Keith Foskett - High and Low

Keith Foskett

www.keithfoskett.com

High and Low

By Keith Foskett

www.keithfoskett.com

Copyright 2018 Keith Foskett. All rights reserved.

Cover image Jeremy Rowley

Cover design by Mark Thomas, Coverness

The right of Keith Foskett to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act of 1988.

This book is sold subject to the conditions that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the authors prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is produced and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

This book is written using British spelling and grammar.

I love you, Mum

Depression is a state of low mood that affects a persons thoughts, behaviour and feelings. Common symptoms include lethargy, tiredness, irritability, loss of appetite and feelings of helplessness. It is a leading contributor to suicide.

Depression, in its various forms, affects some 350 million people worldwide.

Read this if you suffer with depression

If you dont, read it anyway

W hen I wrote this book, I incorrectly assumed it would be straightforward.

I thought the same about recovering from depression and undertaking this hike.

Wrong again.

If youre suffering with depression and expecting a miraculous cure, Im afraid youve bought the wrong book.

However, there is hope.

I want you to join me on a grand adventure. This will entail 31 days of hiking across one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

Well get lost, experience ferocious weather, the ubiquitous Scottish midge, strange-sounding local delicacies, and substandard TV sets. Occasionally the sun appears. Im a nice guy come with me.

It will be fun, may surprise you, even shock you.

Only when you immerse yourself in this physical journey will you begin to understand the psychological voyage.

That mental discovery forms the second expedition, and contrary to what I said about being unable to offer a cure for your depression, I can help you. I can provide hope, and believe me, if youre hurting inside, there is hope.

Realise that, and youve already made the first step in restoring control of the torment that rages within. I know youve cried, hidden away, ruined friendships, and not only lost faith in your life, but also considered ending it.

Promise me this: if you are suffering from depression, dont turn to the back of this book. Witness my journey first, and when you do reach the end, youll be in a better position to find out why I can help you live a relatively normal life.

Keith Foskett

Recovering depressive

Thursday, December 21st, 2017

L ong-distance hiking in Scotland isnt easy. The weather, the midges, the state of the paths (where they exist), and the rugged terrain all make walking challenging. People whove walked all over the world and done some of the longest trails come to Scotland and are surprised at how tough the hiking is. Imagine then how much harder it must be if youre suffering from depression. And on top of that, youve just had to abandon a major long-distance walk the Continental Divide Trail in the USA due to physical illness. That was the position Keith Foskett found himself in when he hiked the length of Scotland and which he describes vividly in this book.

How did Keith manage such a challenge? What kept him going through the days of rain, midges and mud as well as his illness? Having met Keith, and having read his books on his previous long-distance walks, I think it was his mental toughness and drive something that is essential for completing such walks. Those past experiences, well described in his books, must have really helped. Even so, the walk must have been more difficult than I can imagine.

For those of us who enjoy long-distance walking, it becomes an addiction, a necessity, a major part of our lives. Thats the case with Keith, and this desire, this need for the freedom of the trail and the power of nature and wild places, was clearly enough to carry him beyond his illness and keep him walking.

In High and Low, Keith describes his walk from Cape Wrath right down Scotland to Kirk Yetholm. Thats not an easy walk, especially the first section to Fort William. I know this country well, and I know just how hard the walking can be, especially when it rains for days on end. Navigation isnt easy either there are few signposts. Unlike Keiths other long walks, all on established popular trails, there werent many other hikers going the same way to socialise with, to share hardships with, or to provide moral support. A walk like this requires the ability to be happy alone and to have the mental strength to deal with difficulties by yourself.

As well as the details of his walk, Keith captures the feeling of being on a long walk well both the joys and the tribulations. His sense of humour comes through too, and hes not afraid of laughing at himself. This makes for an entertaining book that also has a serious undertone. Its a welcome addition to the literature of long-distance walking.

19th May

The Continental Divide Trail, New Mexico, USA.

Mile 446 of 3,000.

A heart attack at 10.30 in the morning isnt a situation I had planned for. I sat on a rock, wincing as the exertion increased the piercing pain near my heart, which thumped aggressively as if trying to escape. Out of instinct, I reached for my rolling tobacco.

Thats not a great idea, Fozzie.

I paused and reconsidered. The day had started fine; waking at 6am, Id boiled some water for a strong coffee and thrown some dry granola down my throat in between packing my gear up. Id camped in a hollow, surrounded by towering pines. The sun struggled to make any inroads, peering around the trees shyly as it spliced through a weak mist. I was away quickly, eager to warm up as I sank my chin deeper into my jacket to gain a couple of degrees advantage.

An hour later I ignored the minor chest pain, assuming that my body was just stretching and ironing out any weak spots as normal. But, gradually, the pain worsened. My breathing laboured, unable to pull in a full lungful of the dry, desert air, I stopped short of a full breath, and struggled to exhale. I knew I should stop, but I pressed on, my thoughts focused on Cuba, the next town which I needed to reach for a food resupply. Biological breakdown didnt feature on the master plan and would have to wait.

I shifted position on the rock and considered my predicament. Grants, the last town, was 36 miles behind me, at least a day and halfs walk but the problem was that I couldnt walk. Cuba was 70 miles ahead. I was aware that there were hikers coming down off Mt. Taylor, visible to the east, because I had spoken to them in Grants two days prior and knew their plans. The junction where my trail met theirs was miles ahead. I clutched my chest and rocked back and forth. Someone needed to come up the trail, and it needed to be quick. I havent been worried many times, but this time I was scared. I feared for my life.