Family adventures.

It's school holiday time so team Pescod went out for a family adventure, right on our doorstep. You don't have to go far for a full on adventure, especially if you are 10, 14 or 16 years old. For a few years now I have wanted to enjoy a day on the North Face of Ben Nevis with my children and today everything came together. Louise and Victor (our dog) came up to the CIC Hut before continuing round by the half way lochain and down the mountain path to Fort William. The rest of us went up Tower Ridge, certainly too hard for a dog but would it be OK for a 10 year old?

All our children have done a lot of climbing indoors and quite a few days outdoors. We've also done some scrambling and Owen has done quite a few bigger mountain days. For him, this was the third time up Ben Nevis and he has enjoyed Curved Ridge a few years ago. For Megan and Katie, this was the first time up Ben Nevis and we chose the hard way to make it even more special for them. Tower Ridge is very exposed and feels like a big place to be climbing (it is!). But, I know them all very well, I knew they could do all the climbing, and we had biscuits to keep little legs working.

There was a little flutter of nerves for everyone as we crossed Tower Gap. The exposure here is something else and stepping across the void of Glover's Chimney is always intimidating. The flutter of nerves did not cause any fluster though and we got to the top in good order to join the crowds on the summit. Lots of walkers and climbers have been unlocked and are enjoying the walking and climbing here now. There is lots of fresh air, breathing space and socially distant adventures to enjoy. Little legs like going down hill about as much as big, older legs; not very much! We will all have sore legs tomorrow but being young, their legs will recover a lot faster than mine!