Felicity Turner, Mountain Leader
Fliss out in the mountains, doing what she loves best
“This will pass. Stay strong, we’re all amazing human beings”
“Like many people, after the arrival of COVID-19, I had a bit of a meltdown. 2020 was set to be a great year for me, to the point of hopefully becoming full-time in my dream job.
“I’m lucky to have my own company called Mountain Wonders, am part of the Lakeland Mountain Guides team, train and assess Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, and last year proudly became part of Black Dog Outdoors. I’m obsessed with being outdoors and inspiring people to explore.
“One by one I’ve watched all future work events get canceled. Being self-employed, if we don’t work, we don’t get paid. The government is working hard to provide financial cover, but I really don’t know how we’ll get compensation for a seasonal job like ours.
“It’s not easy to stay positive with so many challenges, but I’m an outside girl and always have been. When the weather’s been good, I’ve been starting my days with breakfast in the garden, then tackling jobs I’ve been putting off for a while. By day 5 of ‘Lockdown’ I’d jet-washed the patio, cut the grass, weeded the garden, potted plants, painted the fence, dug out the chiminea and stocked up on wood. We’re also having a few wild camps in the garden with campfires and marshmallows – our very own ‘Costa del Back Lawneo’!
“We walk a nice three-mile loop around our village for our daily exercise, but what I’m not doing is traveling to the hills I love. The hills are definitely an obsession for me, but along with other Mountain Leaders I now hope to lead by example by staying away from the mountains.
“I’ve started sharing some short nature videos on Facebook, trying to bring the outside inside for people. It helps give me a focus and it is rewarding knowing it’s helping others. Social media can have some serious negatives, so I’ve tried to only share positive posts and seriously cut down my social media time.
“Try it, I recommend it to anyone really struggling with all the news and bombardment of information right now. I’m also a planner, so when I wake up, I make a cuppa, then sit with a pad and pen and plan my day. Seems silly, but the structure helps me feel better!
“I’ve supported Mountains for the Mind from day one. It’s a great place for anyone to come and not be judged. I love listening, sometimes fully connecting with stories shared. I love being the light at the end of the tunnel sometimes for someone. It makes me realise I’m not alone in times of despair, because we ALL get those times.
“At some point in life, we all go through something beyond our control and comfort zone. But this will pass, so stay strong and remember we’re amazing human beings. The body will cope with far more than our brain lets us believe we can!”