Within half an hour into the walk my bag was getting heavy, my leggings were making me too hot, after an hour I was sweating and I had every excuse under the sun. A gentleman who was in our party found it too hot and was humble enough to say l can’t do it, he left and went back down. I was thinking of joining him too. At 67yrs old and 23 degrees heat it was too much for him. As you go up you start asking silly questions, like one lady saying does it get any steeper🤣. “Yes love it’s plain sailing” the jogger shouted on his descend. People were asking what’s it like at the top and it was interesting to know not everyone makes it to the top. A young gentleman said he found it too hot, as he was diabetic the heat had not helped. You find clothing and food parcels left on the path side as people offload their too heavy bags. The views are spectacular pictures don’t do them justice.

I made it to the top and it was such a humbling experience. There was a sense of comradery amongst all the climbers. The climb played with my mind there were highs when l was singing the chorus to Bon Jovi’s ‘Livin on a prayer’ and there were lows when I just wanted to throw in the towel. I met people who were doing it for charity, some like me were ticking off bucket lists. The sheer excitement at the summit was amazing, people calling friends and family to share their excitement. The views were amazing and the guide told us the weather was on our side. The climb down was not easy but we made it down and a pint of beer shandy at the Inn was best way to finish off the walk.

Our colleague who couldn’t make it up the top was happy for us and he had a sense of regret that he had not done it. I felt empathy for him and I said we would take him up on another day whilst we were still here. Everyone looked at me with an are you crazy stare. I didn’t think anything of it. In the morning, the weather focus was good and I said “Let’s go”. He apologised for even thinking that anyone would want to go up Ben Nevis twice, he had had his chance and he blew it. I said I would take him up on one condition, l packed a bag for him, as the day before he had packed the kitchen sink. He couldn’t believe it, neither could l. We drove back up to the Inn and at 9.44am we started the climb.