The Great Outdoors - UK (2021-08)

already animpressive cake.
e scenerybecame more diversebut
remained equally beautiful on our way
to camp: jagged blackmountains dusted
with snowaboveus and endless fields of
gold dominating the landscapebelow.
On arrival,our tents swayedin the bitter
winds.e plummeting temperatureswere
a reminder ofthe nomadic families’harsh
outdoorexistence. I felt privileged to be
invitedinto their world and to share the
experience withmy newhiking buddies.
Without the group, Iwould never have
found this remote part of Kyrgyzstan.

GOOD TO SHARE
Aer a piping hot stew, we all huddled
around thecampfire. e freezing
temperatures encouraged the group
to drink any available liquids forextra

warmth.Tea, vodka and even vodka

tea were all gratefully received. Berdiba

spontaneously broke into a traditional song

and received a cheerful round of applause.

He thenasked me to sing an English song. I

hesitantly obligedwith an alcohol-induced

version ofWhen I’mSixty Four by e

Beatles and the entertainment hadbegun.

Despite the cold, the atmosphereand

camaraderie couldn’thave been warmer.

Mod cons and zerocommunication

with the outside world were temporarily

forgotten. I took comfort from the lack

of technologyavailable. Myhappiness

and fulfilmenthad come from being

presentwith people and myenvironment.

is experience wasn’tabout turning

my back on modern living but rather a

reminder to disconnect more oen. e

art of conversation withoutdistraction was

making a comeback – and itfelt good.

e fire’sdying embers signalled

bedtime.Before returning to our tents,

a few of us gazedupwards and noted the

brilliant stars sparkling againstthe dark

heavens.Perhaps the best thing about a

group adventure is connectingwith people

througha series of shared experiences.

It would have been a shame to keep the

glorious night sky all to myself.

Fast forwardto 2021 and the world has

changed. I’ve returnedto hiking solo and

I’mloving it. I now have the confidence to

take on allsorts oftrails beyond Epping

Forest and occasionally attend a local

Meetupto catchup with walking buddies.

Withinternationaltravel looking difficult

for some time, I’ll keep on discovering

greathikes in the UK – and see whatelse

I can find out about myself.

[above]Kol Suu River [opposite page clockwise from top left]Members of Peter's hiking group in: Slovenia; Greenland; Montenegro; Greenland; Slovenia

KYRGYZSTAN

56 The Great OutdoorsAugust 2021