Dodd Wood - My first walk

My walking adventures started on an August Bank Holiday Monday in 2016.

After a conversation, with a friend, about going for a walk up Skiddaw Dodd, I suddenly realised I had no idea about the things I needed to know about walking/hiking up fells so decided the night before I’d better have a practise run.

I googled a map and plotted what I thought the walk would be.

The next day I found myself getting out of bed, packing my son’s rucksack, and still hadn’t talked myself out of it! Oh my God, I’m really doing this aren’t I?

So many questions...

What do you wear up the fells? It’s a hot day but it might be blizzard conditions up there. Thoughts of Everest. I’ll take a few layers then.

How long will it take, it says 2 hours on the internet but I’ve no idea, might take me 4. Best take a load of food and drink in case I’m stranded up there and need rescued.

Will it rain? Forecast is dry as a bone, there’s been no rain for a week nor any forecast for next week either. Best pack a waterproof then!

It says the paths are well signposted. So best take a compass I don’t know how to work, a OS map where the actual walk is about an inch square, a torch in case I get lost (on the brightest day of the year, on a 2hr walk).

And off I go.....

I get there, in the car park, self conscious as hell. Everyone I view must be experienced mountaineers,  they must be, they certainly look like they are, they all have the gear and look the part.

In contrast, I’ve a tee shirt, pair of cargo trousers and a backpack Chris Bonnington would be proud of. I'm kitted up to spend days in this jungle of trees in front of me if necessary.

I’m on my way, walking quite a pace. It's my normal walking pace for going to the pub after all so it must be right.  My legs are quickly sore, this is hard work, oh my God what have I done. I can’t turn back now I’m only about 400yds from the car park. Better slow down.

Dodd Wood (Skiddaw Dodd) is a woodland walk and I’m looking at the hills around for a guide to how far I have to go.I finally come above the treeline and I’m shattered. I could easy turn back but walk around a corner and suddenly I can see the summit, not far away.  The view has opened up.
Wow!

I can pick out places from above. I’m actually going to finish it.  The path twists and turns, torturing me on every turn but I finally make it and the views are gorgeous.

It feels so good to have conquered 'the impossible' and to achieved something completely different.



Of course I'd made mistakes. I've since realised everyone starts somewhere, and you don't know what you don't know until you know it!!

I’d only worn thin socks so couldn’t walk for a week with blisters.

I''d realised that with experience, you pack for the occasion and not necessarily take your own weight in kit.

I had been faced with the choice of quitting something but kept on plodding, and was rewarded with a fantastic view, a real sense of accomplishment and a love of walking.

In the hours and days afterwards, I noticed a few more things. I felt fitter within myself and was mentally refreshed with doing that walk - and every walk since.

That day in Dodd Wood had changed me. I’ve been back several times since that day and its one of my favourites. The map enclosed is the route I took that day. IN hindsight there are shortcuts all over the place but I chose the clockwise route.