Years of working and a love of outdoorsy stuff going by the wayside would probably have continued had I not experienced a very unfortunate incident that left me with the risk of losing everything. This luckily didn't happen and the ending was a happy one however it did leave me with some time on my hands to ponder over my potential fate which I was to worry about for a year or so, I took to taking my dogs of the time up a local hill, Bennachie. My first attempt at it nearly gave me heart failure and I realised how unfit I had become. I smoked then and when faced with such concerns and having no control over them,, I realised quickly that the only thing I did have control over was keeping my health as good as it could be. I could lose everything but if I could walk? I would be fine.
I stopped smoking and began with plans to do Mount Keen. Due to my being such a slow walker, I didn't join a group. I did know about navigation from many years before and some revision was in order. That was to continue too as was the growing gear I was to collect! I was to love and relish walking alone with my dogs.
Anyway, I set off with some trepidation and probably looked like I was on the way to Everest with the size of the rucksack I had then. BUT, I made it, looked over from the top and saw Lochnagar and that was my next hill planned. I still remember my walk back from Mount Keen and remember walking like C-3PO out of Star Wars back to my car. I was however elated and so the start of, or return of, the love of being outdoors came back to me. I did the first 100 or so of the Munro's alone but colleagues/friends from work come along with me now and they love it too. They know I go slow but they dont mind
. I get to be navigator and guide as they learn and become proficient themselves.
I don't know if I will finish the Munro's but I have gotten over the half way mark. I love wild camping and long distance walking and have found myself doing this too so the compleation isn't a must.
We are going to do the section of the Cape Wrath Trail this year and very much look forward to it although a plan b will be in order in the face of our Scottish weather.
Life is good. Very good.