't we play with this?

Yeah, and

that was

beautiful.

And this is what I think we see over, um, come out the week, which is why I love.

The unknowns with altitude in terms of, you know, we might know who's

gonna come, but people have gifts, they have needs, they have things

that they can bring to the table.

And often it's things we don't know, right?

So they might share it at the start of the week.

It's like, oh, we've got a bit of space for that.

So that excites me too.

Not just us bring something to it and Claire, but also, yeah, the

unknown sort of, uh, party tricks that people have up this sleeve.

Yeah, I mean, um, Farrow was a case in point with that, wasn't she?

Where she, yeah.

Did us a, a beautiful impromptu, gig essentially.

Um, and she was really excited to do that.

it was a bit of a surprise for you two, um, for the rest of the group,

but she had been, yeah, she'd been kind of working herself up to doing

that, and it was just beautiful.

It was, it's gorgeous to see, you know, she gave us such a

special gift in that I thought.

Yeah.

And I would say as a unique aspect of altitude is that balance

between safety and surprise.

Mm-hmm.

You know, having real structure and clarity where we're gonna be,

how we, where we're gonna stay.

And having these elements of like, yeah.

Just things that you wouldn't have expected or wouldn't know,

wouldn't have been able to plan for, even without being there.

Being there brings so much into the week, doesn't it?

Whether that is something we might have to adapt weather.

What?

You know, things like weather being in the mountains, or, you know,

I think Harry running, running, running, retreats in nature, just,

well, it feels to me like it's almost a metaphor for entrepreneurship, isn't it?

We have to adapt to.

The changing environment and like you said, the weather,

storms, whatever it might be.

Yeah, we, if you're too fixed, then it doesn't work and you get annoyed rather

than going with the flow a bit more.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Well there's a LinkedIn post there if I ever heard one.

Exactly.

I'll leave that to you, Carlos.

Well,

climbing up a mountain taught me about entrepreneurship.

But there's also something about the, the group as well.

'cause we have a fairly big group, so we have to again, adapt to people's

physical abilities and making sure that everyone feels, um, looked after as well.

It's not like a race.

If when we go on a big hike, I think there's a fear.

It's gonna be like an ultra run or something.

And it's like about pushing yourself.

Yeah.

And it's gonna be really hard.

But I love this idea of mountain bathing that Arno introduced us to this idea of

we can be in the mountains, but it doesn't have to be an adventure in terms of.

We think of like yoga retreats in on a beach, but we don't think about

mindful retreats in the mountains.

So I like this idea of which we've tried to do again with Sally Ann and

some of the work we've done to have a bit of physical challenge and also have

lots of space and stillness and time to just notice the little things or

notice what's going on for each of us.

So this brings me onto Anya's question.

Um, why does being in the real mountains help.

When contemplating your second mountain?

Well, I guess it'd be interesting for your perspective, Claire, seeing other people.

Because a lot of people come with a question or a thing that they're trying

to navigate and it doesn't always have to be a seismic change in terms of

whether it's starting something new or Mm, changing what they're doing.

But I guess there are people doing a lot of reflection 'cause it is

a chance to have a bit of a reset.

Um,

yeah, I think, like there's a lot of time and space I think for just.

Really feeling into yourself, you know, actually, you know, when you

are just in normal life and you are just cracking on and it, it

tends to be a bit busy and noisy.

And I think being in that space, I mean, those massive skies, yeah,

just maybe it's just easier to connect with what, what's really

going on and what, what's important.

And it, it kind of surfaces stuff that may be Yes, bubbling and you,

you didn't realize it or I don't know.

It just feels, I don't know.

It, it's the, the, the slowing down and again, you know, we are moving

through the week and doing different things, but I think it's just the

slowing down and be feeling a bit more, I like connected, I guess.

I dunno.

Yeah.

For me there's something about like the days feel.

Long in a good way.

Like time seems to slow down.

So like almost every year after two days, everyone's like, oh my God,

we've still got a whole week ahead.

Yeah.

You know, it seems you're very present, I think, and maybe it's,

again, getting away from screens.

We're in the sort of foot of these amazing, uh, mountains.

Um, so there's something for me about, I don't know, feeling humble

in the power of these things as well.

Like Oh yeah.

Yeah, when we think actually these things have been here for hundreds of millions

of years, we're pretty insignificant in the scheme of things, so, mm-hmm.

In some ways I find it helps to be a bit bolder when we come back

because you actually think, why not just give, give something a go?

What's, what's the worst that could happen?

