Day 1: Written by Michelle Holliday

Woke up to Viv going Shoah, Yoah, about a hundred times, which means she is nervous, and if she is nervous so should I be!

After a quick breakfast, and an introduction to our porters, we set off.

The group gets a fast start and I feel I am lagging behind, oh no, trying to breathe in – breathe out and so it goes for the next two hours, until I start to settle into the pace.

The wind is howling – no not howling literally gale force winds so it is gowling!  Trying to stay on the narrow path without being blown off – Oh no what have I committed myself to.  Next two hours – Talking to myself – How crazy am I, don’t you know that you are 47, you should have trained harder and so it goes on.

Finally we get to the top of a gulley where I can put on my rain jacket and waterproof pants, gloves etc, and start to feel slightly human again We also have a lunch pack kindly arranged by Cathedral Peak, but I battle to swallow so I break half a sandwich into bite size pieces and force it down my throat.  This is sheer panic that is creating this, I am sure the sandwich would have been delicious under normal circumstances.

We wait at the top of the gulley for Lee, who is stuck further down on a rock.

Viv remind me what Loraine has taught us on the way down to the Berg, which is “eyes up” and make your request.  We do this and ask for good weather.

The skies begin to clear.

The journey through orange peel and up to the base of Cathedral is one of reflection.  Knowing that a Porter is way ahead of us, carrying Phillip’s ashes (Paul’s brother) as I hope to let them go at the top of Cathedral.   It just seems so relevant that he joins us on this journey “Climb against Crime” as he lost his life far too young by some unknown criminal.  I spend the next few hours a little somber reflecting on life, and no so much on my physical being, which is definitely taking strain with this backpack.

The porter has left the ashes at the base of the mountain, as he has to return back to the hotel before nightfall.

We reach the base of Cathedral, take our backpacks off, and begin the ascent up to Cathedral Peak.

The sun is now shining, our spirits are lifted, and most importantly I know I am releasing Phillips ashes where he would be happiest.  There is a stillness in the air when we finally reach the top, and whilst Viv, Belinda, Loraine and our two guides stand back, I go ahead with Phillip, and place his ashes off the highest point of the Cathedral Peak.  Around me is the gentle smell of berg heather, and after placing a few flowers and stones back in the box.  I write in the book left at the top the following “We know this is where you would be happiest.  We miss you.  Love the Holliday Family”.  A somber moment follows, and we then begin our descent.

I do an amazing misjudgment on my abseil and luckily land ok.

We reach the bottom and I am reminded that this back pack has to accompany me.  Oh no.  Viv also points ahead to the rest of buggers gulley which we have to climb up and over and down the other side.  The sun is beginning to set and we put our head lamps around our necks ready so we don’t have to stop to look for them when the sun sets.

We start off, Viv and I settle into a pace, with Belinda and Gavin going ahead, Belinda is amazingly strong so she sets a good pace, she really is like Superwomen. Loraine and Colin slightly behind (Lee has gone ahead with the porters as she is unwell and did not summit Cathedral).  We walk, talk, groan, moan, climb, stumble and so it goes on, until we reach the top of the gulley.  Luckily by now it is dark; for this would not have been a fun experience to look down, so encouraging each other we set off down.  By now Gavin is out of sight (Warning signs: This is not an ideal guide; one that leaves you on the mountainside).  And in the distance behind we can hear Loraine talking to Colin.  Another few hours and we will be at camp.  Struggling not to knock rocks and stones down as we descend, but the legs are now too tired.  We reach the bottom of the gulley, and take the left path to bell cave.  A narrow path will lead us the way.  Viv tells me of our prior visit to bell cave, and I look forward to resting this very wary and emotionally drained body in a tight and cozy cave.

At 8.45pm, we arrive at the cave.  It truly is very cozy, with Gavin taking up the centre spot in the middle of the cave.  We arrange ourselves around him, and wait for Loraine and Colin, whilst making tea, and deciding on dinner.  A dehydrated meal was not ideal, and I settled for the rest of my lunch pack.

Finally with us settled into our sleeping bags, we drop off to sleep.  Not too much sleeping can take place, and Viv and I awake a few times laughing at the sounds around us.  In the distance we can hear a rockslide, and exhausted, fall into a sleep ending day one.