A lesson learned the hard way – and a thank you that will never be enough

We started off strong on a bright afternoon. We downloaded the trail, felt confident, and set off.

About four hours into the hike, everything changed.

The weather turned suddenly, clouds dropped low, daylight disappeared, and the temperature fell fast. Our maps still said we were on track, but the mountain became knee-deep boggy mud. We crossed streams, climbed slippery mud hills, slipped, tripped, laughed, cried, and genuinely questioned our life choices.

Our phone battery was slowly dying, and we were miles from anywhere.

We eventually found a ditch and took shelter, seriously considering staying put until sunrise. With a tiny bit of signal, we rang 999 and asked for the police and Mountain Rescue. After a few call-backs, they managed to get our location.

Within two hours, the Mountain Rescue team reached us.

They arrived with warm clothing, hot drinks, sugary snacks, and calm reassurance. After that, we made a tough two-hour trek back to their Land Rover and finally descended the mountain safely before being dropped back at the car.

Mountain Rescue is a charity, made up entirely of volunteers with normal everyday lives. One team member had just finished their tea, another was watching Strictly Come Dancing when the SOS alarm went off — they dropped everything to come and rescue us.

It was embarrassing, yes — but it was also a huge lesson learned.

They quite literally saved my life, my dogs’ lives, and Sofia’s life.

To show my gratitude and raise awareness, I’m planning a sponsored walk in the New Year, and I would love for anyone who can to join me. Every penny raised will be donated to Kinder Mountain Rescue, the team who saved us.

I’ll also be spending Sunday 28th December with the Oldham Mountain Rescue team to learn more about what they do and will keep you all updated.

Please — if you can donate even £1 or £5, it would mean the world to me and helps support these incredible volunteers who are always there when people need them most.

Thank you for reading, and thank you to Mountain Rescue — forever grateful ❤️