High-altitude mountaineer, Adriana Brownlee reflects on 2025 and outlines her training, mindset and gear strategy for new alpine and expedition challenges in 2026.
It’s 2026. Expeditions are getting wilder, kit is getting lighter, and expectations are growing exponentially. Just as running a marathon once felt extreme, and climbing Everest even more so, the bar has continued to rise. In the eyes of sponsors, social media spectators, and even myself, what once felt extraordinary is now expected.
Over 2025, and transitioning into 2026, I’ve changed the way I train and climb. After three intense years of back-to-back expeditions, I’ve learned to take a step back, to breathe, to slow down, and to enjoy the mountains again.
2026 will still bring big objectives. An unclimbed peak, potentially another summit without oxygen, but beyond that, there’s no rush to say more. Right now, it’s time to focus on training.
Last year wasn’t easy. I struggled with my mental health, largely stemming from a lack of fitness, which showed up in a very real way on Manaslu in September. Chest pains at altitude are enough to make anyone stop and reassess. That moment forced a complete rethink of how I prepare.
I turned to a very reliable trainer… ChatGPT. After laying out my life, training habits and current fitness in detail, it produced a structured, demanding programme that I’ve now been following for around twelve weeks. The difference has been huge.
Previously, my training was instinctive but inconsistent, a 10km run one day, Stairmaster the next, a swim if I felt like it. The result was imbalance, overworked muscles in some areas and neglect in others. My focus now is injury prevention: mobility, stability, and strengthening the muscles that quietly hold everything together in the mountains, while still maintaining VO2 max.
Somewhere along the way, performance in the mountains became synonymous with suffering. Less sleep. Less oxygen. Less margin. But I’m starting to believe real performance in 2026 looks different. It’s not just about how hard you can push when everything is going well - it’s about how stable, resilient, and calm you are when it isn’t. About changing the lens through which we view success. Being able to slow your breathing at altitude, move efficiently when tired, and stay mentally clear under pressure. That’s the kind of performance I’m training for now.
Once you start looking at performance through that lens, it changes more than just how you train, it changes what you take into the mountains. The kit has evolved too: lighter, smarter, more refined.
Since starting AGA Adventures, the most common questions we get are always about equipment - so staying on top of what’s out there matters. I’ve been working closely with Rab on cutting-edge clothing, and testing new goggles with VALLON, who continue to push eyewear technology forward. Boots are lighter too, even on Everest Base Camp, the old leather monsters are being replaced by lightweight trekking or running shoes with serious cushioning. Just like training, great kit makes things easier and doesn’t demand attention when times get hard: Fewer distractions, fewer compromises, and more headspace for making the decisions that really matter.
With the challenges and objectives of 2026 already on the horizon, my focus stays the same: Cut the noise, trust the preparation, and meet the mountains with clarity and readiness.
