Ep. 494: From Collapsed Spine to Accomplished Climber - Astrid Southam

Mountaineering: A collapsed spine at 19 becomes the unlikely starting point for a sponsored climbing expedition to the Ivory Coast in a story of grit, patience, and remarkable resilience. Adventure (ad·ven·ture): an unusual and exciting, typically hazardous, experience or activity. That basically sums up life itself. The most unexpected, seemingly unfair, and hazardous things happen to us at every turn. We want adventure, but don't always love when it shows up. A life-altering injury is, by the definition above, an adventure. Well, it's not always exciting, but you get the picture.  To go from a collapsed spine at the age of 19 to being on a sponsored climbing expedition to the Ivory Coast is not an overnight journey, nor is it pleasant, but it is adventure. Astrid's story is one of hope, patience and sheer grit to rise from what many would call a crippling situation (literally) to seeing the beauty in what happens to all of us at some point and accepting it as what life is all about.  Adventure doesn't always lead us down a peaceful path but teaches us to find peace no matter what path we're on.  Instagram: @astridsoutham Project Côte d'Ivoire https://www.projectci.co.uk/ Instagram: @projectci_uk   Save 20% off the best freeze-dried meals you’ll ever eat with Peak Refuel. Use the code ASP20 at checkout by visiting peakrefuel.com @peakrefuelIf you're in need of some personalized advice before buying your gear, go to backpacktribe.com. You're not only able to purchase the gear you need on their website but talk with someone with the experience and know how. They also offer gear bundles and free shipping. @backpacktribalSupport the Adventure Sports Podcast by giving as low as $1/month to our efforts to produce this show athttps://www.patreon.com/AdventureSportsPodcastCall and leave us a voicemail at 812-MAIL-POD or 812-624-5763 or send an email to [email protected] Sponsors:* Check out Nathan and Sons: https://nathanandsons.com* Check out Outdoorsy and use my code ASP for a great deal: https://www.outdoorsy.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy