Snorvey wrote:Thanks Dave.
Ben Nevis is the target purely because it's there and it's 'the biggest'. I don't find it a particularly attractive mountain either tbh and I don't really like Fort William. I don't really fancy trying it when the weather is poor and I don't really like crowds. And it's a fair old drive away (Lochnagar last weekend was pretty much spur of the moment based on conditions - i.e the wind was light, not much rain, the knee was feeling good etc - and it's only a couple of hours away).
It would seem I have plenty to think about! As
I'll stick to the rowing etc in the meantime (whilst my toes recover!) - but there's really nothing like getting out there. My only regret is that it's taken decades for me to appreciate what's on my doorstep.
45 minutes rowing / 15 minutes weights (not heavy) Fitbit stats.
Just a few points in response:
Fully understand anyone's wish to climb Ben Nevis, I've done it and even been stupid enough to do the 'Three Peaks' 24 hour challenge. I say stupid, because after making the effort to travel to Fort William (I share your view of the town btw) it seemed crazy to dash up and down BN in the evening sunshine, then drive off haring around the Lake District and Snowdonia. I'd much rather have stayed in Scotland for the weekend!
I was leading about 40 folk in 6 teams on a charity event though, so it wasn't without purpose.
There's really no need to suffer with blisters. They can, with good modern equipment, be completely avoided. Hope this doesn't sound patronising btw, but the correct combination of wool sock (I use Smartwool) and boot (I have Salomons and Hanwags) makes blisters history. Take the time to choose socks and boots together, and have them fitted in a specialist shop. It's worth it. If you have blisters, or feel them coming, Compeed really is like magic. I've known people walk 100 miles over a week with blisters covered by Compeed, and they were fine. It's like a miracle, honestly, when applied properly (warm it in your hand, apply stretched to clean skin). Apols if you already know all this.
Lastly, if you live that far north that FW is within a couple of hours, have you though of multi-day walking instead of ascending? I've done several long distance routes in Scotland and they are really good. From Fort William there is the almost totally flat 'Great Glen Way' along the Caledonian Canal, and several Lochs including Ness of course, and lovely Fort Augustus, up to Inverness. PM me and I can put you in touch with bag movers/accommodation. Others I have done have had more ascents and were chosen for that reason, but the GGW is a good one to start with, and is an easy 5 day jaunt. It can be done as day walks of course, if it's commutable.
Hope the above isn't OTT, told you I was obsessive!