What does it take to carve out space as a woman in the climbing world? We speak with British alpinist Fay Manners – who spends much of her time ski mountaineering and alpine climbing everywhere from Scotland and the Alps to India and Greenland – to find out!
Hi Fay! You grew up in rural England, so tell us, how did you first get into climbing, and why?
Image credit: Marco Malcangi
This is always a difficult question for me, because people often expect a single, defining moment: one person, one place, one day. But in my experience, it doesn’t work like that. For most of us, it’s a gradual layering of moments over time, and eventually one of those moments becomes the tipping point.
I do remember a particularly formative day climbing in North Wales, though. I was surrounded by a tight-knit community of climbers who were still new to me at the time, but I felt a real sense of connection and belonging. We were climbing traditional E1 routes, under blue skies, with lush green hills and rocky outcrops all around, learning about the history of British climbing while fully immersed in it.
But even before that, there were many quiet experiences that shaped me: learning to navigate during weekends of Duke of Edinburgh, night watches, camping with the cadets, cross-country running at school, my first taste of indoor bouldering, a ski weekend, and the Three Peaks Challenge. None of them were grand, but each nudged me closer to the mountains.
As for why, I don’t think there’s a profound or singular answer. I simply enjoyed every step I took outside my comfort zone. Each time I tried something new, I felt more alive. That’s what kept pulling me back.
What does it actually take to become a professional mountaineer and climber?
Image credit: Daniel Coquoz
I think the answer to this question depends on the era, as what it takes today is probably quite different from what it took ten years ago – and what it will take in another decade.
For me, being a professional climber isn’t about chasing the hardest grades or steepest lines. It’s about creativity in how I approach the mountains, the originality of my ideas, and how I bring others into that journey.
I would say that of course you need a deep love for the sport – the kind that makes it part of your daily thinking and living. I also try to think differently to bring something unique or meaningful to my projects.
And finally, it’s about storytelling. What I am doing here. It’s not just what I do, but how I share it. That’s what builds connection and hopefully inspires others.
You’ve climbed in some incredible places around the world. What is one of your most memorable adventures?
It’s hard to choose one, because each expedition stays with me for a different reason, and depending on the moment or mood, a different memory stands out.
Lately I’ve been thinking about my first expedition to Pakistan with The North Face. I was invited to join three very experienced climbers – all of whom had opened new routes and worked professionally for years. I remember feeling deeply unsure of my own value on the team. I was also the only woman, which added another layer of self-doubt.
But as the trip unfolded, I realised how much I could contribute – my endurance, snow safety skills, and mountain awareness were crucial at times. I learned that experience comes in many forms, and that what I brought to the team mattered. That expedition helped shift how I saw myself and it was a turning point in believing I belonged.
Where’s your favourite place in the UK to climb, and why?
Photo credit: Sergio Muñoz
Winter climbing in Scotland. It’s cold, demanding, and often uncomfortable. It requires patience, resilience, and a bit of suffering. But there’s something about it that always draws me back. You rarely get perfect conditions, and yet it stays with you. It’s the kind of climbing that humbles you and that’s part of the appeal.
What climbing adventures do you have next?
This autumn, I’ll be heading to Nepal to spend two weeks acclimatising with a group of athletes from The North Face. After that, I’ll fly to India to join my long-time climbing partner Michelle Dvorak for a high-altitude expedition.
Michelle and I have been on many expeditions together over the years, and I’m incredibly grateful for our partnership. There’s a deep mutual respect and understanding between us: we know how to support one another, challenge each other, and step beyond our comfort zones together.
You aim to inspire girls to get into the mountains – what advice would you give them?
Image credit: Clare Jones
That you are almost certainly more capable than you think. It’s easy to look around and assume others know more, or are stronger, but confidence often grows when you give yourself the space to try, and the permission to fail.
Take the lead when you can. Don’t hesitate just because you might have to turn around. Trying, even if it feels uncertain, is where the real learning and strength begin.
The mountains are just as much a place for women as they are for anyone else.
Stay up to date with Fay’s adventures via her website, or follow her on Instagram.
Main image credit: Flavia Celia
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