Discover: My journey from Columbia to a snow-covered Helvellyn
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Date posted: 25/11/2025
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Time to read: 4 mins
Andrea Alvarez Ojeda had only seen snow twice in her life before taking part in a winter mountaineering skills course on an icy Helvellyn. She reflects on what she learned – and her long journey to the Lake District.
Since September 2024, I’ve been working as a Monitoring Officer on the Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme for the Lake District National Park Authority,.
I’m from Bogotá, the capital of Colombia, a city located 2,640 metres above sea level, with a cool and mild climate (although now I realise “cold” is relative!). Bogotá has 7.93 million people and is surrounded by the Eastern Hills of the Andes.
Since I was little, I’ve always enjoyed outdoor activities. I’m passionate about running and cycling, but in Bogotá, because of the size and traffic, I couldn’t enjoy nature as much as I wanted.
In 2022, I moved to the UK to study in Bristol. I loved the vibrant culture of the city, with music events and street art everywhere. And it was there that I also met my partner who shares my love for nature.
After finishing my Masters, I decided to stay in the UK. My partner and I started exploring the UK’s landscapes, traveling in our van and hiking places like Ben Nevis and Bannau Brycheiniog National Park.
When I was offered a role with the Lake District National Park Authority, it meant moving to Kendal, a small town of 28,000 people. I now feel incredibly lucky to have made the move, surrounded by the mountains and lakes, a place I never imagined I’d experience.
The perfect present
After hearing about the Winter Skills Courses on Helvellyn, I thought my partner would love it and booked us both in as a birthday present.
These courses are delivered by the Lake District National Park Authority’s Fell Top Assessors, who are employed between December and March each year to summit Helvellyn and provide weather reports to help inform winter walkers about fell top conditions.
At first, we didn’t know what to expect. Even though we had hiking experience, neither of us had hiked in the snow. And although I had seen snow briefly twice in my life, the course taught me things I never imagined.
On February 1, we had the chance to climb Helvellyn with Jim, our instructor. The day started clear and cold, but as we ascended, the weather quickly changed, strong winds and snow made things more challenging.
Jim was calm, well-prepared, and knowledgeable, which made a big difference. He respected the mountain and looked out for others we crossed paths with, always ensuring everyone was okay and offering advice when needed.
Skills to respect the mountain
Throughout the course, we learned the importance of having the right gear, snow boots, crampons, and ice axes, and how to use them properly. Jim taught us how to handle the ice axe correctly, showing us techniques for using it to stabilize ourselves, as well as what to do in case we slipped or fell. We practiced these skills, ensuring we were ready to react quickly in tough situations.
We practiced other techniques like adjusting our clothing based on altitude and weather, which was crucial when the conditions rapidly shifted. Jim also taught us how to pack efficiently, ensuring we brought only the essentials and were ready for emergencies.
Perhaps the most important lesson was learning to respect the mountain. The conditions can change fast, and it’s essential to remain calm and prepared for anything. This course was an eye-opener and gave me the confidence I need to tackle future hikes, even in extreme conditions.
Be AdventureSmart
If you’re heading out on to the fells this winter, make sure you know your limits, pack the essentials and are prepared for changes in weather.
You can find out more about staying safe in the Lake District this winter on our Plan your winter visit to the Lake District web page.
If you want to head out with a Fell Top Assessor for a Winter Skills Course, you can book here on the Weatherline website.
Be AdventureSmart and ask yourself these three questions before you set off:
- Do I have the right gear?
- Do I know what the weather will be like?
- Am I confident I have the knowledge and skills for the day?
Andrea Alvarez Ojeda is the Monitoring Officer for the Farming in Protected Landscape programme at the Lake District National Park Authority.
It’s not every day you get to see one of our National Parks in biscuit form on @britishbakeoff!
Last night, The Great British Bake Off contestant @itsdoctoryan created a beautiful biscuit mosaic inspired by the Broads National Park, perfectly capturing the view at St Benet’s Mill, Thurne.
And it wasn’t just a feast for the eyes as the mosaic was made using treacle and ginger, honey and lemon, cocoa and malted milk, and pistachio biscuits.
Two great things combined: a beautiful National Park view and delicious biscuits. What could be better than that? 💚
Photo: Channel 4
#GBBO #BakeOff #NorfolkBroads @broadsnationalpark
You’ve likely heard of one - but what does it actually do?
Our 15 Parks wouldn’t be able to function without the authorities working behind the scenes to keep them running.
And each authority relies on people. People within the community, volunteers, staff and members. People that run businesses, or partner as organisations. People that are skilled and knowledgeable in a variety of areas from wildlife to accessibility.
