The old and the young

I don’t know if I have mentioned this before in my blog, but my husband and I have been given the opportunity to pursue a mountain leader qualification. This was something we have always talked about, but never really saw the benefit in gaining such a qualification if we weren’t taking people, other than our own children, into the mountains. The situation has now arisen for us both to be a part of leading Duke of Edinburgh qualifications and their expeditions in the hills. Finally we  have got a reason to pursue the qualification. This is really exciting and perfect timing to help me increase my hill fitness ready for my attempt to complete the Two Moors Way. We are heading off on Saturday morning to North Wales where we will complete the training before leaving to complete 40 quality mountain days before heading back to qualify in 2020. What I want to get out of this time in training is the ability to take young people out into the mountains, teach them to navigate and stay safe whilst enjoying the outdoors and all the restoration and joy that comes from being outside and dependent only on yourself. 

During our last adventure across Dartmoor we walked past a gentleman who stopped and spoke to us about our journey. This gentleman was walking confidently across the moors with his walking stick. He told us that he was the advanced party of the final training session for the military. They were completing 30 miles in just 8 hours whilst carrying 40lb of equipment on their backs. He told us of many years he had spent fighting for his country and training on Dartmoor. He was 90 years old and still walking miles. He no longer found it easy, but spoke with pleasure about his moorland adventures and the joy he finds in still regularly spending his time there. Meeting this gentleman reminded me of meeting Tom. He was 93 years old and arrived at a youth hostel we were staying at with friends. He entered the hostel carrying only a small backpack looking for a space to sleep over night. He told us if it was full he would happily sleep in the outhouse at the bottom of the garden as he often does. We made room for him inside the hostel and sat and listened into the late evening to the incredible stories he relayed about climbing, travel, walking and writing. He is a remarkable man who has had a fascinating and varied life . His love of the mountains, nature and of the oceans was demonstrated through his anecdotes of adventures he gave and described in an honest and engaging way. Two men who I’ve only met for a short period of time, but they have inspired me greatly. Their love of the mountains and moors seeped out through their conversations and their simple, minimalistic lifestyles held such deep appeal. 

This week has been a tough week for me and I have been very unwell. My pain has been extremely high and I feel incredibly  fatigued. On Saturday morning we have to start our journey to North Wales at 5am so we are sat in the training centre, ready to learn at 9am. My pain levels and tiredness can not influence how much or how little I can do as we have a strict schedule to follow. As I sit here writing this blog with one day to restore and recover I hold onto what I really want from this week. It is going to have to be a example of mind over matter. This week I want to train so I can inspire young people and give them a thirst for adventure. I want to be that 90+ year old still walking across moorlands and up mountains. I want to be filled with stories to tell and with the energy to still add to my list of adventures. Not only for my own pleasure, but so I can talk with so much joy about my adventures outdoors to deeply inspire the younger generation to hunger for the mountains and thirst for adventure. 

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