Faye Shepherd is an adventure junkie who has taken on challenges including climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling the length of New Zealand.
FAYE SHEPHERD has completed challenges including climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and cycling the length of New Zealand. Her passion for travel has seen her take a work placement in Texas and go on to explore the state with a friend in a truck they bought for 500 dollars.
In this interview Faye explains where her passion for adventure comes from as well as relaying some of the highlights and most memorable moments from her times on the road and climbing mountains. Read on to find out more about her work with Search and Rescue as well the next adventure she’s soon to embark on.
When did you first realise you had such a passion for adventure and what or who were any major influences on you early on in life?
To be honest, I’ve always been a bit of a pansy. So much so, that when I was younger, I would cry every time I went for a sleepover at my best mate’s house – just four miles down the road.
It wasn’t until uni, when I took a work placement in Texas that I figured – being away from home was okay, and actually, everything was still the same when I returned. In fact, it was better, because I had met some awesome people, experienced a whole new way of life, and came away with new friendships. WIN!
While out in Texas, I became good friends with another girl from uni, Laura. Laura was pretty much the complete opposite to me – confident, outgoing and liked to party! Our common ground was that we both liked being active (and we were both pretty skint too), so we bought a couple of Walmart bikes and explored the area. While bikes were fun, we soon found out that we couldn’t full explore Texas because it’s just ginormous and we had very little time off. So, we bought a $500 truck
off eBay that we had to start with a screwdriver, overheated every five minutes, and that we had to climb through the window of just to get in. Bargain, we thought! We used that truck (affectionately known as ‘Bodge the Dodge’) to explore the state, often sleeping in the open bed of the truck by rivers and lakes, in multi-storey car parks, fields, roadsides, anywhere really .
We managed to get ourselves into some hilarious situations, found some incredibly beautiful and untouched places and
meet some real characters along the way. This freedom to explore remote places (albeit with the help of an engine at this stage), was my first proper taste of adventure… and I loved it!
The truck Faye and her friend Laura used to explore the US state of Texas.
Tell us about your climb of Kilimanjaro and what inspired you to conquer the mountain?
Gosh, for me I see Kili as the start of it all. Laura called and asked if I’d be up for doing something mega for her 30th birthday – climbing Kilimanjaro. She had always dreamed about doing it and so her 30th birthday seemed like the perfect opportunity. I had absolutely no prior knowledge of Kili, how high it was, how long it would take, was it walkable or did I actually have to climb it? I had no answers to any of these questions but I knew I’d give it a good go and hopefully have a
good time along the way.
I trained a bit, did some running, cycling and circuits (groan) and some fundraising for a local charity, then we were off! I distinctly remember hopping off the bus to start the trek at 2,000m ASL, eagerly walking to where we were going to have lunch, and just gasping for air. I couldn’t believe that I was already THIS out of breath.
The trek continued for another six days, each day bringing its own challenges. Then, on summit night, the dreaded gastroenteritis bug hit out team. Three of us (myself included) came down with the bug at the worst possible time. We had to haul ourselves up the side of this volcano, in the dark, at -11 degrees, barely catching our breath, while all being pretty ill. I was so completely and utterly exhausted on summit night that even placing one foot in front of another was the
hardest thing ever. Eventually, after many hours plodding through the night, the sun began to rise, casting a beautiful deep orange light over us – it was truly beautiful.
Upon reaching the summit, I met fellow team members who were beaming with delight as they had made it. We exchanged hugs and headed back down for a much needed rest.
I haven’t made it sound much fun, but it was one of the best experiences of my life. Pushing beyond my perceived limits, with a group of people who started out as strangers, but within the space of a week had become good friends, was just incredible. We looked out for each other, encouraged each other and of course mocked each other (when the time was right!).
Faye pictured on her climb of Kilimanjaro.
What was your inspiration for your cycle in New Zealand and could you tell us a little more about the challenge?
A friend I had met doing Kilimanjaro had posted a video on Facebook about microadventures. I just loved the concept of finishing work and heading off on a gnarly little microadventure and be back in time for work the next day. The video was made by Anna McNuff – she was championing Al Humphrey’s microadventure concept in London – taking groups of friends, and soon to be friends, out on mircoadventures. Awesome! I enjoyed following her on twitter and just loved her
enthusiasm, inclusiveness and slightly bonkers nature.