You know, that courage that comes from, I think just having that perspective.

There's a couple of things that's come up for me.

A to get to the mountains is a commitment.

You can't just walk down the road from Brighton and there

you are on the French office.

You, you actually have to make an an intentional commitment yourself

to be somewhere, which means okay, you've gotta commit to the space.

And then when you're in a space like the French Alps.

This is very different to your day-to-day.

Harry just talks about it interrupts patterns.

Mm-hmm.

And I think one of the patterns that I think I see it interrupting is

the pattern of keeping the armor up.

And I think that's the secret to really admitting that finding what the

second mountain is for you is actually realizing, actually all of these

patterns, all of this personality that I created for myself, it might not be me.

And, and being able to be in a space to talk with other people

who, who are also being open.

You actually, you probably get to know yourself better.

So you realize actually this mountain that I have been climbing so far,

I realized really isn't mine.

Well, you're talking, the thing that kind strikes me is the power of doing

the things we might do online in.

Incredible environment, which for me, I, I can always remember where someone

shared something that was really powerful or where someone asked a

question that they're struggling with.

Like, you can always pinpoint where we were on a walk or if we're up in the

mountain hut or if we're by the chalet.

Like for me, the environment of the mountains adds to the experience.

It kind of creates more of a visceral experience.

Um, so for me, yeah, it's, I think it's a combination of the mountains and.

The people that we bring together.

There's us, but also we seem to attract an amazing group of people who are

great listeners and great, great.

And guiding people in the direction that's good for them as well.

I think so.

I see that a lot, that collective support that is, I find very inspiring.

I think it's having the trust that when you come to a place like Altitude,

there will be the right people for the journey that you wanna go on.

Not magical right.

People as such though that comes into it is that we, we know the kinds of people

who would benefit from this space and we, you know, people apply to join Altitude.

It isn't just a case of like buy and you can come.

There is a specific energy and intention and a way of

being that is important to us.

In order for altitude to be successful.

Yeah.

And so it is really that creating that safety in a sense that you can just

turn up who you as as you are, whoever you are, because you're gonna be in

a space where that's gonna be held.

Well, not, oh, what's this weirdness?

And again, I've conversation, I'm sure we both do it.

People aren't the right fit.

If they want certainty of like, what is the training?

You know, what am I going to, where am I gonna get to by the end of the week?

Like, guaranteed outcomes, they wanna sort of get the certificate almost at the end.

It's a leadership retreat, so shown me the accreditation that I can get almost.

and that's fine.

Those things exist, but this is, it's a bit of an antidote to that, isn't it?

I think it's for people who are much more comfortable in company of people who they

know that stories and experiences are.

More important than any sort of tick box.

I think for me there's also something deeper energetically.

There's the, I wanna be right kind of person.

I want to tell you what I know, kind of person, you know, I wanna,

uh, show my status kind of person.

Oh, I, you know, there's nothing wrong with me kind of person.

You know that Alright,

I'll come to contribute.

Yeah,

that doesn't work.

You know, if you feel like you're coming here to be the, to show off in a vertical,

not show off is even the wrong word.

It's like there's a defensiveness that I can feel like in that

energy as opposed to, you know, I dunno where I'm getting to.

I have feel, you know, I wanna be around other people.

I value conversations with other people and I also value being me.

And that's where I wanna find a space to be me, as opposed to

be the successful person or the one who knows it all that, yeah.

Whether that's, oh, I wanna win at something, or, you know,

find the next business idea.

If you, if you're focused on that, I think it relates to an

energy of just gimme answers.

Gimme answers, or I'm gonna tell you my answers.

Yeah.

There's a little bit of vulnerability isn't there, in

showing up as yourself and Yeah.

Connecting with the other people that, that you are with.

But like you said, well, I seem to remember we don't get as many of these

inquiries now, but certainly in the early days, a lot of people would say,

I wanna come and speak at Altitude.

I wanna come and give a workshop at Altitude.

So thinking it's a conference where they come, come fly in, do their thing,

and inspire the group and then leave.

So yeah, I think we realized that just doesn't work.

And actually.

Anyone who comes to altitude could be, could be a speaker in their own right.

They've all got stories to share.

So that kind of collective Yeah.

This idea of we're all smarter than any of us almost, you know, we, we benefit

from that collective wisdom rather than anyone parachuting in from the outside.

And I, I, I love, I value, I enjoy people who come with real

deep knowledge around something.

Mm-hmm.

but.

Only if it's needed.

We don't want, oh, I just wanna run this workshop because I wanna run a workshop.

