One of the highlights of the my UK trip was the five-hour circular walk of Moel Eiliol in Eryri National Park (Snowdonia) with Sober Snowdonia, a group founded by Rob Havelock of North Wales Recovery Communities (NWRC). Rob set up the group to help people recovering from addiction and mental problems get out into nature. He shares his recovery journey with people walking with him, emphasising how the mountains of Snowdonia helped him in his personal recovery journey.
A group of nine members of NWRC, along with Wulf Livingston, Auggie the dog and I, set out for the walk from the town of Llanberis mid-morning on Sunday, 28th of April. Given the earlier cold weather (at least cold to me) I had experienced earlier in my North Wales stay I was well-prepared for the walk, wearing two hoodies and a rainproof jacket. However, the day had dawned brightly and I was soon stripping off a layer of clothing. This item went back on when we reached the summit of Moel Eiliol, as the temperature dropped.
I noticed the camaraderie within the group very early on. If someone fell behind the main group, another person or two would fall back to see how they were doing. I was soon chatting with fellow walkers, as was everyone else. Although I’m quite fit, I hadn’t been walking in the hills for quite some time, so I was initially concerned with how I would deal with the steep uphill slopes, particularly as I was only wearing trainers. However, I coped well, much better than I did on one slippery downhill slope later on in the walk.
I really felt the power of community during the walk. Not just the making of friendships, and the conversation and sharing of past experiences, but the sharing of the stunning views in Snowdonia. I was reminded of the words of Wulf Livingston in his blog post The Lure of the Mountains:
‘Finally and critically, there was the role the mountains played. People fell in love with the majesty of the environment, regularly undergoing a sense of being alive (again) in the world. Old things were noticed again, or new things experienced for the first time. Often you could hear the sheer joy and amazement the first time someone got to the top and soaked up the world around them. Mountains have always provided people with the contemplative and meditative reflections on the self and journeys taken.’
During the walk, I recorded my new friends talking about how they felt about being on the walk and how it it impacted on their recovery and life in general.
I had first approached Lee Daly, who I was told by other walkers had been in a terrible state when first arriving at NWRC. He was certainly doing well now and was very grateful to all within the recovery community for helping him on his personal journey of recovery. I then spoke with Barrie Merritt (whose share was rudely interrupted by the wind), Rob Havelock, Gethin Jones, Alexandra Magson (who I had previously met up with in my home town of Perth), and Lianne Jones. I recently edited the shares and linked them up in a Playlist which you can watch below.
As I reached the last stages of the walk, I realised how lucky I was to have been on such a walk, what with the stunningly beautiful countryside, my inspiring group of companions, and the quality of the conversation we had. As I pointed out to them, I learn more from people in recovery about life, and overcoming adversity, than I ever do from so-called ‘normies’. I felt a strong sense of achievement for completing the walk, which was felt by others, and a desire to come back to Snowdonia with my partner Linda. I realised that I had made some great new friends, although I only had one more day to spend with them at NWRC. I knew I would miss them, and I certainly do.
Thank you Mared, Lee, Gethin, Rob, Lianne, Auggie, Alex, Mike, Gary, Barry and Wulf for helping make my day so very special. Big Hugs to you all. And one for Auggie, Alex.
You cab read more about the walk here. If you are thinking of visiting Snowdonia, think about contacting Rob Havelock of Sober Snowdonia. I would love to see other recovery communities connecting with Rob and his colleagues.