Ben nevis - a brief history of humans on the mountain

If you are planning to attempt to walk up Ben Nevis this summer there are some interesting facts you might like to know. Standing at 1,344 metres high (or 4,408 feet) Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the British Isles, and as such is the major challenge for any UK climber or walker. It is also a challenge for people to get into the record books by attempting the climb in peculiar ways!

For the novice or non serious walker, once this peak has been achieved you can sit back and hang up your walking boots knowing that you have beaten the ultimate walk (as far as height is concerned, anyway).

Ben Nevis, translated from the Gaelic means 'Mountain of Heaven'. The first recorded ascent was in 1771, and in 1883 the footpath and observatory were built all thanks to Clement Linley Wragge, nicknamed Inclement Wragge.

Ben Nevis Weather

If you plan to walk up Ben Nevis you will find it hard to pick a day with perfect weather. The mountain summit is only clear on one day out of 10 on average. The old observatory records show 261 full gales per year, and 4,350 mm of rainfall, compared with less than half that amount in Fort William, the town at the foot of the Ben. The wettest month of the year is December. Only in April, May and June is the monthly rainfall less than 25 cm.

The AVERAGE temperature at the summit is one degree below freezing.

Deep snow lies all year in large pockets at the foot of the northern and northa east cliffs, and snow can fall in any month of the year. h

Every year around 100,000 visitors find their way to the summit. Following the path on a summer's day is a fairly safe way to the top, but going off the path or rock climbing can be very dangerous. In a five year period there were 13 deaths on the mountain. Although most averagely fit people can reach the top safely, it is not a walk in the park, and common sense safety precautions should be followed.

Check the weather before you set out!

Always make sure someone knows you are going to climb the mountain so they can raise the alarm if you do not return!

Keep to the path!

Meteorologists on Ben Nevis

Wragge was a meteorologist who climbed Ben Nevis every day to collect weather information. Wragge would collect information from various points on the way up and down the mountain, and his wife would collect readings from their home at sea level. His journey took him four hours to reach the top, and he was away from home for around 11 hours per day. From the 1st June 1881 to the 14th October 1882, and for a similar period in 1882 Wragge climbed the mountain every day without fail. In 1883 sufficient funds were raised to build the path and the 13 foot square room with 10 foot thick walls which was to be the Observatory. To help raise the funds walkers using the path were charged 1 shilling (5p in modern money), and 3 shillings if they were on horseback. Permits could be bought from a shop in Fort William, or from a path maintenance man based at the half way hut.

By 1884 an office, two bedrooms and a visitor's room was added to the observatory, together with a 30 foot tower (which would rise above the snow in the winter. The observatory was connected by telegraph, and later by phone to the Fort William Post Office. From 1884 to 1904, when funds ran out, the observatory was permanently manned and weather conditions were rigorously recorded. The normal summer shift at the summit was two months. They had fresh food in the summer. In the summer tinned food for nine months was taken up by horses, and coke, for fuel, was carried the same way.

To amuse themselves the staff of the observatory made sledges, used snow shoes and skis, and made an outdoor ping pong table out of frozen snow. They carved wood, and played the pipes, violin, flute, mandolin and accordion. One of their more alarming pastimes was to hurl large boulders over the cliffs so they could hear them rumble and crash into the glen below.

Temperance Hotel

A small wooden hotel annexe was also opened, the Temperance Hotel, run by two young ladies who provided food and a bed during the summer months. They charged 3 shillings for lunch, and 10 shillings for tea, bed and breakfast. A fashionable way to ascend the mountain was by pony, and 21 shillings hired the pony and a guide.

In 1916 the hotel also closed, and the buildings gradually fell into disrepair, aided by fire, and climbers who in 1950 were seen stripping the lead from the roof and rolling it down the mountain.

Ben Nevis conquered by Car

In 1911 a 20 horse-power Model T Ford was driving to the top of the mountain as a publicity stunt by the Ford agents in Edinburgh. Henry Alexander Jr, the son of the owner, was the driver. The car was not simply driven up the track - it involved 10 days of preparatory work finding and checking a driveable way to just the half way mark, and to put in bridging planks. It took three further days to drive the car to this point and just two more days to cover the stones and snow to the observatory. The car would sink axle deep in the boggy ground and would have to be hauled out by role. The 'Daily Telegraph' reported at the time that a false turn of the wheel would mean a fall which would have caused total destruction to the car, and certain death to the driver!

Me Alexander was feted as a hero when the car returned to Fort William. After the brakes were adjusted no other repairs were necessary, and the car was driven back to Edinburgh.

Mr Alexander seemed to enjoy his feat so much that he repeated it in 1928, this time in a Standard New Ford (Model A Ford). The last quarter of a mile was driven with four passengers.

Ben Nevis conquered by Bed

In 1981 a group of Glasgow University medical students pushed a bed to the top - they were accompanied by the former newscaster Reginald Bosanquet (then 48) who collapsed 1000 feet up. He later recovered and was able to walk down.

Other weird ascents:

A man from Fort William pushed a wheelbarrow to the summit and back before 1911.

A horse and cart has also been driven to the top.

In September 1980 the kilted Kenneth Campbell of Ardgay, Ross-shire carried a barrel to beer to the top to raise funds for cancer research. The barrel had legs down either side so it could be put down on the ground whenever he needed a breather.