It is like, if the space wants it, if the people in it need it, then it's great.

That's amazing.

You know, we could probably spend half a day on it sometimes because it's,

everyone really wants, and people will want a piece of you if it's like

something really pertinent to them, but just to say, all right, we're gonna

fill an agenda and then we need to figure out who wants to run a workshop.

That we've known that doesn't really create the energy

that altitude is best for

Whereas color of links to Harry's question, just as have we grown

as facilitators over the time we've been running these retreats.

I think, like you said at the, at the beginning, it feels like

maybe we try and cram lots in, so like who wants to contribute?

And there'd be like all these invitations of con contribution.

Um.

Like you said, now we try and base it on ultimately what the need is in the group.

And that's one thing we do at the start of the week, which we haven't changed

since the start, really, is it really tapping into why are people there?

Why are people there, and what is it they need from the group, um, over the week?

And maybe they know, or maybe that becomes clearer over the course of the week.

How, how have you grown Lawrence as a, as a facilitator?

I dunno, really.

It's hard to say from my own perspective.

Um.

I think for me it's, it's partly trusting the process.

So aptitude for me is hard as an event organizer because in some ways

it's a lot easier to have everything programmed and everything certain,

uh, and with summer camp there's a lot more of that, isn't there?

We do a lot more programming.

We have a lot more things in the schedule.

I think with altitude it, it, for me it is, so it's how I've grown a

facilitator, but probably more how I've got more comfortable with space and.

Trusting in that space rather than trying to fill it just to kind of

appease my need for control or structure.

How about you, Claire?

Have you felt any growth that's related to being altitude?

I think just know, being able to better tap into what is needed

and what's happening at the time.

Um, but whilst also knowing the bigger picture of the week and what we've gotta

do and, you know, the, the things that we do have to do and how those things work

best to make sure that everybody kind of has the week that they need to have.

Um, making sure that we are.

Giving space for stuff.

And sometimes that mean does mean, right, we're gonna do

this, then that has to happen.

Then these things, you know, these things are important.

So yeah, it's, it is just a confidence in knowing where we have to stick

and where we can twist a bit.

Uh, I, I love this question, um, because I definitely feel like

altitude and more broadly just.

Building the Happy Startup School has been a complete personal growth journey.

Uh, but, but specifically with altitude, the elements that I feel I've grown in

a is just being able to run a session.

Anytime.

You know, now I feel like we've done it so many times.

If like, if someone said we've got, uh, two hours to fill, I wouldn't

have a problem filling that.

I know exactly what we can do here.

I know exactly how we can create some interesting, uh, connection

and, and some kind of experience that people are gonna enjoy.

The other element I think for me is this is, um, dealing

with different personalities.

And challenging personalities and conflict.

I think I've learned so much about the painful aspects of that and how that,

you know, can land on me the mm-hmm.

I feel less concerned about those things anymore.

I, I, you know, I'm less, I know how to deal with them a lot

more and I think that, mm-hmm.

When you have a diverse bunch of people, some with very different energies

and needs, and also being in the mountain can open up a load of shit.

And we're not therapists.

We don't have any degrees in sort of like, you know, mental wellbeing.

But I think from doing this stuff so many times, we, we know what our own shit is

and how to create space and how to create safety and know how to create boundaries.

and that, I think that's the biggest thing I've learned and

how that contributes to safety.

I, I would argue as well.

I think we've grown as facilitators on Vision 2020, which I feel like we've

brought a lot of that into altitude.

So the learnings from that, like wise crowds and just other formats that we use.

Um, I think even just like you said, getting to know people and

their journeys more and more, and certainly people on embarking on the

more second Mountain type journey.

I, I feel just got a lot more experience with people on that journey.

And for me, altitude, I love.

yeah, just the conversations, like the walks and the one-to-one time with people.

Um, whether that's facilitation or not, probably not.

It's probably just listening.

But ultimately, I, I love that because for me that's what Altitude gives is

you've got the time and space to do that.

You're not rushed, you're not feeling like I need to be somewhere and do something,

and the days feel long for that reason.

So, yeah, I cherish it because rest of the year it doesn't happen

as easily as it does at Altitude.

Claire, I'm conscious of your time and I know you weren't meant to be on this.

I dunno if you, do you need to jump off or you get good to hang

around, you might be starving

or, yeah, maybe I'll, I've got a couple of commissions that I've gotta finish.

Um, it was gorgeous to see you and thank you.

Appreciate.

Yeah, I, I think I'd like to add onto that, uh, what I believe we know our

people well, we've done this for so long.

