Ascension Dew Pond Walk 2023

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Dew Pond Challenge


 On the 23rd April Anna and I took part in the Dew Pond Challenge! There were two categories – walkers and runners – we had ambitiously decided a few months ago we were going to run, but time ran away with us, and we did no training, so we decided on the week to enter as walkers instead (mostly because the entire thing is up hill). We registered at turtle ponds at 7:30am and all dipped our foot in the water (sea to summit style) as a tradition. At 8am we then set off and made our way from turtle ponds, up needles, through one boat and two boats and then up the mountain, finishing the walk by making it to Dew Pond (the highest peak on the mountain). 


All in all, it took Anna and I 2 hours 8 and minutes to complete. It was a very challenging walk but we managed to keep a good pace the entire way, although I did make Anna laugh by chatting the whole way until the mountain and then I became deathly silent as we huffed and puffed our way up the mountain, then upon finishing the walk at the top proceeded to have verbal diarrhoea all the way back down to red lion, where we stopped for sandwiches and soft drinks to celebrate finishing the walk. After a stop there we began our descent back down when we managed to get a lift with Mel and Simon back to Georgetown, so we didn’t have to walk the whole way back again. 

at the sea 

at the summit

 We also received news that out of 48 participants, 25 walkers and 23 runners, Anna and I had come in as the fastest female walkers! 

Temperatures of the day were recorded as 26.5 – 32 degrees. The distance was 7.2 miles with an elevation of 863.87 meters/ 2,834.24 feet. 

 After the walk/run Matt hosted a BBQ in the evening which was very nice, Anna and I then went and did some Yoga in the sunset on top of Fort Thornton overlooking the sea and pierhead to stretch off our legs after our morning hike.

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