What are our MTA members up to?

Black dog Outdoors' first big day out…

Last month, several of our MTA members volunteered as leaders in Black Dog Outdoors’ inaugural day walk, using their experience as qualified Mountain Leaders to lead the group and provide support throughout the day.

Black Dog Outdoors has been established to promote outdoor activities as a means of improving mental health. “Many of the mental health organisations are citing “green exercise” as a means of improving mental health and the NHS are even prescribing it. The effects of outdoor activities can include stress reduction, improved mood, improved self-esteem and improved health and general well-being.

The real challenge now lies in promoting the idea of “green exercise” to those that will benefit from it, providing opportunities for those people to take up outdoor activities, and to support and encourage them as they set out on their individual adventures.” - https://www.blackdogoutdoors.co.uk/, 2019.

Read about the day from one of the walk leaders and MTA members, Felicity Kettle:

Black Dog Outdoors inaugural event

One of the aims of Black Dog Outdoors is to organise free events that are provided for those affected by poor mental health. These events are organised by Black Dog Outdoors but managed on the day by qualified leaders and instructors, many of which are also MTA members. Their inaugural event took place in April this year and I had the pleasure of sharing the leading duties with MTA member Emma Holland (Mountain Leader) with support from Scott Robertson (Mountain Leader) and Linda Moran (Trainee Mountain Leader); also MTA members.

We chose to hold the walk in the Castleton area of the Peak District due to it being fairly central in the UK, having good transportation links and facilities, and lots of interesting features and history in the area. Before the event we talked through the administrative side of things with Black Dog Outdoors to ensure we were legally covered. Andy Higson (Black Dog Outdoors creator, trainee Mountain Leader and MTA member) confirmed that insurance was in place, produced a risk assessment for the event, and also provided us with details on any medical conditions that we may need to know for first aid purposes. Slick and professional… the necessary paperwork was in order.
Now we could get on with the real fun of planning the route. Where? How big? How many? How difficult? The walk was aimed for varied walkers with different experience, and potentially people who have never been off path, so we had to think of suitable terrain but with the wow factor of views. We finally opted for a circular route that took in Cave Dale, Mam Tor, and Lose Hill… great vistas but fairly steady going with well-established footpaths.

We all gathered at Castleton on what turned out to be a glorious morning. Andy welcomed the attendees to the event and then handed over to myself and Emma to give a briefing on what the day had in store for them, the forecast weather, etc. We then headed up through the narrow rocky entrance (once rooved) into Cavedale, with the remains of Pevril castle looking down on us; a silent sentinel watching us as we made our way up through the valley. Streams quickly disappear into the chambers and network of caves below us to Peak cavern. This gave us the opportunity to stop and talk to the group about the local geology and history of the surroundings, including pointing out an air vent from the cave system below.

We then took advantage of a brief stop at the top of Cavedale to surprise one of the walkers, David (21 again…), with a birthday cake and sing-song. From here we followed the Limestone way before heading towards Mam Tor. We stopped briefly to watch the farmer move sheep, and we chatted about the cattle in the field opposite. Personally, I don’t like going through fields of cows, but sometimes we have to with our work. We took discussed with the group things we should and should not do while walking around them; directing the group to some great videos online for advice as well.

The group were making great pace and sped up to the summit of Mam Tor. From there we enjoyed the roller coaster ride along the top to Lose Hill, where Ian took some personal videos of some of us (keep an eye on the Black Dog Outdoors Facebook page for those)… an experience I wasn’t keen on hahaha! We were blessed with amazing views throughout the day with a chilly but welcomed wind. As we walked off Lose Hill, almost back to Castleton, it was wonderful to look back at the group and see everyone smiling and chatting away like old friends.
Poor mental health can be crippling and affect even what seems, on appearance, to be someone with the strongest of personalities. It was great to see so many affected by mental health coming together as strangers at the beginning, to then finishing and sitting in a beer garden enjoying a well-earned drink with no stresses… just smiles and laughter… freedom from the mind!

I feel proud to have been a part of this event and to have engaged with so many enthusiastic walkers, all with varying experience, to provide a day that they’ll remember for the right reasons. Hopefully they will have increased their confidence and are now busy planning their next adventure, wherever that may take them. I’m looking forward to supporting Black Dog Outdoors again, and would definitely encourage other members to get involved with events such as these. We have the skills and the passion to make a difference!

Read more about Felicity and her journey into the outdoor world:

How did I become an MTA member?

Walking helped me through a very messy divorce. It was the only time I genuinely didn’t think about anything and that freedom was unreal to start with. It was also quality time with my son, and free! Being a single parent with no financial backing other than my own income was a massive factor to consider. I either did the once a year holiday to somewhere sunny, or we went camping at every opportunity, which ended up once a month then to every other weekend very quickly.

Then from being a hobby, which I was totally obsessed with, I joined the MTA and registered to become a Mountain Leader. The very first day of my training course (with Phil George) we sat in the training room and for the first time in a few years all my anxiety came flooding back. Everyone was doing an amazing intro on themselves already working in the outdoors. I was last out of 12 and to be honest I just want to run out the door… but I wasn’t going to as I wanted to do this so much!

I was a totally obsessed walker by now and loved navigation, out every weekend and helped with the local scout and Explorer groups, but these guys and girls all looked so professional and experienced. I somehow managed to babble a few words out clutching on to the scout work and proud mum and son hill time, dreading the day ahead… but Phil was amazing throughout the day. I still remember my first nav point. If you’ve done your Mountain Leader training week do you remember yours? What have you done since qualifying as a Mountain Leader?

After passing my Mountain Leader assessment I can still remember being told to “never lose my enthusiasm and passion for the outdoors!” I now spend most of my time either guiding, or providing training, on behalf of Mountain Wonders and Lakeland Mountain Guides. I take great enjoyment in sharing wonderful outdoor experiences with others, new and old faces, inexperienced and the experienced people.

MTA, and the support from friends and working in the industry, have helped me return to the strong independent person I am. That is why I’m happy to volunteer some of my time for mental health related organisations like Black dog outdoors and Trail magazines Mountains for the Mind.

How can other MTA members contribute to improving the mental health of others?

I feel very lucky to be doing what I love as a job now, and if I can help getting people out professionally or socially enjoying what I do, then great. But taking part in a walk, whether alone or with an organised event, could be extremely daunting for those affected by poor mental health. I can personally relate to the anxiety flare ups that occur when you really don’t want them to.

You’d wake up and it’s a beautiful sunny day, your bags are packed, breakfast has been eaten, and you’re getting ready to leave… then BOOM you can’t do it! Negative thoughts are swirling around in your head… am I good enough, will I slow them down, what if I can’t keep up? I’ve never walked in mountainous terrain before, will there be exposed edges? Or scary bits? Will we have stops? What if I need the toilet? I think I’ll leave it today and do a bit more practice closer to home. This is not uncommon and is often a barrier to people getting out into remote and mountainous countryside. But if we can help to get people outside, improve their confidence and competence, and share memories with other like-minded people, then that’s a fantastic service to offer as a professional mountaineer.

Words by Felicity Kettle (MTA member)

Photos by Adam Vaughan

Let us know what you’ve been up to as an MTA member.

Write to us at association@mountain-training.org