I’m aware that ‘outdoor goals’ might sound a bit vague – this page is to both keep me accoutable, but also may be useful because having a viable plan to achieve those goals is the key part of the process.
When it comes to putting together walking trips I’ve always found myself being focused on the summits – making a route on a topo map and walking those miles whilst keeping high – but part of getting a little more experienced seems that I find much of the charm of being in the outdoors is the unexpectedness those moments can bring – the beautiful little valley or gurgling stream which seemed so unassuming on the topo map yet is a gorgeous glen full of nature when you walk through it. There is something to learning to put the ‘goal’ to one side sometimes and make time to wander in the outdoors.
Since originally putting the blog together these ‘goals’ have evolved for me – when first creating this blog doing the Scotland coast-to-coast was ‘quite a big thing’ and the planning aspect was daunting in particular. Organising resupply options was new to me, as well as the huge amount of choices when it came to committing to a route to send to the vetters. The actual walking part was surprisingly simple – there really isn’t much to it apart from putting one foot in front of the other and compelling yourself to keep going when you feel tired. All the gear, all the planning, it is more to give yourself a structure which you feel happy with – whereas sometimes you just want to put your boots on and wander, take whatever path you feel like and see where it goes.
All that said, it’s useful to have a general direction and at the moment I’m looking at the following:-
- Complete several multi-day long distance walks. Amongst these I’d like to do the Cumbria Way and the Pennine Way due to them being short enough to be convenient yet still in lovely terrain (though I’ll probably do the Pennine way in halves).
- As a longer term goal I’d like to complete the Te Araroa trail. Yes, it’s a significant step up and a true ‘long distane trail’ – but it’s more a step in terms of logistics than anything else. Something we found on the TGO was you’re effectively planning a series of 4-7 day depending on how much food you carry and where you stock up. Once you break it down like that it’s actually surprisingly simple to do long distance. You’re still carrying largely the same things if you’re camping 3 nights or 30.
- Do some more winter trips. Even long weekends. Yes I understand it’s the UK and the weather is at best tempramental – but without getting out more when it’s blustery and making the best of it, you tend to have your outdoor life ‘hibernate’ until the nicer months. Of course some actual snow and ice conditions would be nice first!
Now none of this magically happens, you don’t ‘wish’ or ‘fingers crossed I’ll get to do this’ – it comes out from commitments to put yourself in the outdoors more than last year. In 2019 I did a lot, 70 Wainwrights climbed, lots of Mountain Rescue training and qualified as a Swift Water Rescue Technician – as well as loads of general walking trips, and that was even with two months out due to injury. However that was mainly due to keeping on getting out there, if it’s windy, cold or wet, it didn’t matter – that is why you buy the gear after all. This regularity is key, putting dates into the diary and sticking with them despite the weather. Overall lets look at getting out there a lot more and make it a great year for exploring the outdoors.
L|ve the Outdoors 