Meet Russell Smith!

Russell quit his job and became the first person to scoot LEJOG (Land’s End to John O’Groats) in the UK on a 16” wheeled kick scooter. He has been adventuring for 20 years, taking on space hopping and kayaking, long-distance endurance journeys and altitude mountaineering. He is currently learning to swim (having never learnt before) giving himself a year to become an endurance swimmer, with the aim to swim the 24 miles of Loch Ness in September 2017.

Here, Russell talks about his love of the outdoors.

 

What was the impetus behind becoming an adventurer/explorer?

I’ve always loved the outdoors, exploring and being outside. It feels like I’ve always been one ever since my first wild camp at the age of eight.

Before setting out on your first adventure what were your doubts/fears/concerns and how did you overcome these? 

Really, it’s just injury or illness that’s the worry, once you are off the start line. The worry is planning, prep and training.

What is the main thing you have learnt (about life or yourself) from these experiences? 

About life? Well, nothing beats experience! And about myself? I’m a rather robust individual, but I never push myself enough!

 

“I’d love to be truly transient”

 

What would be your dream adventure and why – and why haven’t you done it yet? 

Dream adventure would be to just “adventure”, not live in a home or own too many things. I’d love to be truly transient, to have my life as adventure rather than a few small glimpses of our lives.

What is the best advice you have ever been given?

“Do the trip you’d sit around the dinner table in a year’s time and talk to people about.”

If you were stuck on a desert island, what three things would you have with you and why? 

A knife (general cutting shenanigans), a fishing net, and a waterproof tarp, for sleeping under, collecting water from and as a sail once I decided I was bored and built a raft.

 

For more information on Russell and his adventures, visit his website here. You can also follow Russell on Twitter and Instagram.