Leader: Kate Krawczyk
We set out from the badminton club at 8am, then picked up Fran from her gate up Pig Valley Road, then proceeded to wind our way up through the maze of forestry roads to the bottom of the last steep climb to the Ben Nevis car park.
I’ve never had the nerve to go that last 100 or so metres and it was a good call as the road was deeply rutted and washed out. There was a piece of some poor vehicle’s bumper on the side of the road! Someone has put up track markers on waratahs on the forestry roads to help guide the way.
Just after 9am, we huffed and puffed our way up the first couple of kilometres. Penny and Donna dropped back a bit as Donna wasn’t feeling too good after being sick the week before. We left them with a PLB and went ahead.
We reached the summit around lunchtime – it was spectacular. There was a lovely layer of crusty snow on the top. As far as the eye could see snowy mountains etched into a blue sky. The usual photo opportunities ensued, then we continued along the ridge for a few hundred meters to the next high point.
Not long into our descent, Donna and Penny arrived on the top. It was fantastic that everyone got to summit. We descended to the vehicles, said our goodbyes, and were home just after 5pm.
Participants: Ian Morris, Graeme Ferrier, Penny and Donnalee Parker, Renee, Scott Phillips, Julie Jar, Frances Dick, Ashley Chin, Chris Tilley & Debbie Hogan.