If you’d asked me a few years ago whether I’d ever climb a mountain, I’d probably have laughed – a lot.
The closest I’d come was walking a marathon with fellow Cleve chiropractor Catherine Quinn and my wife Jenny in aid of Motor Neurone Disease for our friend Marcus Stewart. It was an incredible cause, but if I’m honest, I was hopelessly underprepared. By the end of the day I was completely broken and Catherine and Jenny practically carried me back to the train. It wasn’t exactly one of my finest athletic moments!
So when Catherine and I joined around 50 chiropractors to climb Mount Snowdon in memory of our much-loved colleague and university lecturer, George Rips, I approached it with a mixture of excitement and genuine nerves.
George helped many of us – Including me – through chiropractic university and some particularly challenging neurology exams. Climbing in his memory, while raising money for Prostate Cancer UK, made every step feel worthwhile. Thanks to everyone’s incredible generosity we raised around £5,000, which was then matched by a corporate sponsor – an amazing achievement.
This time, however, things were different for me in the preparation department.
Over the last few years, I’ve made a conscious effort to practise what I’ve preached to patients for decades. Exercise has always been one of the pillars of health I talk passionately about yet, like many busy professionals, I often convinced myself I simply didn’t have the time.
However, since turning 40, I’ve gradually changed that mindset for the better.
Training in the gym with our physio Keith a couple of times each week, running through the hills of Somerset and building strength and fitness has become something I genuinely look forward to. It gives me freedom, clears my head and helps balance a career that I absolutely love but which can also be wonderfully intense.
That preparation made all the difference when I was contemplating the not inconsiderable task of climbing the highest mountain in Wales.
Full of enthusiasm, we set off at around 6pm in glorious sunshine wearing shorts and T-shirts. The PYG Track (one of the main walking routes on Snowdon) was busy with people like us enjoying a beautiful summer evening. It felt more like a pleasant hike than a mountain expedition.
Then Snowdon reminded us who was in charge.
Halfway up, we rounded a corner and were met by ferocious winds. That’s when the extra layers of clothing came out. A little further on, we found one final sheltered spot overlooking the stunning lake below and paused to take it all in.
Then, almost unbelievably, the weather transformed again.
Cloud rolled over the ridge, visibility disappeared and horizontal rain arrived with astonishing speed. Within minutes we had gone from summer clothing to waterproofs, hats and gloves as we battled the elements for the final push to the summit.
Reaching the top felt incredibly satisfying, even if the famous Snowdon sunset remained hidden behind thick cloud. The smiles, photographs and sense of achievement more than made up for it.
The descent, however, was a different challenge altogether.
Walking down the rocky path alongside the mountain railway line demanded constant braking through the knees and thighs. By the following morning my knees felt enormous, even though they looked perfectly normal. It was a reminder that going downhill is often harder than climbing up.
Fortunately, spending a weekend with 50 chiropractors has its advantages! Everyone was looking after everyone else. Once I was back at work, I treated myself to red light therapy, enjoyed some much-appreciated massages from the team and even persuaded Cleve chiropractor Jack to give me an adjustment. By the middle of the week, I was feeling remarkably normal again.
Perhaps the moment that summed up the weekend best wasn’t on the summit at all.
One of our colleagues, now 80 years old, struggled badly on the final descent as his legs simply refused to cooperate. We all waited together until half past one in the morning while he completed the final section. Despite offers of help, he insisted on finishing under his own steam.
That determination earned everyone’s admiration.
Snowdon challenged me physically, reminded me of the value of preparation and reinforced something I often tell patients: our bodies are capable of remarkable things when we look after them consistently.
Would I recommend it?
Absolutely.
It’s tough enough to make you proud, achievable enough for most people with sensible preparation and even more rewarding when shared with good friends for a worthwhile cause.
Who knows… perhaps the experience has created a mountain climber in me after all.
Photo by Brad Barmore on Unsplash
