Kyrgyzstan
Peter Elia broadens his horizons in a walking group
THE FURTHER we walked into Kyrgyzstan’s Kok Kiya Valley, the more its vast size became apparent. The land seemed timeless, with no roads, houses or electrical pylons in sight. Without these signs of modern life, my mind focused unhindered on the beauty of the terrain. The rolling, mustard-shaded foothills we were walking through were gloriously juxtaposed against the daunting snowcapped peaks of the 7000-metre-plus
Tian Shan mountains.
We made our way to the tallest peak of our trip, Mama Mountain. At just over 4000 metres, the summit lay a 700-metre steep climb above our base camp. The altitude change was clearly noticeable. Fortunately, our Meetup group was sensible enough to take it slow, with no alpha characters pushing themselves to the limit. That measured walk was a chance to get to know other members of the Go London Hiking Group, most of whom I was meeting for the first time. The diverse mix of ages, ethnicities and occupations made for an exciting team. One minute I was in conversation with a financier and the next a yoga teacher. At this rate, I’d be wealthy and healthy in no time.
Short of breath, we all stood proudly at the top of the summit. We congratulated each other, selfied away and captured a few group shots. From that height, 3000 metres beneath the highest summit ranges of the all-encompassing Tian Shan, the river tributaries resembled arteries and veins pumping life into the land below. That surreal vista inspired both gratitude and astonishment. I couldn’t quite believe I was here. Rewind to five years earlier and the thought of a high-altitude trek halfway around the world seemed inconceivable.
FINDING FELLOWSHIP
I’ve always hiked solo. The combination of solitude and the sounds of nature became my antidote to busy London life – but my outdoor walks were never too adventurous. Often they were repetitive. I didn’t have the confidence to navigate routes around national parks, nor did I have any hiking friends to learn from.
I felt doomed to an outdoor life of neverending walks around Epping Forest.
At the beginning of 2014, a work colleague mentioned her boyfriend had joined a local walking group on Meetup. com. I had never heard of the website. A little research revealed that it was an online social platform focused on bringing together people who share a common interest. Fortunately, hiking was well represented, with plenty of active groups hosting events from local day hikes to Everest Base Camp adventures.
With no designs to become the next
Sir Edmund Hillary, I decided to head to Guildford the following week and join up with the intriguingly named ‘Outdooraholics’. Despite looking forward to seeing what the day would bring, I was a little nervous. The moments before meeting the group bought back memories of my first day at school. When I arrived on that cold, drizzly morning, my new hiking classmates were waiting for me
– 25 or so Outdooraholics all huddled together. The hike leader in the middle of the crowd gave me a warm welcome.
Leaving Guilford behind, we embarked on a 12-mile circular through the Surrey Hills. Any nerves quickly disappeared once in conservation with group members. The outdoors seemed like the ideal place to make new friends.
The day passed in a flash. Lovely scenery, fresh air and plenty of exercise left me full of positive vibes. Finally, we ended our hike at a traditional pub for a well-earned rest and a congratulatory cheeky pint. Perhaps meeting like-minded folk was my biggest win. I had found my people, and I couldn’t wait to sign up for the next event.