Our National Parks are full of people and action, and it’s the Authorities that bring them all together.
💚
#NationalParksUK #NationalParkAuthorities
The Yorkshire Dales has one of the highest concentrations of caves and caverns of any of our 15 National Parks - a whole landscape hiding beneath the ground.
Our National Parks don’t just protect and preserve the landscapes we see every day. They also help care for historic and unique places discovered by our ancestors, like Ingleborough Cave and Gaping Gill, both of which were shrouded in myth and legend until they were explored by Victorians in the 1800s.
There’s so much more to our National Parks than meets the eye and sometimes, quite literally beneath the surface 👀
#YorkshireDales #GapingGill #Ingleborough
A week on from National Parks UK’s Big Volunteer Weekend, we’re still celebrating the people who make a difference across our National Parks.
Last weekend, hundreds of people came together across all 15 National Parks to give their time, share their skills and support our landscapes.
But volunteering in our National Parks doesn’t happen just one weekend a year. All year round, volunteers play an incredible variety of roles – from leading guided walks and supporting education, to conservation, planting and caring for our landscapes.
Every volunteer makes a valuable contribution to protecting our natural and cultural heritage. We simply couldn’t do what we do without you. 💚
So, to all our volunteers: thank you for your time, energy, enthusiasm and everything you bring to our National Parks.
If you know someone who volunteers in a National Park, help us spread the thanks by sharing this post. 🌿
#Volunteers #NationalParks #NationalParksUK
Mae’r Bele yn un o famaliaid prinnaf Cymru, ond mae eu niferoedd yn tyfu yn raddol. Mae hynny’n newyddion da i’n coetiroedd ac i’r Parciau Cenedlaethol, sy’n darparu rhai o’r cynefinoedd pwysicaf ar gyfer bywyd gwyllt ledled Cymru a Phrydain.
Ym Mannau Brycheiniog, mae’r prosiect adfer wedi gosod blychau nythu yn y coed, ac mae gwaith monitro wedi nodi presenoldeb y Bele, gan gynnwys grwpiau teuluol. Mae’r ffilm arbennig hon yn dangos un ohonynt ar waith. 🐾
Mae’n atgof hyfryd o’r hyn sy’n bosibl pan ddaw coetiroedd iach a gwaith cadwraeth arbenigol at ei gilydd i roi’r gofod sydd ei angen ar rywogaethau prin i wella.
Pine Martens are one of Wales’ rarest mammals, but they’re slowly making a comeback. That’s good news for our woodlands, and for National Parks, which provide some of the most important habitats for wildlife across Wales and Britain.
In Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons), the recovery project has installed treetop den boxes, with monitoring identifying pine martens, including family groups. This special footage shows one in action. 🐾
It’s a lovely reminder of what can happen when healthy woodlands and specialist conservation work come together to give rare species the space they need to recover.
#BreconBeacons #BannauBrycheiniog #PineMartins #Wales
It’s the Autumn Equinox 🍂
Our National Parks are always changing in time with the rhythm of nature, but this becomes particularly noticeable when autumn arrives.
Deer begin to rut, spiders’ cobwebs glisten in the fresh light, fungi become more prominent, and leaves begin to change colour.
What changes have you noticed so far? 🧡
#Autumn #AutumnEquinox #NationalParks
“You look after the National Park not for yourself, but for people who are coming, the ones who are following you.”
These are the words of Ron Wood, who has been volunteering for the Lake District National Park for over 60 years. His story reflects the vital role volunteering plays across our National Parks: keeping them thriving, communities invested, and people connected to and caring for our landscapes.
Over the decades, Ron’s incredible journey has seen him remain steadfast in his commitment through droughts, hand, foot and mouth disease, and the ever-changing rhythms of nature. Through it all, one thing has remained constant: his dedication to looking after the environment for those who come after him.
You can read Ron`s full story by clicking the link in our bio or learn more about volunteering at nationalparks.uk/volunteering 🔗
📸Photos by @lakedistrictnpa
#LakeDistrict #Volunteering #NationalParks
A quiet autumn transformation is beginning to take place. 🍁
Bracken gradually fades to burnt oranges. Mist sweeps across the horizon. Grasses brown and trees begin their annual shaking of leaves.
Our National Parks are never still. They are constantly changing and transforming with the seasons - a living rhythm of growth, decay, colour and renewal.
These four photographs perfectly capture our Parks on the cusp of autumn 📸
1. Dartmoor @ryanbrowningphotography
2. Lake District @jonny.gios
3. New Forest @acornsandscapes
4. Northumberland @calbrownphoto
#Autumn #NationalParksUK
