"Well here we are at the top of Ben Nevis and it's too cold to write
anymore" - is how Marea started this blog entry. Now back at sea
level, we'd best elaborate further.
The alarm clock made its first appearance in seven weeks, we'd wanted
to be up (bright and) early. But even this early we were no match for
those who'd started at 2am and who we passed as they were coming down
before 7am! They were just completing the 3 peaks challenge in which
they'd climbed respectively the highest mountains in Wales, England
and Scotland within a 24 hour period. Very Impressive!
We were told it would take 4 hours to get to the summit, so figured
leaving before 7 would get us up in time for an early lunch. However
we didn't anticipate our 'lunch' stop being at 9.20!!! Maybe all this
walking is getting us a little more fit than we'd realised. In a
perverse fashion Marea was disappointed the ascent was not more
challenging and rated it much easier than Ben Hope. Certainly our legs
will probably not ache as much tomorrow.
69% of the year Ben Nevis is under clouds but today the view from the
top was spectacular; not a cloud to bother us. Marea's previous
comment about the cold was probably an excuse to stop writing and
enjoy our surroundings a little more because compared to other
mountains we've climbed, this one has had the most settled weather.
We spent over an hour at the top and on the trek back down Marea
choose to conserve energy by sliding down part of the mountain that
had snow. We passed hundreds of people still slogging upwards under
the hot sun. Their alarm clocks obviously don't work as well as ours.
Also today was a wheel chair 'race' to the Ben Nevis summit which was
organised to raise awareness for the charities Scope and Capability
Scotland. Proving that wheelchair bound people can still get out and
about in the great outdoors, teams of 6 (including one one in a
wheelchair) pulled, pushed, carried, man-handled, slogged and sweat
buckets in order to get all their team members to the top. Those in
the chairs weren't getting an easy ride; hanging on for dear life
whilst traversing seemingly impossible boulders and when the track was
a little smoother wheeling themselves as much as possible. What took
us 2 hours 40 mins, was going to take them at least 7 hours!!!
After a beer at the Ben Nevis Inn, it was back on the road for us. We
checked out the very pleasant Oban, before heading to Ellenabeich
which we chose solely because on the map it looked like a quiet spot
to park up for the night.
On arriving there we realised we has come across a real gem of a
place!! We found a fantastic parking spot right on the shore front
over looking the bay and numerous islands out to sea. Time for a BBQ
and a bit of cider while we gaze out to sea and reflect on getting to
the top and back!
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