So I’ve decided to climb a mountain!

So recently I decided I wanted a new focus. Scott has joined a running club which meet twice a week and he is enjoying focusing on that which leaves me at home to get fit. I’ve been using my kettle bell to workout again while he’s out again am feeling better for it but I know in a few weeks it won’t be testing me anymore and will start to feel easy again.

So yesterday I joined a walking group. I looked it up online and went along to the meeting point where I was met with lots of friendly faces. I took Poppy, to break the ice if nothing else, and she certainly did that. We walked a route I had never been before then stopped for a drink halfway and walked a different route back again. There were all ages and abilities there, some had been going years and others only a few months. I spoke to most of the group as we walked and they really were all so nice and pleased I had joined them I felt so welcome.

So the aim of my walking is not just to improve my fitness, to meet new people  and give me something else to focus on when I don’t have overtime at work but to build myself up for the challenge I have set myself.

Next year I aim to climb Scafell Pike, the tallest mountain in England.
Scafell Pike is 978m tall and sits in the Lake District. The views from the top are stunning and there are several different routes you can take up and down ranging from 6 to 12 miles. It’s tricky terrain so I will need to prepare myself for this in a big way, walking 5 miles yesterday is a good start I think! Scott will be climbing it with me and we are both really excited to have such a challenge to focus on next year.
The reason we are doing it next year is a few things, firstly fitness; I’m sure i could do it now but I’m nowhere near as fit as I should be and would like to be, secondly cost; we already wanted to visit the Lake District so will be including this climb in a trip to stay on Lake Windermere for a few days and already have a holiday planned for this year and thirdly time; we have a lot planned for this year so just wouldn’t be able to fit it in.

I am so excited to get ready for this challenge with both with my fitness and actually planning for it I can’t wait to get myself a notebook and start planning! We already took a trip to Go Outdoors for something else and spent a few minutes looking at all the outdoor clothing, backpacks and supplies you can buy, we already have walking boots but the rest will be new to us and I think after all the work we are going to do to get fit for this it will be great to treat ourselves to some new clothes to go in!

I don’t think we will climb until about May time but I’m still looking into this, I’ve read some stories of people climbing just a couple of weeks ago and there being a few feet of snow at the top so ice picks and crampons being needed! I’m feeling adventurous but I think that is taking it a little too far! Also it doesn’t look like the right terrain for Poppy with her being so small and how rocky it can be so we will have to leave her behind for this one.

Here are some pictures of the mountain and scenery to give you an idea of why I’m so excited to do this. I plan to keep my blog updated with information about my trip as I go along so hopefully you guys will all get excited with me during the next year!