[Trip Index] [Munro Index] [Home] 12th August 1988   Ben Nevis - The First Munro Map As mentioned elsewhere, I didn't go overboard on note-taking in the beginning. The only jotting I made for this, my first Munro, was: 'Long slog up the traditional route - hundreds of people going up & coming down.' The summit But here is Andrew's account of the ascent: We zig-zagged up the mountain side (Meall an t-Suidhe) from the bridge over the Nevis constructed by the army until we joined the main track. About 2000 ft we passed the point where Ian and I turned back in 1967 through my exhaustion! The clouds came in around 1000 ft and the rain set in as we neared the top. At least I am fitter at 38 than at 16. Despite the warning board at the foot of the path, warning of 'sub-arctic' conditions at the summit (indeed there were two locations where several square yards of snow cover lay) and that an average of eight persons died annually on the mountain, nobody seemed to take any notice of the advice that inexperienced mountain walkers should venture no further than the foothills. Despite the rain (which continued all the way down) people with gear ranging from boots, anoraks and heavy backpacks down to training shoes and umbrellas (especially Germans carrying these) made their way up at short intervals. If you stopped, a party of one to six passed each minute. Up in four hours (1 mph) down in two. The north slope looked especially threatening, because the extent of the drop was concealed by the cloud. We thought of going to Oban, but ate a vegetable curry (£2.95) in the horribly named 'Tourist Restaurant'. Since virtually everyone in the town is a tourist it's a pointless distinction. The curry was restricted in quantity and cool. Got B&B at a new bungalow just by the River Orchy & a mile from Neptune's Staircase (ie the Caledonian Canal lock flight). We got a taxi into town - a dilapidated 'C' reg, with a passenger seat that rocked drunkenly. The driver cursed an Italian car which swung arbitrarily round a roundabout in front of him. Same pubs, apart from Annie's bar and the Imperial. Played dominoes in the Volunteer, a spectator sport since several females watched us. They'd never seen anyone play in the place for years. We also tried to play darts again in the Cromag - but someone had walked off with the darts since last night.