We know exactly the kinds of people who come, you know, the kinds of

conversations that will happen and also kinds of things that will get in the way.

And so while you talk about, you know, it's growing up a mountain

facilitating, you know, we did a whole, went to a whole event on this

whole idea of coaching in nature.

Mm-hmm.

And this is something that we've learned by doing as opposed to kind of

trying to get qualification from it.

It's this, there is about how we use these spaces to let people, be more

aware of themselves and what they need.

and I dunno if we talked about this, but I'd, I might be good

to explore this, like what we personally, why you do it personally.

Like why do we do this?

Because for me, I do it because I love hosting and I love

bringing people to this place.

And also I get so much from it every time we go.

and it's not necessarily what I thought I needed, which again,

is what we see with altitude too.

People might come for one reason, but they leave with something hopefully more.

more pertinent for where they're at.

but yeah, there's something calling them there.

So, yeah.

I'm curious what's, yeah, what do you get from it going each time?

Because we've been on other trips?

Well, I mean, I'm going in a few weeks to do a shorter trip.

We've taken, we've done snowshoeing, you've taken, you

know, family out there, both of us.

So there's something bigger than just altitude.

So the things that I value just in general, are learning about.

People and their stories and their, and their journeys.

There's something really life enriching.

Being able to connect with people's stories and, and, and, and learn new

things about how they've experienced the world, whether that's through

building a business, whether that's their own childhood, you know, we've

had people come from all over the world.

Uh, and so it just, it, I think there's a real sense of connection.

A need for connection is definitely met by being altitude.

and that the adventure part as well, not just in terms of outward adventure in,

in, in the mountains, but just adventure of like these new stories and these

new views and these new points of views and these new kind of personalities.

That's for me as much as a wonderful adventure But that is only, I think,

possible in the way I want it if the people there are open to really sharing.

And I've been to other events and, and spaces where, again, there's

that real lack of, there's a guardedness that I've never really

experienced at any of our events.

Um, uh, and maybe it's just the way we turn up, but there is something around,

whether it's summer camp Vision 2020.

Or altitude.

People just feel more free and open to share a bit more about themselves.

And then through that it just creates an ease.

and then, you know, to be really selfish, just get a chance to eat amazing food,

sleep, and the beautiful surroundings.

Enjoy the crisp mountain air.

Go bike riding, sit in a field, you know, just, you know, it is, it is

a, I'm gonna say it's a holiday to a certain extent, there's an element,

an energy, an energy of a holiday that

mm-hmm.

That isn't, that isn't a holiday, if that makes sense, because it's not just

sitting around doing nothing as well.

Well, yeah, and I think, yeah, there's a swimming pool, there's a hot tub,

there's a tour, there's all the things that you might have on a holiday.

Um, but it's, for me, there's a, like you said, there's a layer of the people.

So you could be sat there having.

An amazing conversation with someone you've just met and

they've, you or they have shared something that's really moving.

Um, and it really connects, like you said, you've got that space and that

so many books.

We learn about

so many books.

Oh my God.

So book games.

So the end of uh, being there is like, we need to put a book list somewhere.

And so.

A big sort of, um, flip chart appears with, uh, lots of post-its on it.

So yeah, there's, there is, and that's the thing I love about this event is,

um, yeah, just the stuff you, you hear about that you didn't know, whether it's

a book, whether it's a tool, whether it's, um, an idea, someone else is

like, oh, you're not heard of that.

And you're like, no, it's obvious to me.

You've known for years.

And so this collision of ideas I think is great 'cause you come back with a

whole little notebook of, of things to follow up with and to learn from.

there is a lot of learning.

There's so much learning that you can get from altitude that you

wouldn't necessarily expect, and there's a shed load of laughter.

It is.

I

thought you said there's a shed load of unlearning.

That would've been good.

Well, yeah, there is that, but I think the laughter bit helps as well.

Yeah.

Actually that was what I think it was last year, um, or last couple years.

We, we do a little reflection at the end, don't we?

Uh, Claire does a session.

We do a little journaling.

What did we take from the week?

And I just remember thinking, yeah, my laugh equation was, was ridiculously high.

Um.

I think, yeah, we work a remote a lot, a lot of our community's online,

so yeah, we don't, I would say I don't get that year round as much as

I'd like to, to have that sense of camaraderie and, and, um, companionship,

which leads to fun ultimately.

Um, and holding those two things, like quite like you said, like an

said, deep stuff that gets shared.

