| If you are planning to attempt to walk up Ben | | | | shift at the summit was two months. They had |
| Nevis this summer there are some interesting | | | | fresh food in the summer. In the summer tinned |
| facts you might like to know. Standing at 1,344 | | | | food for nine months was taken up by horses, |
| metres high (or 4,408 feet) Ben Nevis is the | | | | and coke, for fuel, was carried the same way. |
| highest mountain in the British Isles, and as such is | | | | To amuse themselves the staff of the |
| the major challenge for any UK climber or walker. | | | | observatory made sledges, used snow shoes and |
| It is also a challenge for people to get into the | | | | skis, and made an outdoor ping pong table out of |
| record books by attempting the climb in peculiar | | | | frozen snow. They carved wood, and played the |
| ways! | | | | pipes, violin, flute, mandolin and accordion. One of |
| For the novice or non serious walker, once this | | | | their more alarming pastimes was to hurl large |
| peak has been achieved you can sit back and | | | | boulders over the cliffs so they could hear them |
| hang up your walking boots knowing that you | | | | rumble and crash into the glen below. |
| have beaten the ultimate walk (as far as height is | | | | Temperance Hotel: |
| concerned, anyway). | | | | A small wooden hotel annexe was also opened, |
| Ben Nevis, translated from the Gaelic means | | | | the Temperance Hotel, run by two young ladies |
| 'Mountain of Heaven'. The first recorded ascent | | | | who provided food and a bed during the summer |
| was in 1771, and in 1883 the footpath and | | | | months. They charged 3 shillings for lunch, and 10 |
| observatory were built all thanks to Clement | | | | shillings for tea, bed and breakfast. A fashionable |
| Linley Wragge, nicknamed Inclement Wragge. | | | | way to ascend the mountain was by pony, and |
| Ben Nevis Weather: | | | | 21 shillings hired the pony and a guide. |
| If you plan to walk up Ben Nevis you will find it | | | | In 1916 the hotel also closed, and the buildings |
| hard to pick a day with perfect weather. The | | | | gradually fell into disrepair, aided by fire, and |
| mountain summit is only clear on one day out of | | | | climbers who in 1950 were seen stripping the lead |
| 10 on average. The old observatory records | | | | from the roof and rolling it down the mountain. |
| show 261 full gales per year, and 4,350 mm of | | | | Ben Nevis conquered by Car: |
| rainfall, compared with less than half that amount | | | | In 1911 a 20 horse-power Model T Ford was |
| in Fort William, the town at the foot of the Ben. | | | | driving to the top of the mountain as a publicity |
| The wettest month of the year is December. | | | | stunt by the Ford agents in Edinburgh. Henry |
| Only in April, May and June is the monthly rainfall | | | | Alexander Jr, the son of the owner, was the |
| less than 25 cm. | | | | driver. The car was not simply driven up the |
| The AVERAGE temperature at the summit is one | | | | track - it involved 10 days of preparatory work |
| degree below freezing. | | | | finding and checking a driveable way to just the |
| Deep snow lies all year in large pockets at the | | | | half way mark, and to put in bridging planks. It |
| foot of the northern and northa east cliffs, and | | | | took three further days to drive the car to this |
| snow can fall in any month of the year. | | | | point and just two more days to cover the |
| Every year around 100,000 visitors find their way | | | | stones and snow to the observatory. The car |
| to the summit. Following the path on a summer's | | | | would sink axle deep in the boggy ground and |
| day is a fairly safe way to the top, but going off | | | | would have to be hauled out by role. The 'Daily |
| the path or rock climbing can be very dangerous. | | | | Telegraph' reported at the time that a false turn |
| In a five year period there were 13 deaths on the | | | | of the wheel would mean a fall which would have |
| mountain. Although most averagely fit people can | | | | caused total destruction to the car, and certain |
| reach the top safely, it is not a walk in the park, | | | | death to the driver! |
| and common sense safety precautions should be | | | | Me Alexander was feted as a hero when the car |
| followed. | | | | returned to Fort William. After the brakes were |
| Check the weather before you set out! | | | | adjusted no other repairs were necessary, and |
| Always make sure someone knows you are | | | | the car was driven back to Edinburgh. |
| going to climb the mountain so they can raise the | | | | Mr Alexander seemed to enjoy his feat so much |
| alarm if you do not return! | | | | that he repeated it in 1928, this time in a |
| Keep to the path! | | | | Standard New Ford (Model A Ford). The last |
| Meteorologists on Ben Nevis: | | | | quarter of a mile was driven with four |
| Wragge was a meteorologist who climbed Ben | | | | passengers. |
| Nevis every day to collect weather information. | | | | Ben Nevis conquered by Bed: |
| Wragge would collect information from various | | | | In 1981 a group of Glasgow University medical |
| points on the way up and down the mountain, | | | | students pushed a bed to the top - they were |
| and his wife would collect readings from their | | | | accompanied by the former newscaster Reginald |
| home at sea level. His journey took him four | | | | Bosanquet (then 48) who collapsed 1000 feet up. |
| hours to reach the top, and he was away from | | | | He later recovered and was able to walk down. |
| home for around 11 hours per day. From the 1st | | | | Other weird ascents: |
| June 1881 to the 14th October 1882, and for a | | | | A man from Fort William pushed a wheelbarrow |
| similar period in 1882 Wragge climbed the | | | | to the summit and back before 1911. |
| mountain every day without fail. In 1883 sufficient | | | | A horse and cart has also been driven to the top. |
| funds were raised to build the path and the 13 | | | | In September 1980 the kilted Kenneth Campbell |
| foot square room with 10 foot thick walls which | | | | of Ardgay, Ross-shire carried a barrel to beer to |
| was to be the Observatory. To help raise the | | | | the top to raise funds for cancer research. The |
| funds walkers using the path were charged 1 | | | | barrel had legs down either side so it could be put |
| shilling (5p in modern money), and 3 shillings if they | | | | down on the ground whenever he needed a |
| were on horseback. Permits could be bought from | | | | breather. |
| a shop in Fort William, or from a path | | | | The same Kenny also carried a piano to the |
| maintenance man based at the half way hut. | | | | summit and back. |
| By 1884 an office, two bedrooms and a visitor's | | | | So, whilst your planning your walk or relaxing |
| room was added to the observatory, together | | | | after having achieved it, just spare a thought for |
| with a 30 foot tower (which would rise above the | | | | the man who climbed the mountain day after day |
| snow in the winter. The observatory was | | | | to take readings at the observatory, or those |
| connected by telegraph, and later by phone to | | | | who have attempted the climb in improbable |
| the Fort William Post Office. From 1884 to 1904, | | | | circumstances. For me, once was enough to say I |
| when funds ran out, the observatory was | | | | had done it. But maybe the tales of the |
| permanently manned and weather conditions | | | | endeavours above have inspired you.....? |
| were rigorously recorded. The normal summer | | | | |