The Yorkshire Dales like you’ve never experienced…

I love walking and I’m lucky enough to have the Yorkshire Dales right on my doorstep, a walker’s paradise.  So when a work colleague asked for willing team mates to take part in an epic walk for Oxfam across the Dales, I was the first to say yes.

Trailtrekker involves walking the equivalent of two and a half marathons in a loop around the Yorkshire Dales National Park in a toe blistering 30 hours – Team Yorkshire were definitely up for this physical and mental challenge!

After months of practice and preparation, and after a not so restful night’s sleep, our support crew waved us off from Skipton at 6am on a sunny day in June.  The hot sun accompanied us through the foothills of the Dales and on to the ever dramatic Malham Cove, what could be more perfect?

But the Dales being the Dales, a weather front was coming in and soon after saw Fountains Fell shrouded in mist and a particularly tough climb for us.  Although the sun was shining again as we skirted around Pen-y-ghent, as we descended into Horton-in-Ribblesdale for the 25 mile check point mid-afternoon, I did find my energy levels were sapping.

The carnival atmosphere in Horton (it was their annual gala day), together with foot treatment and a good feed from our wonderful support crew, did much to revive the team.  We set off with renewed spirits, following the Pennine Way for a stretch before picking up the Dales Way, the top part of the loop.  This would be the longest stretch before we’d see our support crew again at the 40 mile check point.

Despite the breathtaking scenery, the exuberance of reaching the halfway point started to wear off as the weather changed once again.  Fighting a headwind as the tiredness really started to kick in and that one blister multiplied into four, this was hard!  Darkness was descending and after a long stretch on tarmac, I was in absolute agony as I limped someway behind the rest of the team into Buckden and that check point.  I knew heart of hearts that I couldn’t go on and with much reluctance broke the news to the rest of the team.  My Trailtrekker was over.

However the rest of the team were determined to push on into the night for what they tell me was the most mentally challenging part of the whole walk.  Cold and isolated, the number of other teams left had thinned out considerably, it was the camaraderie that kept them going (and maybe the hot pizza the support crew supplied at the last check point).  Team Yorkshire crossed the finishing line in an exceptional 27 hours.  Here’s their collective thoughts on the experience:

Relief, pain, exhaustion but overall an overwhelming sense of achievement, awe and a strange sense of incomprehension.

The sight of the finish line was the best feeling ever… as we approached and saw family and friends waiting, I just broke down!

I had never felt anything like it before – emotionally and physically exhausted, mixed with a massive sense of achievement and feeling slightly dazed!

And I would add, as they crossed the line, that I felt so incredibly proud of them.  The extremes of temperature and weather witnessed this year were unusual and made the event all the more demanding.  But don’t let this put you off!  It was a crazy yet wonderful experience, for a great cause, and one I won’t forget. Oh and in case you’re wondering, I will be there again in 2012, with a new pair of boots, determined to turn my silver medal into gold…

Our pearls of wisdom and tips for 2012

• Training, training, training…
• Good footwear and lots and lots of socks
• A great support crew – without them, none of us would have been able to do it
• A well-balanced walking team, not just physically but also personality.  Your biggest support is each other, so stick together!  And when times are tough, just keep walking!

Exclusive discount to e-newsletter readers

Now’s the time to get your dream team together.  Sign up before 16 December 2011 and Oxfam will reduce your fundraising pledge to only £1,200 – that’s a saving of £200.  That means just £300 per team member.  Choose your distance – 40km, 60km or the full 100km and sign your team up now!

Oxfam Trailtrekker… the trail-thumping, friendship-forming, mile-munching, life-changing team challenge across the Yorkshire Dales.