![Gwen is pictured on a mountain-hike, she is smiling at the camera and there are more mountains [Southern Alps] behind her.](https://climbout.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Gwen-e1774288195928.jpeg "Gwen Laurelin (she/her) 1")
Hey, hey! I’m Gwen. I’m a software developer from Hampshire and I love the outdoors. My happy space is an ancient woodland or some remote mountains.
I’m a keen long-distance hiker whose always loved the mountains. I stumbled into climbing after 2020 and I’ve never looked back! I mostly climb indoors; despite constantly saying I’m looking to change that – things just keep not quite working out between this and all my other hobbies.
I attended the first ClimbOut on one of the bursaries and was a shy nervous thing. But I found a place and a community where I could be myself more than almost anywhere else. I didn’t want to leave! So I had to keep coming back! I’ve been increasingly involved as a volunteer, and now I’m joining the team to help organise the other volunteers and help out wherever else I can. I want to see this magical festival of climbing, acceptance and queer joy grow year on year!