Well… It would be Rude Not to !!??

Here I was, lying in Wally on a campsite at the foot of Britain’s biggest mountain…what should I do ?http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fortwilliam/bennevis.shtml 

Should I lie in bed all day, whilst the fan heater gently caressed me with wonderful heat… or get up, out into the wild weather, and climb it !? – the forecast did say there may be a little snow, although it may dry up later…so I had to decide, climb or not to climb…??

I made the butties, filled the flask with hot Ribena, and covered in my waterproofs, off I trudged, up the side of the mountain, across the river…with only about 1300 metres (about 4,000 feet ) to climb !! What else would you do on a wet Saturday in Scotland ?

By mid morning the gentle rain had stopped, and I’d started to get into my Rhythm, and even started seeing something below me…not long after half way up, it started snowing, and I soon realised that the overnight rain in the valley had landed on the ‘Ben’…as snow , I was soon into a winter wonderland – it certainly improved the views !

I was amazed at how many people were walking up it today – with many,many Asian looking people , not quite sure why, or what the significance was … maybe on some sort of ‘adventure’, anyway it was nice to see them enjoying themselves…as I was, snow makes such a difference to a trudge upwards !

Just after 1 p.m. I made it up to the top – about three hours, not bad for an old codger ! There were loads of people on the top,including a University club from Edinburgh !,  all congratulating themselves on their great achievement !

The only thing with high mountain tops, and snow…. is the cold ! My fingers had frozen taking pictures, so I couldn’t stop for food, and started re-tracing my steps back down the mountain , passing those still struggling their way up (trying not to be smug , but encouraging them !)

After an hour or so I emerged from the snow, to take in the views below me, and happily trudged back to the campsite, for a lovely hot shower…and back to the pub !

I had a leisurely Sunday, wandering into Fort William on a rainy Sunday, for Mass, big Breakfast fry up at Morrison's, and back to the site for a full clothes wash at the Laundry ( and dry !) whilst I watched football and later the Grand Prix (on me phone !) – I was fully clean, relaxed and ready to go… where ?