BEN NEVIS

Day 9 

We had planned to leave the B&B by 8 so that we could start making our way up Ben Nevis by 8.30. Since it was autumn/winter, it was going to be pitch black around 5 so we definitely needed to back by then. This didn't leave much time for breaks or to stop and have lunch. Had a massive cooked breakfast and croissant at the B&B before we left. 

It was a short 5 minute drive from the B&B to the base of Ben Nevis. We parked and started walking to the starting point steps. I was wearing Doc Martens which would prove to be a horrible decision after a few hours of climbing. James had bought proper lightweight waterproof hiking boots. To be honest, I started feeling out of breath and slightly tired after 10 minutes and we had only crossed the bridge and gotten to the starting point. The first leg of the climb was a winding path up the mountain. Not too bad because it was only a slight incline. After about 45 minutes of this then the real challenge started with the steps.  

View after 45 minutes up

Part 2 of the journey was steps. This was much harder because the steps could be shaky in some places and you could lose your footing if you weren't paying attention to where you were going. It started to pour at this point which made the weather quite humid. Steps went on for a few hours and we met lots of people going up at this point. 

Looks harmless but is actually really hard on your knees and
after 2 hours of this it can get quite exhausting. 

Bumped into this other couple who wanted us to take a picture of them
and we got a picture of us. My top looks so awkward because I
 stuffed a whole tissue box in my coat.

Stepped over this to get to the other side. Some parts of the mountain didn't have
a set path and you had to cross over water. 

I didn't take any picutres of the midway point, because we didn't stop for breaks and were powering through to get to the top and back down before it got dark. The midway point was a lake in the middle of the mountain and this is where the terrain completely changes. From seeing sheep and greenery, it becomes mostly snow and ice and rocks. Part 3 of the climb was just winding snow and ice up the mountain for another 2 hours. It got much darker at this point because we were quite high up and although the weather was good we were surrounded by fog and mist. The snow was manageable but the ice was so slippery and if you fell, you couldn't tell if you'd land on snow or a rock hidden under the snow. I fell a couple times here. It was also frustrating because my feet were really starting to hurt and I knew I'd have blisters soon and my feet were slightly wet. People started passing us by quite often too and this made me feel like we were losing our pace. Almost everyone was better dressed than us with crampons, hiking poles, and proper hiking boots and packs. Definitely regretting the shoes at this point. 

Part 4 of the climb was the worst. I was so cranky by this point I feel so bad for James on hindsight having to put up with me. The snow and ice made it so slippery and if you fell down you didn't know if it would be a pile of snow or rock that you were landing on. Each step felt so heavy and my heels started feeling really painful. After an hour of this you reach the last stretch where its so foggy all you can see is one boulder (cairns) in front of you. It was so frustrating not knowing how many boulders you were going to pass before you reached the top. The snow was up to my knees and seeped into my boots so my feet were completely soaked. The top of the mountain felt like you were going through a blizzard. I could barely see 2 feet infront of me and we thought we were the last ones on the mountain. We quickly ran to the little hut on the top, the 'marker' that you made it all the way. James climbed up and got in, I climbed up but didn't go in because the door had nails in it and getting a cut on the top of the mountain during a blizzard didnt seem like a good idea. At this point we decided to go back down and on the way we saw 5 other groups going up. They were much better prepared than us with crampons and hiking poles but there's no way they'd make it to the top and back down before it got dark.

The journey down was much quicker, despite falling down a few times. Our legs were so shaky at this point from exhaustion but we didn't take any breaks going down. 3 hours and we were at the base but I started to panic because I couldn't see the bridge and my knees and feet were so blistered at this point I just wanted to get off the mountain. Finally reached got to the base camp Glen Nevis and the minute I saw the car park the feeling of pure relief. My feet were aching and later when I took off my boots I realised that the docs had bitten into my heel and the skin had peeled off. The shower after was extremely painful and I had blood blisters which I couldn't pop. Basically my feet were gone. 

Despite all of this it was such a thrill knowing that I climbed Ben Nevis!! James is used to doing things that are physically challenging but its different for me. I rarely do things out of my comfort zone. Definitely looking forward to more thrills in the new year.