Ben Nevis

[Bruadair]

This is my first Munro, which I desided I would do following a few days holiday in Onich, which included a partial walk up Nevis.

Date of 25th september was pencilled in....alarm was set for 4.00am and it was up and off to Fort William for a life changing event. I arrived at visitor center car park around 7.45am and set off at 8.05am and some 35 minutes later, I was flattened against a rock, thinking my world was about to end and wondering what i had let myself in for or if I was ever going to make it any further.

After a rest and some fluid intake, the sickly feeling that came over me passed and off I set again...problem was I had set off a too quick of a pace, which caught up with me a bit. The assent was taking it's toll as I cramped up a few times, which in the main was as a result of pushing a pen for too long. I managed to work through cramps courtesy of a number of breaks and stretches and at around 12.30 I reached a cloud covered summit.

After approx 10 minutes of wandering about the summit...and as if by magic...the cloud cleared to open up some spectacular views in every direction I looked....and it was then I thought....this will do me.

[skuk007]

Pick a nice small one to start off with then.
Well done for making it and continuing when you thought it was all over.

[petejkenny]

Well done - I'll always take my hat off to those thousands who slog their way up the ben and then back down again when It's their first and probably for most only big hill - the determination!

[rockhopper]

congratulations on your first - after this you'll find quite a few easier hills Ben Nevis is on my to do list - must try next year

[Bruadair]

Pick a nice small one to start off with then.
Well done for making it and continuing when you thought it was all over.

I thought it was all over on way down..........I was about crying...thought my knees were going to explode and it took me until Thursday before I stopped hobbling, but as I said it was a life (style) changing event as I've been out every weekend since....taking in Tinto weekend after Nevis follwed by Beinn Glhas & Ben Lawers, Ben Chonzie, Ben Vorlich, Stuchd an Lochain and last weekend Schiehallion...still looking for something for this wekend.