Fast forward a few months and I was due to fly out to New Zealand for a school friend’s wedding. After I’d booked flights, Anna announced to the world her plans to RUN the length of NZ on a super gnarly trail, solo and unsupported. Crikey, I was INSPIRED! It was a proper light bulb moment. I thought, well I don’t think I’m up to running the length of NZ, but I could try cycling it.
From then on, it was about making it happen. I didn’t have a bike, tent, stove or any of the kit, but through the kindness of friends and family, I borrowed everything that was needed and headed off to New Zealand, with a rough plan of cycling
1,800 miles from Bluff at the bottom of New Zealand, to Cape Reinga at the top of the North Island.
From the experience I had on Kili, I knew my body could keep going even when it was screaming for me to stop. However, on Kili, I wasn’t alone. I was part of a team. There were friends, team members, porters, doctors, guides and leaders all helping us reach that summit, without whom I doubt I could have made it.
For me, the biggest challenge with the New Zealand Cycle Challenge was not the ‘can I physically do it’ challenge, but more the question, ‘can I do it on my own?’ What I quickly came to realise though, was that I wasn’t alone at all. From day one, I was blown away by the kindness shown to me by complete strangers. Complete strangers offering me a place to stay for the night, giving me food, opening their bike shop to help repair my bike, the kindness was unbelievable. It was a real eye opener.
What have been the highlights from your adventures to date and what have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced?
There are so many highs on any adventure and they are so varied. I think, for me, the biggest high has been experiencing the kindness of strangers. The memory that sticks out most was from NZ. I waved out to a farmer as I cycled past and he waved back. I thought nothing more of it, but then, several hours later, he pulled up alongside me in his truck. He had seen me pass earlier and couldn’t let me continue, knowing the conditions ahead meant the mountain pass I was due to cycle over was covered in snow. His name was Walter. He scooped me up, took me back to his farm where I met his wonderful wife Bev. They fed me and put me up until the snow storm passed. They welcomed me, a stranger, into their home. They looked after me when I was vulnerable, even though I had nothing to give in return. We chatted all evening, exchanging wild and fascinating stories. I left with two firm friends who I have stayed in touch with ever since.
Over time, the low points truly seem to fade away. That said, one memory that has stuck was from the second day of the cycle. Having never peddled a fully laden bike with panniers before, head on into a ferocious headwind, completely on my own in a different country, I began crying. I thought, ‘what on earth am I doing, this is ridiculous!’
After a snack stop, I realised, ‘I AM FREAKIN’ CYCLING THE LENGTH OF NEW ZEALAND’. How lucky am I?! This is awesome! Not many people have the opportunity to do this, and here I am crying, because it’s a bit hard and I’m lonely. Having given myself a good talking to, I swiftly continued and never looked back.
Faye has recently become passionate about rock climbing and enjoys the sport whenever she gets an opportunity.
Tell us about your passion for rock climbing and who inspired your hobby in the sport?
Rock climbing is a relatively new thing for me. It’s always been something that I’ve wanted to try, but never knew how to get into it.
After Kilimanjaro I joined my local Search and Rescue Team, where I met Phill of Climbing Cornwall. Phill teaches rope rescue to the search and rescue team, and when I returned from NZ last year he offered to take me out climbing. From the first climb, I absolutely fell in love with it.
The exposure, the freedom, the views, the physical challenge, exploring new places and of course, the scare factor, were all part of the appeal.
How are you currently spending your time and how often are you able to get out and pursue your sporting and adventure interests?
Having been made redundant from a ‘proper job’ earlier in the year, I’ve decided upon a career change and hope to retrain as a paramedic next year after the next challenge. Right now, I’m taking this opportunity to put more time into Cornwall Search and Rescue Team and also enjoy the summer climbing, cycling and spending time with family and friends.
Are you planning any exciting challenges or projects for the year ahead or beyond?
Yes, always planning/dreaming! For the next adventure, I’m teaming up with Anna McNuff to spend six months cycling through the Andes, taking in some of the highest mountain passes in the world. We are aiming to cross as many mountain passes from Bolivia, up to Peru, then back down through Chile and Argentina while taking in the highest city, settlement, lake and desert in the world. By the end we will have cycled up the equivalent height of Everest ten times, all whilst at a cripplingly high altitude. Neither Anna, nor myself know any Spanish, so this could be our biggest challenge for the trip!
Future adventures on the bucket list are; The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route and climbing Aconcagua. One day!
