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Ben Nevis Challenge
Author : Bruno Blackstone
Submitted : 2011-11-20 15:34:59 Word Count : 684 Popularity: 13
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There is a charity near to my heart so I made the decision it was about time I did a challenge to raise finances on their behalf. I go onto their website and see they have numerous challenges, the one which would seem to be ideal for me is the Ben Nevis Challenge. After a little consideration I sign up, and a couple of days later a bit more detail comes, together with a coaching method and suggestions for raising cash.
The months pass rapidly and my training and sponsorship are proceeding nicely, when the date arrives I travel up to Glasgow (our pick-up location). We drive through the stunning countryside, with a short pause at Loch Lomond, until finally we reach the inn and are given a while to recover before a briefing.
During the talk we meet up with the guides who are going to lead us up the mountain, they clarify the itinerary for the big day, the course we are going to be taking up ‘The Ben’ after which we carry out a gear check. Essential pieces being hiking boots, lots of layers, walking trousers and waterproofs.
We next go to have dinner and I get to know the team further, we opt for an early bed-time and retire by 10pm – we have got an early call tomorrow.
Sharpish the next morning and ‘The Ben’ awaits, I stowed my equipment the previous evening but do a very last check that I have brought all that I need. I collect the food the motel has supplied and nervously embark in to the minibus. There are a mixture of emotions in the group as we are driven the handful of kilometers to our setting-off point. The senior guide gives us a quick pep talk and off we go, at first the whole group remains as one but ultimately we filter in to 3 groups, quick, slow and one in the middle.
I get in with the slowest group, I am ready to push myself to stay with the in between group but I’ve gelled with the slowest people and the leader, she is motivational without being impatient. As we start to get higher it gets very much colder, I’m happy I brought lots of layers. It feels really like a long slog now and we keep asking just how much more, the guide's answers are vague but we continue, the quick team are by now on their journey back down and spur us on with their encouragements.
In the end we near the summit, just as well as I’ve run out of layers (whilst I’m putting my final one on I see a person in shorts and t-shirt, madness!) after which we are at the top. Sad to say the mist is low and so we can’t experience (the alleged!) stunning scenery, this does not demotivate us nevertheless as we have finished it! We all take the obligatory snap shots and get in touch with or text family with the news. Following a couple minutes it is really time to descend once more, inspired by a relaxing shower, a bar meal, a few glasses of beer and a comfortable kip.
Sadly one of the group slips and damages her ankle, most of us would like to remain alongside her however the leader radios ahead for a further leader to meet us further down the route and encourages the rest of us to go. Quickly enough we are at the base once again together with the guides taking snap shots at the finish line. I’m very pleased that I’ve achieved it, despite the difficult slog and the aching muscles I intend to return another day.
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