up the rear....

All groups no matter what size split off into smaller groups.. you have the healthy, fast paced people at the front, those in the middle pacing themselves and then those at the back.... who are also pacing themselves and could set off a trot if poked with a sharp stick but chose not to ....they may not be the fastest but believe me they know how to have fun!!

Guess what group I was in?

I dont like steps.I dont have the best knees and due to some nasty falls in the Lakes I am nevous about going down slopes with loose stones and scree.. in hindsight I must have been mad to do this Trek.. it was all my fears and insecurities in one place...on reflection it was the best thing I could have done.

Steps,steps and more steps... up and down .. up and down.. and it was warm. One of our Chinese guides Peter was told that this was the first time he would not hear English women talking .. as we were too out of breath and knackered!!

The steps are all different sizes.. some were mid thigh level and some small... I misjudged one step downhill and almost fell headfirst down the rest... from then onwards cries of "big step Karen" were shouted to me as a warning...Infact "fucking big step" was often a cry coming from the back group. Luckily we also had the doctor with us at the back... taking it up the rear slowly with Dr D was one of the funniest phrases of the day.

I found the first day tough, I was tired, nothing could have prepared me for these steps and it was steep!! However, I soon realised it was not a race, no prize for first, no prize for last as it was wisely said.

And so the fellowship of the rear began....