Some quite big things come up for people and to be able to hold

that lightly as well and to laugh and enjoy each other's company.

Well, that's for me a very important mix.

Like to be able to, to have powerful conversations, um, to learn something,

you know, quite new but also quite helpful and maybe quite useful.

Um, that, to do that.

In a space where you can just have fun as well.

You can just, you know, let the, let the inner child out now and again.

So you're not always tight lit and buttoned up.

You Yeah, you're able to play with ideas and also just play in general.

And there's milky, is it Moy the game?

Moy,

yeah.

You get to be competitive as well.

Explain Moy, the people who dunno what Moy is.

I'm sure a few people might know it.

It's a bit like Skittles, isn't it?

But it's, it's a really annoying game if you're competitive

because it's quite hard to win at.

there's lots of, skittle type things, but they've, yeah, I

can't, I can't remember the rules.

I remember the first time I played it.

It's like there's a whole load of them and if you hit one down, you get a point.

But if you hit more than one, no, I can't remember.

I need to send you a link.

You explain it.

You play more at home.

I, I, I can't even explain it.

I was gonna say it is, it is a bit like pool and Skittles and something else.

'cause you do have to name your ball or your, your yeah.

Peg or whatever.

And if you don't hit that and you hit another, you lose points.

And at the same time there are points.

It's like, so yeah, yeah, yeah.

You gotta be there to really understand.

It's quite

addictive.

yeah, any, maybe any final.

Aspects of aptitude that you'd like to communicate?

Anything that speaks

to mind.

Um, so yeah, I was, I got a voice note from Jack yesterday who

mentioned earlier, and yeah, the thing that he reminded me of was.

This is actually becoming more of an issue is like the

mountains are known for winter.

Ultimately people not go there skiing, they go snow snowboarding.

and because of climate change, winters are getting shorter and people are

coming for less time ultimately.

And so there's a, there's a, an issue there for any sort of mountain resort,

like how do you stay sustainable year round in terms of financially,

but also we've always done altitude in the spring, um, and the start

of the summer before the holidays.

And the nice thing about that is not many people go there then.

So it's actually a lovely time to visit and hearing him talk yesterday,

he could hear the bird song.

He was saying, this sort of wild flowers are out.

It's a very lovely time of year to experience nature.

Not just the mountains, but just the meadows and that sort of life,

you know, nature coming to life.

Um, and I think when people think the mountains, they just think snow and they

think sort of adventure and they think.

Skiing.

And the thing I love about this particular, this time of year is it

feels like a nice, like we do summer camp at, at the end of the summer and

we do altitude at the start of it.

For me, it's almost like leaning into the, the summer and um, nature

being the star of the show almost.

Yeah, I think that adds to this idea of contributes to idea of spaciousness.

You know, you're not queuing and you're not stuck in traffic and,

uh, you can go for a walk and maybe not see anyone for an hour.

Uh, and that's in service.

I say for anyone who's just wanting to minimize the inputs.

So I think is like raising your inputs to improve your outputs.

And if that's something, if that's where you are at, then being.

Place like the mountains in the in between seasons is,

will be a game changer for you.

You reminded me of last year, so.

On the way up to the mountain hut, uh, we'll be gonna stay

midweek for one night last year.

Do, do you remember this where we, Sally Ann, who helps us out with the

week, she invited us all to find a spot for ourselves on the mountain.

So we were quite high up and it was beautiful and like lovely sunny day,

um, and invited everyone to go and find a spot for themselves to 20 minutes.

And everyone's like, 20 minutes.

That's gonna be a long time.

Just sit on your own.

And classic thing, obviously afterwards everyone's like, I could

have done that for a lot longer.

It was just lovely to sit on your own, stare out.

But the moment we sat down, I'm not joking with him, but within about

a minute there was nothing around.

And then suddenly within a minute you'd hear this guy with a chainsaw

about two feet from me starting to saw down his some logs or something.

And he was the only person within about five miles of us.

Um, so yeah, trying to be mindful when you've got someone, uh, with his

chainsaw out was quite, quite a test.

Well, that, that's when you need to be even more mindful.

Exactly.

Yeah.

Just notice it.

Don't get annoyed by it if you are getting annoyed by it.

Notice that,

Well, I think if, was it something along the lines, if you, if you, you

can't meditate for five minutes, you probably need to meditate for an hour.

Yeah, that's everyone's in invitation for today.

Gonna take five minutes.

Cool.

Cool.

Okay.

Well thank you everyone

for Thank you to Claire, everyone for your questions.

Um,

Or maybe see you in the mountains.