There’s something quietly powerful about being the slowest person on the mountain.
Not because it feels good — it doesn’t.
Your lungs burn. Your legs protest. And somewhere ahead, the rest of the group disappears around the bend.
But as I discovered in a recent conversation with Tim Dobson, sometimes the slowest person becomes the one who understands the journey best.
And often… the one who changes it for everyone else.
A Story That Stays With You
Tim shared a moment that stopped me in my tracks.
As a beginner climber, he joined a group expecting to learn, to grow, to belong. Instead, he and his friend were quietly excluded — and then subjected to a conversation that felt like stepping back in time. A dismissive comment about women hung in the air.
They didn’t challenge it.
But they did something more powerful.
They walked away — and later created something entirely different.
A group that welcomed everyone.
A space where kindness wasn’t optional.
A place where no one was left behind.
The Gift of Being Last
Tim laughed as he recalled his early hiking days — always at the back, always the slowest.
But that experience shaped everything that came after.
Because when he eventually became a leader, he knew exactly what it felt like:
- to struggle uphill
- to need a breather
- to wonder if you’d make it
So he led differently.
He slowed the pace.
He noticed people.
He handed over his hiking poles when someone needed them more.
And he said something that stayed with me long after our conversation ended:
“People don’t remember your map reading… they remember how you made them feel.”
When Things Don’t Go to Plan
Not every story was gentle.
There were moments of real danger.
A wrong decision on a snowy descent that sent someone sliding uncontrollably into rocks.
A solo hike in a storm where Tim ignored the forecast, got soaked, lost his way, and ended up pitching his tent in the wrong valley — with a wet sleeping bag.
It’s easy to listen and think, I’d never do that.
But would we?
Or have we simply been lucky so far?
What stood out most was his willingness to share these moments — not for drama, but for learning.
Because sometimes the lessons that stay with us are the ones learned the hard way.
Caves, Courage and Community
When we spoke about caving, something shifted.
You could hear the joy in his voice.
Not just for the adventure — but for the people.
Because caving, he says, is one of the most supportive environments you’ll ever find.
A true team experience.
Where everyone helps each other through.
Where rest is allowed.
Where fear is understood — not judged.
And Then… There’s His Mum
This part made me smile.
Tim’s mum began caving in her seventies.
She has now completed hundreds of caving trips.
And during COVID, the two of them created a playful “caving” film inside her home — turning everyday spaces into an underground adventure. It even won an award.
A gentle reminder that adventure doesn’t come with an age limit.
Check out Judith’s video here.
Travel With Us a While…
What stayed with me most after this conversation wasn’t the danger, or even the adventure.
It was the reminder that:
- kindness matters more than capability
- encouragement changes everything
- and sometimes going slowly is exactly how we get where we’re meant to be
So if you ever find yourself at the back of the group…
Take heart.
You might be exactly where you need to be.
Listen to the podcast here
