Discover: My journey from Columbia to a snow-covered Helvellyn
-
Date posted: 25/11/2025
-
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.
Could spending more time among trees be good for us?🌳
Research into forests suggests natural compounds called phytoncides could promote a sense of wellbeing and that time spent in woodlands can help decrease feelings of stress and anxiety.
Forest bathing is the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku - which translates as ‘forest bath.’ It’s all about immersing ourselves in nature. Not to get steps in. Not to reach anywhere. Just to feel, be still and be present.
And our National Parks can certainly help. From pine forests and wooded valleys to ancient trees. Our parks are helping people to slow down and reconnect with the natural world every day.
Have you ever tried forest bathing? Tell us below👇
1. Stanmer Woods - @southdownsnp
2. Whinlatter Forest - @lakedistrictnpa
3. Cairngorms National Park @cairngormsnationalpark
4. North York Moors National Park @northyorkmoors
#Mindfulness #ForestBathing #Wellbeing #NationalParks
Has the rain reached you yet? 🌧️
A change in the weather is making its way across our National Parks. And with it comes a different rhythm to the landscape - changing how our surroundings look, sound and feel.
The sound of rain. The smell of wet earth. The air feeling fresher. Wildlife finding shelter.
What do you notice most when the rain arrives?
#RainyDay #BritishWeather #NationalParksUK
They may look like windmills, but in The Broads National Park, they are actually windpumps.
Rather than grinding flour, they were built to pump water from the marshes, helping to drain the land for agriculture and grazing.
Today, these distinctive structures are part of what makes the Broads landscape so recognisable.
And while this is a story from the Broads, it’s one that can be found across all 15 of our National Parks - landscapes shaped by people finding ways to adapt to live and work within their landscape. Something which still remains the case today.
Did you know that one of these mills is said to be haunted? Comment down below which one you think it is 👇
In photograph order:
📍1. St Benets Mill
📍2. Horsey Mill
📍3. Turf Fen Mill
📍4. Thurne Mill
📍5. Bograve Mill
#NorfolkBroads #NationalPark #Windpumps
✨🌙 Look up!
With a partial solar eclipse taking place tonight across the UK, we’re reminded about how important it is for our dark skies to be protected. Our National Parks are home to some of the best places in the UK to enjoy them, due to low levels of light pollution.
These incredible photos capture another recent celestial phenomenon that has been on display for stargazers and is peaking tonight - the Perseid meteor shower.
The sightings were captured in @northyorkmoors - home to one of the UK’s largest areas of protected dark sky.
🌟Tag us in your eclipse photos across our National Parks. Just be sure to follow safe viewing and photography guidance while you snap!
📷 1. Perseid meteor shower at Skelton Tower by Richard Horsman.
📷 2. Milky Way and Perseid meteor shower at Sutton Bank by Russ Norman.
📍North York Moors National Park #DarkSkies #SolarEclipse #Perseid #MeteorShower
Just goats being goats. 🐐
These incredible animals call the Valley of Rocks in @exmoornp home - scaling walls and cliffs, grazing on the rich meadows and, occasionally, blocking the roads!
They’re a wonderful reminder of why our National Parks are so important, providing a home for such a diverse range of wildlife.
Have you ever spotted one?
📷 Exmoor National Park
#ValleyOfRocks #Exmoor #Goats #NationalPark
Look out for us at the cinema. 🎬🌳
Our latest Wild Spaces episode, screening before selected films, takes you to Northumberland National Park. Their team, alongside farmers, landowners and volunteers, is working together to create healthier, more resilient landscapes through woodland creation and hedgerow planting.
It’s a story of partnership, long-term thinking, and the small actions that can have a lasting impact.
Find out more about the project and watch the episode via the link in our bio. 🔗
@northumberlandnationalpark
#WildSpaces #Northumberland #TreePlanting
💭You might have heard of peatland, but what exactly is it and why does it matter so much?
Peatlands are our natural climate allies. They store vast amounts of carbon, support rare wildlife, improve water quality, reduce flood risk and preserve thousands of years of archaeological and cultural history.
Some of the UK`s most important peatlands are found within our National Parks, making them critical places for tackling the climate and nature crises.
Across the UK`s National Parks, peatland restoration projects are helping damaged peatlands recover, benefiting both nature and people.
📍Dartmoor National Park
#NationalParks #Peatlands #NatureRecovery
Our National Parks tell the stories of the people and places that came before us.
A new Joint Statement on the Historic Environment in the National Parks of England, Scotland and Wales has launched.
Bringing together the 15 National Parks and heritage partners, the statement sets out a shared commitment to protecting the historic places and features that help shape our landscapes.
From ancient monuments and archaeological sites to historic buildings and traces of past generations, our National Parks are home to thousands of years of history.
Together, we’re working to care for these special places so their stories can continue to be discovered, valued and enjoyed for generations to come.
Read the full statement via the link in our bio 🔗
#NationalParks #UKHistory #Heritage
