One. Starry Nights & Steep Ascents.

4 days. 7 students. 70km. Duke of Edinburgh award brought my team to Snowdonia for a week as we hiked over mountains with everything we needed on our backs. For months we had been meeting up, learning first aid, how to cook, the best way to plan our routes. We had learnt a lot but we weren't quite sure how things would translate into reality. This was our practice expedition. 

Devil's Kitchen // The hardest ascent we faced. We navigated our way up the mountain clouded by mist and rain. Everything suggested we were on the right path - the map, contour lines, environment, timing, compass readings, everything. Except there was no path. We could see where the path was meant to be and where we were meant to go, but it was going to be a scramble to get there. We ascended one after the other pulling ourselves up using our hands & trying to balance our rucksacks. Once in a while we would call out numbers in order, to check we were all there (kind of a joke but actually kind of needed it on this climb). Half a day after we left the campsite, a bright red man emerged from the fog. We had been on the right 'path' all along, it was our assessor! Celebratory bagels and a nutella squeeze later - we were ready for the rest of the 18km.

The Food // This was probably the most important part of the trip for our team. When we were planning, food always came first. And when I say food, I mean snacks....... HARIBOS. Literally my favourite. My team soon found out the amount of motivation a haribo brought me. Sore feet, cold fingers and sleepy eyes all vanished as soon as the haribos came out. Definite highlight. Not to mention the hysterical laughter all that sugar can bring a team - mainly myself and Nick (also a Haribo addict......)

Starry night // On the second/third/first/fourth night (I lost track..), and after a small detour around some King Arthur filming, we arrived at a beautiful but incredibly windy campsite. We were freezing cold, our feet were numb and our campsite was located in a deep valley with wind howling through. After a battle against the wind to keep the tents up, we had another to keep our gas flames going for the food. No flame = no food. Despite all our head chef's best efforts (Kevin), nothing. A few hours later we discovered the gas had run out so our DofE committee came to the rescue with a replacement for the night. And so we cooked a FEAST. Any extra food we had was cooked and even the simplest of foods was beautiful. A few hours later after a cramped game of cheat & a warm shower, I walked back to my tent and literally gasped at how incredible the stars were. The sky was full. I have literally never seen such an amazing view, framed in the valley.

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A beautiful cover // He Lives in You - Durant

I like this music video more everytime I watch it // Crystals