On Sacred Ground live with Andrew Terrill, Chris Townsend & Alex Roddie

[@TonyHobbs]

Very enjoyable to listen to you all esp Chris Townsend :)

[@jameshallworth8053]

Can’t wait to listen to this during a good long walk!

[@andrewterrill3406]

It was an immense pleasure to take part, even if articulating thoughts out loud is far harder for me than writing them! I wasn't able to mention during the chat, but Chris is a hero of mine - sharing the platform with him was real treat. I first read Chris' words 35 years ago en-route to the hills as an 18 year old. His book, 'The Great Backpacking Adventure', was profoundly inspiring, both in terms of what is possible in long distance walking and also in the purity of Chris' approach. It had a long-lasting impact on my own approach to walking. Possibly, I wouldn't have gone on any of my long journeys without Chris' influence! For folks who haven't read his books, they are all well worth reading! My personal favourite is 'Rattlesnakes and Bald Eagles', his wonderfully understated account walking the Pacific Crest Trail in 1982 long before it became popular. It was a real adventure! Alex Roddie's 'The Farthest Shore' is also a fascinating and thoroughly worthwhile read... as will be whatever he writes next I have no doubt! Tim - thank you for hosting, and for being so generous with your comments about my two books, 'The Earth beneath My Feet' and 'On sacred Ground'. One quick question from me: I hope we can still answer some of the questions people asked in the meeting's chat feature?

[@adventurousink3774]

A lovely tribute there Andrew, there must be many who have been inspired by Chris' writing and adventures. Checking back, we answered all the questions from the chat, but will post in it's entirety so you can pick up all the lovely praise for you three.

[@davidporter2828]

Yes, I really enjoyed that book by Chris. I took my copy up to the Kendal Mountain Festival a few years ago and managed to get Chris to sign it. He was on the TGO stand. By the way Andrew, I think you are a natural story teller - you don't need to worry at all!

[@adventurousink3774]

