I recently had a quick dash up to Fort William for an overnight ascent of Ben Nevis. It was forecasted to be a calm and cool night across the whole of Scotland with a slight risk of light showers.
I was part of a team of fifteen fellow Mountain Leaders who were to ensure the safe ascent and descent of just over 200 Macmillan Charity fund raisers who were completing the walk having been sponsored to do so.
As part of the summit checking crew, I set off for the top at 8.30pm with a view to reaching the top for about midnight. The clients were to be briefed and kit checked before their departure at 10.30pm.
The walk up to the summit of Ben Nevis along the traditional 'tourist ' path is relentlessly steep and energy sapping so the summit is always a welcome sight especially when accompanied with a view across vast swathes of the highlands.
Unfortunately the view was hidden by a thin veneer of cloud swirling eerily around the top hundred meters of the summit. The moon was bright enough to shine through this thin cloud and it saved the batteries in the head torch.
The first of the challengers started arriving shortly after 1.30am and were in good shape with a likely completion before 4.30am. It was cold on the top and I had all my warm clothes on having stood there for almost three hours before staring the descent with the last of the clients.
It was clear that some had underestimated the mountains might and found the constant pounding of walking down hill a tiring and uncomfortable experience, sore knees and ankles galore. Arriving at the bottom and a hearty cooked breakfast at the event marquee was enough to rejuvenate tired eyes and legs. Well done everyone.
The hard part was the lonely drive home on no sleep! The long stops and restless sleep in the car at numerous road side car parks and motorway services proved more of a challenge surprisingly.
I was part of a team of fifteen fellow Mountain Leaders who were to ensure the safe ascent and descent of just over 200 Macmillan Charity fund raisers who were completing the walk having been sponsored to do so.
As part of the summit checking crew, I set off for the top at 8.30pm with a view to reaching the top for about midnight. The clients were to be briefed and kit checked before their departure at 10.30pm.
The walk up to the summit of Ben Nevis along the traditional 'tourist ' path is relentlessly steep and energy sapping so the summit is always a welcome sight especially when accompanied with a view across vast swathes of the highlands.
Unfortunately the view was hidden by a thin veneer of cloud swirling eerily around the top hundred meters of the summit. The moon was bright enough to shine through this thin cloud and it saved the batteries in the head torch.
The first of the challengers started arriving shortly after 1.30am and were in good shape with a likely completion before 4.30am. It was cold on the top and I had all my warm clothes on having stood there for almost three hours before staring the descent with the last of the clients.
It was clear that some had underestimated the mountains might and found the constant pounding of walking down hill a tiring and uncomfortable experience, sore knees and ankles galore. Arriving at the bottom and a hearty cooked breakfast at the event marquee was enough to rejuvenate tired eyes and legs. Well done everyone.
The hard part was the lonely drive home on no sleep! The long stops and restless sleep in the car at numerous road side car parks and motorway services proved more of a challenge surprisingly.