The Challenge in the Sierra Nevada Mountains
They made it! On 9th July the triumphant first ever Prospects Challenge team flew into Gatwick Airport celebrating their achievement.
Alan, Chrissy, Christine, Mel, Rob, Sandra, Tim, Tina and Tony had risen to the challenge and defied the altitude to scale rock faces and abseil down sheer drops. With reassuring guidance from CDMS instructors (experts in outdoor activities and working with people with learning disabilities) they had applied their own determination in order to achieve their goals.
Canyoning down waterfalls started badly with both Alan and Christine losing their footing and finding themselves dangling upside down (safely!) in their harnesses. Things improved and most people enjoyed the sensation of being lowered through raging torrents of water. Having witnessed Alan's stunt, Chrissy had convinced herself that canyoning was not for her but then decided to go down, amidst shrieks and tears, in tandem with an instructor and then she did it all over again!
The expedition to the summit of Mulhacen required an early start. First a car ride and then the mountain bus took them, singing as they went, as high as the driver dared in view of lying snow. Then began the six hour upward trudge, at first along clearly marked paths but farther on there was just loose scree to negotiate. It was a long, hard climb and at 10,500 ft Tim reached his limit and spent the rest of the day with an instructor. The others pressed on, experiencing different degrees of physical, mental and emotional stress. There were stops for water, muesli bars or simply to catch breath. Each person had to find a pace that suited them and then keep to it. Would they ever reach the summit?
Well, they did -- or at least they thought they had until they saw the true summit still further up! They passed through a host of fluttering orange butterflies and after another half hour were there. They scrambled onto the rock that marked the highest point in the whole of mainland Spain and what a feeling of utter joy and exuberance there was! Despite the bitingly cold wind warm fleece jumpers were exchanged for navy blue t-shirts emblazoned with "Prospects Challenge". Cheers of congratulation rang out as photos were taken, hugs exchanged and text messages went whizzing back to the UK. They'd achieved what they had set out to do, but what goes up has to come down....
Rob and Mel set off at breakneck speed down the zigzag path whilst others stepped more cautiously, increasingly aware of sore knees and blistered feet. Soon everyone was enjoying the lush grassy valley with its alpine flowers and herbs. Streams tumbled over rocks, gaining speed as they fell and even disappearing under a snow patch in one place only to reappear a little farther on. It was refreshing to drink the fresh sweet water and their shrieks of laughter must have stunned the solitary ibex looking serenely on.
The day's walk ended as they met up with Tim and followed him along a windy path to the Poqueira Refuge, their home for the night. What a relief to remove heavy dust-caked walking boots and socks! The cold stone floor felt so good to their weary feet and a cold drink quenched their thirst. A hot nourishing meal was served before it was time to settle down in their multi-bunk beds.
Next morning Tina and Tim took turns to lead the party. The views were magnificent, extending across the Mediterranean Sea to a fuzzy line that was North Africa. Tired limbs and joints struggled to keep going but eventually the terrain changed to woodland and the ground was a little kinder to the feet. The cars came into sight and the trek was over. Off for a celebratory lunch of local dishes organised by Mike and Jane of CDMS. Their team had looked after everyone so well all week and at last it was time to relax and reminisce.
There were mixed emotions on the last evening -- happiness because so much had been achieved, but sadness because it was their last evening together in such a wonderful place. As one of the team had felt God say before they left the UK, "It'll be OK; just keep going!" Yes, it had been OK, more than OK, and they were grateful to God for giving them safety and success in their amazing adventure.
It's not too late to sponsor this year's Challenge. Your donation will help to develop the work of International Prospects and Causeway Prospects. Contact Christine Winmill on 01727 853717 or email christinew@prospects-uk.org.
Look out for next year's plans, called Adventure Prospects. There should be something for everyone.