Here is the chat from the conversation, such a lot of love. And reindeer pee... 20:06:21 From Sue Damgaard to Everyone: 😅😅😅 20:09:27 From Kate Armstrong to Everyone: There's the Nicholas Crane European watershed one from Spain to Istanbul, but that's a while ago. 20:09:50 From Sue Waton to Everyone: what about FFiona Campbell? 20:09:59 From Norman Hadley to Everyone: Turn Right at Land's End: John Merrill, The Story of his 7000 Mile British Coastal Walk probably worth a mention 20:10:06 From trace - Oxfordshire to Everyone: And I thought 2 pairs of socks and 6kg pack for a 6 week camino was minimalist 😁 20:15:40 From Lizzie Rudin to Everyone: beautiful reading thank you 20:23:10 From Sue Damgaard to Everyone: This is such a great mental space to stay inside of on a long walk! (Chris’s comments) 20:28:12 From John Kapustka to Everyone: Thinking about the great mystical thoughts that are being expressed, I understand having similar thoughts while hiking alone or with friends on a longer trek. However, when I have hiked recently alone with my dog, who took immediately to trekking in the mountains, when I can put myself in her mind and sharing her joy, I can feel that joy of nature in a much shorter period of time. It is as if she is not bothered with all the burdens of a civilized world that us people have. 20:30:27 From Kate Armstrong to Everyone: There's a great moment when they reach the summit on the first ascent of Nanda Devi. Tillman says 'I believe we so much forgot ourselves as to shake hands upon it.' 20:31:05 From Sian Hoskins to Everyone: I wonder if anyone has something which sort of triggers them into that feeling of deep connection with nature? For me being out hiking and then hearing skylarks singing fills me with so much happiness and inner peace that i feel then my mind stops thinking about anything else and am just out enjoying the nature and walking, without too much thinking 20:34:08 From Peter Davies to Everyone: David Whyte always talks about the exploration of our inner horizons. I think reaching the outer horizon is now largely technical (distance, height, time etc) and not necessarily the real experience. 20:35:03 From Marion Dresner to Tim Frenneaux(Direct Message): I have a question for the speakers. 20:35:13 From Tim Frenneaux to Marion Dresner(Direct Message): fire away 20:35:31 From Marion Dresner to Tim Frenneaux(Direct Message): How do they revive their “being out there” feelings while at home writing their books? 20:35:44 From Tim Frenneaux to Marion Dresner(Direct Message): good one! 20:35:49 From Peter Davies to Everyone: In the Alps the guides usually described days in hours, rather than distances covered. I'm sure they knew them, but they used time and pace as a better measure 20:37:47 From Norman Hadley to Everyone: poronkusema: Compound of poron (“reindeer's”) +‎ kusema (“peed by”); the distance a reindeer could travel without stopping to urinate. 20:38:10 From trace - Oxfordshire to Everyone: Hearing the call of the curlew fills my heart with such happiness…….. skylarks make me smile 20:45:00 From Sue Damgaard to Everyone: Alex!! I also did the GTA northbound last year!! 20:47:05 From Sue Waton to Everyone: RE the deep connection, John Wyatt writes about it in 'The Shining Levels'; the final paragraph of the chapter entitled Return to Solitude encapsulates for me what it's like to connect and find yourself part of the universe. A oneness, a complete wholeness. 20:48:08 From Peter Davies to Everyone: I think that’s a UK perspective on Borders- we have our island. In Europe, especially in the East borders have been very fluid and bitterly fought for over time. 20:52:49 From Sian Hoskins to Everyone: I read the Farthest Shore last week and it was fab Alex! 20:55:06 From Sarah Lea to Everyone: I think that one of the reasons that Andrew’s books are so good is that he is such a good writer, which is all too rare these days. 20:55:32 From Sarah Lea to Everyone: I read the Farthest Shore last week and it was fab Alex! It’s a really good book 20:56:57 From Kevin Waugh to Everyone: Well Sayed Andrew 20:59:00 From Norman Hadley to Everyone: We can throw a lot of modernity at walking, from Alex's 6 watches to Dyneema tents with carbon poles. But to what extent does the simplicity of the basic process engender a kinship with traditional, nomadic peoples? 21:01:16 From Peter Davies to Everyone: Do any of you keep an audio journal/recording? Would it be any better or worse for future use? 21:02:37 From Sue Damgaard to Everyone: Chris, I’m leaving for my second PCT hike in about 8 weeks. There are about 7000 people hiking it this year 😅 21:04:03 From Grant Paterson to Everyone: Replying to "Chris, I’m leaving f…" Sue, I was struggling with this before I left last year and found the final paragraph of Chris’s book helpful with this. 21:06:53 From Alex Roddie to Everyone: I read the Farthest Shore last week and it was fab Alex! Thank you so much! 🙂 21:07:07 From Alex Roddie to Everyone: Alex!! I also did the GTA northbound last year!! Great route, isn’t it? 21:08:25 From Sue Waton to Everyone: the solo female might not have quite the same experience. 21:08:41 From Kay Badland to Everyone: Replying to "the solo female migh…" Agreed 21:09:09 From Kate Armstrong to Everyone: Replying to "the solo female migh..." Though Rebecca Lowe talks about having had this good experience while cycling solo from the UK to Iran. 21:10:14 From John Kapustka to Everyone: Bruce Chatwin: “The Songlines” 21:10:22 From Peter Davies to Everyone: walking and sensation predate thinking- so ambulando ergo cogito! 21:11:25 From Sarah Lea to Everyone: Thank you all. Really enjoyed this. 21:11:28 From Peter Davies to Everyone: Thank you for organising tonight's event. 21:11:38 From Lizzie Rudin to Everyone: so much food for thought to take on - lovely evening thanks everyone 21:11:45 From John Kapustka to Everyone: Thank you. Fantastic discussion!!!!! 21:11:50 From Lizzie Rudin to Everyone: Reacted to "the solo female migh..." with 👍 21:11:50 From Tim Clancey to Everyone: Thank you very much all of you - really inspiring stuff :) 21:11:53 From Sian Hoskins to Everyone: Thankyou all! Thankyou Tim for another awesome event as always 🙂 so glad I wasn’t working for this one 🙂 21:11:57 From Sue Waton to Everyone: thank you all; connection is all - zoom, walking, wherever! 21:11:58 From Kate Armstrong to Everyone: Thanks very much indeed. 21:11:59 From martin brown to Everyone: Thank you Tim, Chris, Alex and Andrew 21:12:03 From Cheryl to Everyone: Thank you all 21:12:07 From Sue Damgaard to Everyone: Please do it again!!!! 21:12:12 From Kevin Waugh to Everyone: Thank you definitely inspired me. My three idols 21:12:34 From Debbie Ross to Everyone: Thanks. Great. 21:12:37 From Rachel Ferris to Everyone: Thank you! Such interesting conversation tonight! 21:12:39 From trace - Oxfordshire to Everyone: Fab discussion and thanks Tim for organising it. Wonderul 21:12:40 From Helen Stoves to Everyone: Thank you all! 21:12:45 From GARY SINCLAIR to Everyone: Thanks!! 21:12:48 From trace - Oxfordshire to Everyone: 👏🏻 21:12:52 From Samantha Murphy to Everyone: Thk u all so much - loved this! 21:13:52 From Bradley Nichol to Everyone: Thanks all

[@andrewterrill3406]

Some great comments from a knowledgeable group! I didn't think it would take long to come up with a list of other people who've covered great distances on foot!

[@IanTupmanOutdoors]

Well done @adventurousink3774 for gathering this eclectic trio together. A thoroughly enjoyable hour and a bit listening to the experiences and thoughts from three generations of gifted writers and adventurers. I have read both of Andrew Terrill's books . Yes, they are rather long but then so was The Walk! You have a new subscriber 👍

[@andrewterrill3406]

Ian, happily, the number of readers and reviewers who say they didn't want my books to end far exceed the single reviewer who thought them too long!

[@IanTupmanOutdoors]

@@andrewterrill3406 Hi Andrew, I have read the review on Amazon to which you are referring. I agree with Alex when he said the books couldn't have been shortened without harming their essence. I have read both of them and I enjoyed them immensely. I whole-heartedly recommend them to anyone who has an interest in adventure and the great outdoors. Looking forward to your next one! 😀