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I wanted to do something personally challenging  and to support a deserving cause - Prostate Cancer UK.  I'm sure you are all aware that we men find it generally difficult to talk about our personal issues.....

The challenge started with :  Lots of preparation eg routes, equipment to buy, precautions, projected weather warnings etc. and only 5 days to organise everything.

The journey up to Fort Williams was a long tiring drive with lots of traffic congestion.  A few hours sleep( 2.5hrs) and an early start - up at 3am for a start at 4.30am.

The start of the climb was pitch dark and the Scottish Midges were in attacking form ( never had them crawling in my hair, face etc.)  so it was a little disconcerting.

Beautiful gentle climb with increasing light and brilliant scenery near by but the Ben was shrouded in mist and fog.  Very few people up at that time.  It was very peaceful.  Eventually the plant life slowly died away since  the environment is too hostile for them to survive in.  It was like a barren planet scene -   rocky, scree all around, dark, cold, windy, bleak and forbidding. 

The weather kept changing - clear,  misty, foggy, drizzly and cold in all combinations during the climb so variable that it catches you out.

The last stretch was cold with very poor visibility.  Difficult to orientate (particularly if you couldn't make out the cairns) since everywhere looked the same, rocky and featureless with dangerous gulleys that sadly have taken peoples' lives.

Eventually made it to the top of the highest Mountain in United Kingdom.

1345m High.  It was  foggy, misty and ( - 6 )degrees Celcius

It was a long, tiring, gruelling slog all the way up to the summit but worth it..

I celebrated with a beer and samosas which I shared around with others who also had made it up  !!

The climb downwards was with a big beaming smile on my face.

Another long and  tiresome drive but this time to head home and to be greeted and welcomed  by my lovely wife as though I was on my first honeymoon with her ( and that was in Scotland too) with strict instructions to not do daft and dangerous things again at my age !

I sincerely acknowledge the invaluable help, support and advice given to me by all my family and friends including Nitish during this personal wish and challenge.

Finally,  genuine thanks to all who have donated to the charity Prostate Cancer.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.