Philip Welch - Ullswater, The Lake District, 1974

The month I spent in the Lake District 44 years ago is still one of my most intense memories. I'm very glad I did the course; even more so that I completed it. Some didn't, and I feel sorry for them. What their failing the course did for them might be interesting, too. The final expedition. We got lost - magnetic hillside - 2 got sick, so us remaining 2 climbed down at night towards the lights in the valley, phoned in, slept on concrete till 4°°, back up, collected the others, (and their wet kit) and walked home. Till 23°°. 19 Hrs. Over 60 Km, over 30Kg. I'm pretty sure I'm not exaggerating. So what I really learnt from having been there was that, if you really want to, you can do almost anything. Like knowing that, normally, you're running at 20%. A very reassuring thing to know. To quote Robert Wyatt, 'All we really need is wanting'