Ben Nevis Challenge

There’s a charity dear to my heart and so I made the decision it was about time I did some thing to raise money on their behalf. I log on to their web site and identify they have a number of challenges, the one which looks to fit the bill for me is the Ben Nevis Challenge. Following some thought I enrol, and a couple of days later some information comes, for instance a coaching method and top tips for raising cash.

The months pass rapidly and my training and sponsorship are proceeding very well, once the day arrives I journey up to Glasgow (our collection point). We travel via the breath-taking scenery, with a short pause at Loch Lomond, until we reach the hotel and are offered a while to recover prior to a talk.

At the session we get to know the leaders who will lead us up the mountain, they explain the information for the next day, the way we will be taking up ‘The Ben’ after which we carry out a kit check list. Fundemental pieces being hiking boots, many garments, hiking pants and waterproof gear.

We all next go for our evening meal and I grow to be acquainted with the group additionally, we make a decision on an early night and are in bed by 10pm – we've got an early start the next day.

Bright and early the next day and ‘The Ben’ awaits, I stowed my stuff last night but do a final examination that I have got everything. I pick up the packed lunch the inn has provided and nervously embark in to the vehicle. There are a mixture of feelings in the number as we are driven the couple of kilometers to our starting position. The leading mountain-guide delivers a short pep talk and we are off, initially the entire team sticks with each other but in the end we split in to 3 types, quick, slow and one in the middle.

I get in together with the slowest number, I could goad myself to keep up with the in between group but I have made pals with the slowest individuals and the guide, she is motivational without being pushy. As we begin to ascend higher it becomes significantly chillier, I’m glad I packed a lot of layers. It seems really like a long trek at this point and people keep enquiring how much futher to go, the leader's answers become vague nevertheless we continue, the very fast group are by now on their way descending back down and spur us on with their best wishes.

Finally we approach the summit, perhaps as well because I’ve run no more layers (as I’m placing my very last one on I site a gentleman in shorts and t-shirt, madness!) and then we're there. Sadly the cloud is low therefore we can not observe (the alleged!) breath-taking scene, this doesn’t demotivate us nevertheless as we’ve completed it! We all take the obligatory photographs and cell phone or text family with our news. After a couple mins it is really time to go down once more, encouraged with a relaxing shower, a local pub dinner, a couple of glasses of beer and a comfy kip.

Alas one of our group falls and strains her ankle, many of us wish to remain with her however the leader radios ahead for another guide to meet up with us down the route and urges the rest of us to go. Rapidly enough we’re at the base once again together with the guides taking photographs at the finish line. I am ecstatic that I’ve accomplished it, despite the strenuous hike and the sore muscles I vow to be back some other day.

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Bruno Blackstone is Marketing Director at My Outdoor Store, a wonderful place to come across a wide range of outdoor clothing, gear and things to do.