Ben Nevis

What did I do today? Oh I dunno, just walked up a friggin mountain! Not the height of human achievement, I know, but I've never attempted anything like that before and I can't believe how much I enjoyed hiking to the summit of Ben Nevis. I met some awesome people at the hostel I stayed in who were also planning to hike up, so we decided to all go together. Early next morning James, Silvia and I started our trek while the range was still misty, so the hike up was a mixed bag of great views and being able to see bog all. The walk was a breeze to start with, but as it got steeper and the altitude rose, I really started to feel it. Towards the summit we had to be alert as the visibility rose and dropped rapidly and the vertical cliff that is the mountain's North face runs perilously close to the path. The snow made walking a bit treacherous as well, but we were finally able to make it to the top where we high-fived like dorks and sat to have some food and revel in our success. As I said, not the greatest achievement, but people fucking die climbing that mountain!

Lochan Meall an t-Suidhe

Above the clouds

Part of the north face

Dorking it at the top

The dream team

The descent started off well after the exhausting and painful climb up, but pretty soon a new pain appeared with the thigh strain needed to control my speed and stop myself tumbling uncontrollably downhill. As the day wore on, the weather got better and better, and what were previously isolated chance snapshots of the landscape below suddenly became grand, glorious vistas that stretched far into the horizon. The only thing strong enough to combat the sense of achievement I felt having reached the top was the total smugness I felt on the way down saying hello to everyone I passed on their way up. Looking back up, it appeared as if the visibility was better at the top than when we were there, most probably giving even more phenomenal views all around, but I was glad we went when we did as the heat would have made the ascent a miserable undertaking.

On the way back down

Once we got to the bottom, after 7 hours on the trail, I was really disappointed that I wasn't staying at the hostel another night, as I would have loved to have been able to relax, have a few drinks and hang out with my expedition buddies some more, but I had already booked a night's stay in Broadford on the Isle of Skye. I drove up to Mallaig, forcing my weak legs to work just a little bit longer, then got the ferry across to Ardvasar and on from there. Getting to my hostel, I once again regretted not staying another night in Corpach as my room was so stiflingly hot that I knew right away I wouldn't get any sleep. I was also sharing with an old man who smelled of BO. Awesomes.