The same Kenny also carried a piano to the summit and back.

So, whilst your planning your walk or relaxing after having achieved it, just spare a thought for the man who climbed the mountain day after day to take readings at the observatory, or those who have attempted the climb in improbable circumstances. For me, once was enough to say I had done it. But maybe the tales of the endeavours above have inspired you…..?

Why you should create a camping checklist for yourself

Are you interested in going on a camping adventure? Whether you would like to go camping alone, with a group of your friends, with your family, or with your romantic partner, you will need to bring multiple pieces of camping equipment with you, as well as other camping supplies. Unfortunately, many campers realizes, often too late into their adventure, that they didn't bring everything that they wanted to or needed to bring. To prevent yourself from becoming one of those campers, you may want to think about creating a camping checklist for yourself, as there are a number of benefits to doing so.

One of the many benefits of creating a camping checklist for yourself is that you are less likely to forget to bring important pieces of camping equipment or other needed camping supplies. Unfortunately, when it comes to camping, many individuals, just like you, often wish to bring something, but when it comes down to remembering, well, that is a different story. To help you remember everything that you want and need to bring, you will want to make sure that you create a camping checklist for yourself. Remember to add anything that you can think of as more items cross your mind.

Another benefit to creating a camping checklist for yourself is that it makes it easy to go shopping for all of your camping supplies. In addition to forgetting to pack something important, many campers draw a blank once they get to the store. To help ensure that you buy all of the camping supplies and equipment pieces that you need, you will want to create a camping checklist for yourself and make sure that you bring it with you when you go shopping.

Another one of the many benefits to creating a camping checklist for your next camping adventure is that it is easy to do. Many people can make their camping checklists in as little as ten or fifteen minutes. What you will want to do is sit down with a pen and a piece of paper and start writing. You will want to think of everything that you will need to go camping. One of the best ways to create a camping checklist for yourself is to go through your daily activities. For instance, you will need a camping tent and a sleeping bag to sleep. When it comes to your food, you may want to add a cooler, hamburger meat, ketchup, mustard, rolls and so forth to your camping checklist.

Although it is more than possible for you to create your own camping checklist, you should be able to find camping checklist templates or detailed camping checklists online. Many of these checklists are easy to find and print. You should be able to find a number of printable camping checklists by performing a standard internet search. Despite the fact that most camping checklists are detailed, you may still want to review the checklist in question and add anything that you may feel is left out or remove something from the list that you don't think is needed.

Of course, creating a camping checklist for yourself is something that is completely optional, but it may help to make your next camping adventure a memorable and a pleasant one. With camping checklists being easy to create, why wouldn't you at least want to give making one a chance? You may actually be surprised just how much a simple checklist helps to improve your next camping adventure.

Giant sequoias hiking boole tree loop

The Giant Sequoia trees of California are a site to see. Despite heavy logging efforts, you can still hike through these massive trees on the Boole Tree Loop.

Giant Sequoia National Monument

The park system in central California is incredible. You have Sequoia National Park, the first national park ever designated in the country. Next to it is King Canyon National Park, created in 1940. Surrounding a good portion of these two is the new Giant Sequoia National Monument, designated such by President Clinton in 2000. The three parks form a sanctuary for incredible scenery, including the Giant Sequoias on the Boole Tree Loop hiking trail.

Although directions are included below, I have to mention the drive to Boole Tree is incredible. As you drive through Stump Meadow, you will see some of the biggest stumps in the world and get a real feel for what has been destroyed. The biggest is the Chicago Stump measuring 70 FEET around its perimeter. Sadly, the tree was cut down so it could be displayed in a museum in Chicago in the 1880s when such trees seemed plentiful.

The Boole Tree Loop is only 2.5 miles, but will take a couple of hours since you’ll be staring up in the air like an idiot and looking at some incredible views. Since it is a loop, you can go either direction you wish. The first part of the trail will wind through at least 40 Giant Sequoia stumps that will boggle your mind with their size. Passing these, you’ll head up to a plateau where you can look down upon valleys in the canyon with Spanish Mountain in the distance. Regardless of which way you go, you’ll eventually come upon Boole Tree.

Boole Tree is big, but not as big as many of the stumps you’ll see. Boole Tree stands roughly 275 feet high with a perimeter of some 35 feet. It is estimated to be over 2,000 years old and is one of the biggest living trees in the world. Ironically, the tree is named after a lumber mill owner that spared it. To bad he wasn’t feeling as gracious with the other Giant Sequoias as all the stumps attest.

The Giant Sequoia National Monument is roughly an hour east of Fresno, California. Highway 180 is the most used entrance to the park from the west coast. Upon entering the park, you’ll pass through a ranger station. Drive north from there and hand a left at Grant Grove after traveling just over a mile. Continue until you hit Grant Grove Village. Just after it, you’ll see sign for Stump Meadow. Take a left and start driving. After a couple of miles, you’ll see a parking lot with a sign.

If you’re coming from Los Angeles, the drive will take five hours as will driving from San Francisco. Of course, drive times are dependent on traffic conditions in both cities.

Taking a hike through the Giant Sequoia National Monument is tremendous. It will give you a perspective of Mother Nature that few see.