About Us
* We traded as OranjeBergsport between 2010 and 2019*
Oranjebergsport was inspired and is run by Simon Verspeak. The name is homage to my Dutch ancestry and simply means Orange Mountaineering!
(Orange Mountaineering is a trading name for Orange Outdoors Ltd, registered company number 14942523)
We are passionate about being in the outdoors. We love days out on the mountains in the snow and sunshine, searching out hidden gems, scrambling on warm rock or climbing above the clouds.
We mainly run courses in three climbing epicentres; Llanberis in Snowdonia, Sheffield in the Peak and Glencoe in Scotland.
We are the holder of an Adventurous Activities Licence allowing us to work with groups of under 18's and accredited by Mountain Training to deliver Rock skills awards.
Si and Becky, Red Rocks, Nevada, April 2017
INSTRUCTOR TEAM
We have followed the well travelled apprentice route of; indoor climbing to rock climbing across Britain, moving onto winter climbing in Scotland and Wales and then migrating to Europe to experience the Alps. Having also learnt to ski along the way, we are complete alpinists. In addition our experience isn’t confined to close at home but includes ascents in the Greater Ranges such as the Himalaya and leading expeditions across the World.
Most courses are directed by Simon Verspeak; occasionally we may use the other staff listed below. All other staff are well known to us and our friends as well as colleagues we’ve had many an adventure with!
All of us are qualified, experienced and insured and hold current Mountain First Aid qualifications. Read some testimonials here.
Simon and Nella (his golden retriever) skiing on Y Garn, Snowdonia, Winter 2021
Simon Verspeak
Simon is an enthusiastic adventurer and spends all his free time questing and exploring whether it is climbing up rock in the sun, on cold North Faces or skiing down powder fields. He has a multi activity background and may also be found in a boat on white water or on a mountain bike. He is passionate about opportunities in outdoor education for young people. He is an Accredited Practitioner and Recognised Professional of the Institute of Outdoor Learning.
He holds qualifications including the Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor (which is the UK's highest qualification for instructing climbing and mountaineering both summer and winter) and International Mountain Leader as well as skiing, kayaking, mountain biking and caving leadership and coaching awards. He is a course director and experienced deliverer of many Mountain Training leadership awards including Mountain Leader.
His work and travel have taken him to many corners of the world; extensively in Europe but also to Africa, South America, Asia and the Middle East, the Himalayas. He has led numerous high altitude expeditions and climbed dozens of peaks in the 5000-7000m range.
His initial passion for the outdoors was through studying geography and he has a BSc in Geography from the University of Wales. He is an active member of Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team, which covers Yr Wyddfa and the Snowdon group. He is a full member of many professional outdoor bodies including AMI (Association of Mountaineering Instructors), IOL (Institute of Outdoor Learning), NCC (National Coasteering Charter) and Snowsport Scotland.
Rach on the Aonach Eagach, winter 2020
Rachael Crewesmith
Rachael first started working for Orange Mountaineering in the winter of 2020. She is a qualified Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor and another instructor who splits her time between the west coast of Scotland and Snowdonia.
Rach is a ball of energy; keen for any adventure, she loves cold water swimming and is a wizard on a mountain bike. She is also one of the most highly qualified Mountain Bike leaders and tutors in the UK.
She is a full member of AMI (Association of Mountaineering Instructors).
Becky on Crib Goch, Snowdon group, Winter 2021
REbecca coles
Becky is a very experienced traveller, expedition leader and high altitude mountaineer, She has travelled to over 70 countries, on all seven continents, climbed several peaks over 6000 metres and Peak Lenin 7134m in Kyrgyzstan.
Her favourite time of the year is the winter when she will mainly be found hanging off steep frozen icefalls. In the 2019 summer season, she climbed 59 4000m peaks in the Alps (out of 82) as part of an all women’s team.
She has completed a PhD in Glacial geomorphology and is now working fulltime as an instructor and expedition leader. Becky is a qualified Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor and International Mountain Leader. She writes for several magazines and is an athlete for Montane.
She is a full member of AMI (Association of Mountaineering Instructors) and MTA (Mountain Training Association).
Stu climbing ice in Norway, winter 2020
Stuart Lade
Stu is another North Wales based super psyched climber and mountaineer.
He also takes part in the annual migration to snowy parts of the UK and often works in Norway. He holds the Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor.
He is a full member of AMI (Association of Mountaineering Instructors) and MTA (Mountain Training Association).
John climbing in the Llanberis Pass in 2022
John lees
John is the newest member of the team. He is a keen mountaineer who has recently swapped carpentry for the mountains. He has spent several winters living in Scotland but is now based on the sunny isle of Anglesey.
He is a qualified Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor, Rock Climbing Instructor, Summer and Winter Mountain Leader and a trainee International Mountain Leader. .
Above Llyn Padarn, 2020
NELLA VERSPEAK
Nella is one of the most popular members of our team. She enjoys mountain walking, paddle boarding, chasing mountain bikes and skis down hill and is partial to the odd bone and cuddly toy! She’s getting an impressive mountain logbook and likes hanging out at the bottom of the crag watching climbers.