In the silence of high places
How walking among ancient peaks showed me the art of belonging, presence and renewal
As I watched a golden glow settle on the summit of Annapurna—just as it has for millennia—I found myself wondering: how did we get so lost? I don’t mean our hiking group (that was taken care of beautifully by Ascent Adventures), but our society. This bold new world no longer seems fit for purpose. An existence at odds with evolution.
Walking among those ancient peaks – thanks to Millimetres 2 Mountains – I felt something restored. My shoulders dropped, my playful side rose. It was a sense of ease that flowed throughout the group. The indefatigable porters carried our bags, the mountains housed our fears, and the community fed our spirit. In this simpler way of being, our nature returned.
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BELONGING
Sitting amidst the evening buzz in the tea houses—cards and jokes swapping places—I delighted in being part of the tribe. A mixed bag of disability, disposition and generation, creating a beautiful blend of wisdom and laughter. Set against this, our nuclear—even singular—homes feel rather unnatural. We are made to live in a rabble; no upset or toddler carried alone.
Rather than spreading wider, Millimetres 2 Mountains delves deeper. Each year, just eight people join a three-year healing programme. It is an approach which cultivates a priceless currency: that of belonging. Not money or power, fame or recognition, rather it is belonging which I yearn to be rich in.
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OFF-GRID
WiFi is now available at altitude, yet we rarely used it. Those tea houses and trails pulsed with presence. As I napped relentlessly, watched clouds drift and heard tales I might otherwise have missed, I remembered that I am a better and happier human in analogue. Faced by a barrage of bad news, believable AI and dopamine-fuelled platforms—each wrestling me from my ability to focus—I believe that time offline is more important than ever. As a group, we talked about measures such as screen-free Sundays, phone-free mornings or life without data. I wonder, what measures could you bring in to spend more time in the present moment?
(photo credit: Daze Zaple)
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NATURE
The seeds of this charity were planted when Ed Jackson sat recovering in one of Horatio’s Gardens and realised that his health was intricately linked with the life around him. It is why the healing powers of the natural world are the charity’s golden thread. Guiding qigong under the gaze of the Himalayas, I felt a keen sense of alignment. Bringing people closer to themselves, to each other, and to the land feels like a calling—and I believe an antidote to modern ailment.
It is why I was a little concerned that ‘nature’ was not mentioned once in the 168 pages outlining the NHS’ new 10-year plan. This feels at odds with the world’s wisdom and human desire.
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RESILIENCE
Working as a coach with the M2M beneficiaries, I am reminded of the depths of resilience our species is capable of. The summit looks different for each of us, yet our capacity to reach it—and to go further than we imagine—is universal. They have taught me that the deeper the challenge, the higher we climb. Time and again in my work with this charity I have been humbled by the beauty of human resolve. As we journey onward into uncertain waters, nourishing these roots of resilience feels vital for us all. This magical moment in Nepal reminding me that it is offline, in community, and in the elements, where our reserves are replenished.
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With that in mind – and winter approaching – I wonder: what does your body need from you to deepen these reserves?
