Starting to Walk

Maybe you've always had a dog to take, rain or shine, or were chivvied from a young age into family treks up hills and down dales. Other walkers can look back to a specific time when they started to walk - often with friends or for a particular goal.

We've talked to a few walkers to find out what started them off...

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"It was the Ten Tors event, the weekend long hike organized by the army on Dartmoor, which gave me a love of the outdoors. I first competed in this event at the age of 14, and went on to enter many more times throughout my teens.

I have some great memories of training with my friends in the winter months; we often found ourselves walking into driving rain and sleet or having to wade through bogs and rivers. So I was glad to have several Páramo garments, which without exception kept me dry, comfortable and warm.

In particular my Alta jacket proved invaluable. As well as serving me well on Dartmoor I have also used it (and the 3rd Element I later invested in) when climbing and walking in the Swiss Alps and have worn it on several skiing holidays too. Over the years they have proved to be the most useful, reliable and versatile pieces of clothing I own."

Ed Lewis

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"It was the Moonwalk that got me started... 11:30pm, I'm at the start line yawning then we're off! 15,000 people charging through London's streets for 26.2 miles IN OUR BRAS. Insane, but all in the name of charity, Walk the Walk, for breast cancer research - hence the dress code!

1 hour in, we're going over Tower Bridge. The wind has picked up and my bra isn't the warmest outfit. Time for my Velez Smock. 5 hours in, it starts to rain. Again my Velez Smock comes to the rescue, not only keeping me warm and dry but I've stashed a collection of chocolate bars in the pocket!

7 hours in, we reach Hyde Park. With my legs about to give way I see the finish line. But no, we still have to walk around the whole park, another 2 miles, arrggghhhh!!! My sister has a burst of energy and skips the last mile - I really should have done more training...

...finally the finish line, the sun is up and I'm ready for bed. My Velez now comes in handy as a pillow. Thanks Páramo for helping me survive the night!"

Kelly Wilcox

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"I was brought up in the ‘60s with the walking habit - 2 miles to school, family walks at the weekend, and walking holidays with HF Holidays, where my parents had first met. My love of walking has remained steady throughout my life. There are few things that give me greater pleasure than a day hiking in the Peaks or walking the Seven Sisters from Eastbourne to Cuckmere. I dare say I'll be walking in my old age; I can't think of a better way of keeping fit.

These days I am seldom without my Páramo Fuera Peak jacket; it weighs virtually nothing, yet its clever venting means it keeps the worst of the wind and rain out without me ever getting uncomfortably hot. So much better than those sweaty cagoules I used to wear!"

Annette Grey

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"I remember my first proper ‘walk'. At 8, I walked with my Dad from Ditchling Beacon to Lewes. He was training for the Three Peaks Challenge; I was bored so decided to go along.

It changed my life - I've never been bored since! Nothing has beaten that first panorama of Weald, Downs, and Sea. At 10, after a family holiday to the Lake District - a week of unusually perfect weather and awesome peaks - I was ‘addicted to the outdoors'. When too old for Girl Guides, I joined the Air Training Corps, with access to adventure training centres in Llanbedr, Capel Curig and Windermere, and abroad to the Ardeche and Czech Republic.

I started the Duke of Edinburgh Award keen to experience everything it offers, especially how to navigate when you can't see a thing in horrific weather. Nothing teaches you how to dig deep in times of trouble more than the D of E Award. This may sound cheesy,but being able to rely on my Páramo waterproofs in the worst of times is a real help. The trousers stayed waterproof even when torn and wicked water away after wading through bogs got them wet inside.

Now the D of E Expedition is over, what next? I'll still be walking, that's certain. I've registered for my ML (Summer) Award to help other young people experience the outdoors. I dream of bigger peaks and higher mountains - all in due course, obviously. But every time I pack my rucksack, the one set of gear always in there is Páramo - it's all I'll ever need."

Lucy Sutton