Ben Nevis – Japanese Style!

Bring It On!

Ben Nevis

Following last week’s disappointing visit, better news today from Lochaber! A 3-day visit in the delightful company of Natsuyo (Peggy to her friends) and Andy, and blessed with much more reasonable weather, made for happy days!

Half-way Viewpoint

Natsuyo had travelled almost as far as Ozzy Keith last week in jetting in from Tokyo and swiftly flying up to Glasgow for a Hillways pick-up and on to Fort William. This set her up nicely for a gentle climb up Ben Nevis just 48hrs after leaving the Land of the Rising Sun! Fortunately, she was able to catch distinct glimpses of the very same celestial body as we moved steadily up the Tourist Path trying to ensure that as little as possible was lost in translation!

Above the Snowline

Having scaled Mt Fuji, ‘Peggy’ had little difficulty with the Ben although Andy and I were somewhat startled when she declared she would have to stop for a few minutes because of her heart! Thankfully, this translated into pausing to catch her breath. Once all our heartbeats had returned to normal, we pressed on reaching the snow/ice line close to the top of the zig-zags at 1170m.

Going Strongly for the Top!

Here we attached our crampons and completed the final few hundred metres to the summit on icy crust and in limited visibility. The summit only emerged from the white murk at about 100m. As with the previous week, deep snow covered the old observatory and the rockpile supporting the trig point. As with the previous week, a cold wind discouraged any lingering on top and as with the previous week, we beat a hasty retreat! Half way down I discovered there’s nothing quite like the icy stare of a Japanese lady who really really does want to stop for lunch! It wasn’t my fault there was no rice……

Another Misty Summit Shot!

Only an occasional snow shower hinted at the need for waterproofs, but in the event none were needed as we returned down as dry as we started - a refreshing change! Natsuyo’s time of 7hrs was most commendable for someone who had been sitting at Tokyo airport a couple of days earlier and whose body clock was probably somewhere over Russia!

Glen Nevis

Glen Nevis

In dry and occasionally sunny conditions, we strolled up the Glen to Steall waterfall, receiving informed titbits on trees various from tree surgeon Andy. We also learned about bracket fungus, bonsai Scots Pines and air-digging whilst Natsuyo marvelled at how the Nevis gorge resembled one giant Japanese garden.

Mullach nan Coirean

That night, by special request from Mrs Suzuki, we tucked into haggis, neeps & tatties and even shared a few drams of the water of life! We also learned that a Chinaman must build his future wife a house before he can marry her and pay twenty times his annual salary if he wants a 2nd child. Or something like that. The exact meaning may have been lost in translation……….

Check out my future plans for this winter on: http://www.hillways.co.uk/winter/winter.htm