Moving Mountains

Monday October 5 2015

Thomas Baldwin joined 50 walkers on Schiehallion for the conclusion of Christian Aid's 70 Munros Challenge

The Scottish weather has not been anyone’s friend this summer, but it came good for the conclusion of Christian Aid’s 70 Munros challenge on Saturday.

Around 50 people and two dogs climbed the Perthshire mountain Schiehallion in glorious sunshine. One 70-year-old was tackling his first ever Munro (mountain over 3000 feet), many were on their second or third climb of the summer and some had done between 20 and 30.

But for a few, it marked the end of an epic eight months in which they have tackled 70 of Scotland’s highest peaks; marking Christian Aid’s 70^th anniversary and raising (so far) nearly £75,000.

One of the select group was Wendy Young, who organised the challenge.

Wendy, whose day job is developing worship and theology resources with Christian Aid partners, said she was ‘exhausted but elated’ as she sat at the summit.

“It’s been an incredible year - a lot of work, but so worth it. I am certainly more in love with Scotland than I have ever been, and I didn’t think that was possible. “

An Irishwoman who moved to Scotland seven years ago, she said she came up with the idea while training for a marathon. “I kept thinking I didn’t move to Scotland just to run on the roads, and I was trying to think how I could combine doing something for Christian Aid with getting out into this beautiful country.

“As much as there has been a fundraising element to it, there has been a deeper sense of reconnecting with nature, reconnecting on a deeper level with partners globally and locally. So it’s been quite a rich experience.

“We have to choose to go out of our comfort zones in this country – so many people in this world live in discomfort. We get back to where we are staying and get lots of good food, and I have just been really conscious of all those people who have been on long walks to try to get to safety, and don’t have food waiting for them at the end of the day.”

The challenge started on Valentine’s Day, in stormy conditions on Ben Lawers and Beinn Ghlas. It has included three wild camping expeditions, covering five or six mountains in one trip.

On Saturday May 2, around 70 people including the Moderators of the Church of Scotland General Assembly and National Youth Assembly climbed Ben Lomond, along with climbs by Church of Scotland members all over the country. Wendy said this was a ‘big boost’, both financially (raising nearly £20,000 for the Nepal Earthquake appeal) and in awareness.

Wendy was also keen to thank Abernethy Adventure Centres and 360 Degrees Outdoor, who provided support in planning and on the expeditions and helped to ensure the whole challenge passed without a serious incident.

The theology and themes developed during the challenge will be continued in a new resource she is planning next year, to be called Another Way, which will encourage people to get out into the open air and will be connected to Christian Aid’s climate change work.

A 2016 calendar of images taken during the challenge will also be available.

You can donate to the Christian Aid 70 Munros challenge here.