Braving Mount Skiddaw — Blue Trainer Travels

With the weather looking promising for one day out of the three we were spending in the English Lake District, J and I decided that it would be a good idea for us to go up a mountain. Before we left London, I was sure that we were going to go up Scafell Pike, which is England's highest peak but after a conversation with J's dad who said that Skiddaw was far much easier to do and wouldn't take that long, we decided to go for that. I think me and him have a different definition of what "easy" is and how long "long" is.

I guess you could call this my first mountain hike. I thought I had it all worked out, only for me to realise that I had neglected the most important aspect of hiking. Taking your time. I was walking quite fast up the hill as if I had someone else’s personal best to beat. I quickly learnt that that was a recipe for disaster as I found the walk up a lot harder than I should have. J transformed from being my boyfriend to becoming my teacher. His first lesson of the day. Slow down. As I stopped for the umpteenth time, he realised that I wasn’t just stopping to take in the view or take pictures, I was stopping to catch my breath. He told me to slow down and if I felt myself getting out of breath again, to slow down even more. I wanted to keep pace with him and he told me I couldn’t. It wasn’t in a malicious way, for every 1 step J takes, I take 2. He’s that tall 😛

The clouds proved to be very capable in their task of teasing me with the view of the lake. Every now and again I would turn and see nothing and the next moment I could see further than I did before. At one point I even witnessed the hot air rising up to join what was already a fully formed cloud. It’s not everyday when I wish I concentrated a bit more in my Geography classes and not taken them as just lessons but things that do happen in real life.

We eventually got to the top of Little Man and for a second I thought we had made it to the top of Skiddaw. That’s the illusion of the hills and the mountains in the Lake District, with so many of them, it’s easy for you to think and believe that you have reached the top. Well that’s until the clouds disperse and then you see another peak. Then you realise that your journey is only half way done.

When we eventually reached the peak of Mount Skiddaw, it started pouring down. At this point, I didn’t care much because I had done it. I managed to walk up a mountain and I was pleased with my achievement and I thought yes ! When are we going to do Scafell Pike which just happens to be the highest peak in England. Only going up was only one part of the story as I had conveniently overlooked the fact that what goes up, must come down. In fact I don’t think it was because I overlooked it. I think it’s because I was under the impression that walking down was a lot easier. I was very much mistaken.

I followed J who had become our guide because visibility had been greatly reduced, I could only see a few meters in front of me. It’s impressive that we didn’t bump into anyone and just managed to walk out of people’s ways. When he suddenly stopped, realising we were following the wrong path, I almost cried. This side of Mount Skiddaw was steeper compared to the ascend. In fact just going down seemed to be a challenge and so the thought of having to walk back up wasn’t really one that I welcomed. But there was no other option. I couldn’t exactly call a cab or a helicopter to help me down. I did consider just falling over and rolling down the mountain, then I thought of the bruises and decided against that. So I just had to suck it up and do what needed to be done.

We walked back to the top of Skiddaw, this time making sure that we were on the right path. We even confirmed this with another couple who were also heading down. The first few steps were a breeze and I thought well this isn’t so bad. Until the path got steeper, then it wasn’t so fun anymore. We were essentially going down the steepest part of the mountain and any one who is good at hiking, will tell you that it would be quite difficult. I found myself on my hands a lot trying to get a balance so that I can prevent myself from falling. I almost gave up. Multiple times. I almost cried. Multiple times. I was extremely stressed that it was just so difficult for me because J was flying down. So to avoid spiralling further down in my head , I had to give myself a pep talk - tell myself that I could do it, that if the younger child had confidently walked down was able to do it then I too would have been. But ultimately I had to have confidence in myself. Confidence in my ability to get down, even if it meant being on my hands and taking things slow. And when I did get down I was really proud of myself.

Climbing Mount Skiddaw was a mixed experience. Walking up was full of moments when I was overly happy, grinning like cheshire cat. I was amazed at the wonder of nature, I found myself singing at some points and praying in the next minute. Getting to the top was a great feeling but the rain dampened it a little bit. When I was coming down that feeling of joy was overshadowed by fear. I was scared. I was scared of falling and funnily enough, I was scared of making a fool of myself in front of the one that I love. But I had forgotten something, he loves me just as I am. Whilst for him this was another mountain he had climbed, he was able to recognise that this was my first and his encouragement gave me the strength that I needed to avoid me getting on his back for a piggyback ride.

And that I guess was the best experience of them all

So have you been to the Lake District ? What was your favourite moment ? If you haven't been, what are you waiting for ?Get yourself out there.