Toughest hike in my life. nervous.
yirara
Posts: 10,021 Member
I'm a bit nervous! Next Saturday I want to hike up Ben Nevis, the highest top in the UK. It's a 1350m uphill walk, with an average increase by 17%.
I've only ever did two hikes of about 700m, up through the jungle to Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro last year, and this year in Zion NP to Observation Point (12% increase average) and I'm seriously worried about whether I'll manage to be honest.
I'm fit, but all my life I've not been able to walk uphill as I always ended up with shortness of breath, heavy legs and light headedness. I now know that this is a low bloodpressure dysregulation issue, and lower leg compression and lots of salt helps somewhat. But it will still be very, very tough.
Food, clothes and emergency pack are sorted already. For a change the weather might not be too bad either. Basically I'm just looking for support and accountability.
I've only ever did two hikes of about 700m, up through the jungle to Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro last year, and this year in Zion NP to Observation Point (12% increase average) and I'm seriously worried about whether I'll manage to be honest.
I'm fit, but all my life I've not been able to walk uphill as I always ended up with shortness of breath, heavy legs and light headedness. I now know that this is a low bloodpressure dysregulation issue, and lower leg compression and lots of salt helps somewhat. But it will still be very, very tough.
Food, clothes and emergency pack are sorted already. For a change the weather might not be too bad either. Basically I'm just looking for support and accountability.
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Replies
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Which route are you taking0
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The easy one. If I manage to get there, and if visibility and wind are ok I have CMD in the back of my head (I'm not confident with heights, but that's a different story) as there's a very special geocache there that I'd love to find. But it's unlikely I'll get there.1
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The easier route is still heavy going, but it is nice.
Have a good day.2 -
You got this. Slow and steady. Catch your breath if you need to. Give yourself plenty of time and remember how awesome it will be to get to the top!2
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You got this. Slow and steady. Catch your breath if you need to. Give yourself plenty of time and remember how awesome it will be to get to the top!
Thanks a lot
I'm sure I need a lot of small breaks to get my lovely blood out of my legs and back into my brains 
But yes, I'm really looking forward to it. If I manage this I'll enjoy Tenerife later this year.
Zion Observation Point actually did go quite well, at way over 30C. I only needed 2.5h up and 2h down, well within the recommended walking time of 4-5 hours. So lets see how this goes.1 -
It sounds like a great hike but , seriously, have you been medically cleared to do this? Do you have a plan more than "taking breaks" if your BP tanks? Do you have criteria of when to turn back? Do you a reliable means of communication?
I would suggest doing a few more intermediate hikes to gradually increase your capacity. I know I sound like a spoil-sport but you did ask for accountability. Stay safe and have fun.4 -
It sounds like a great hike but , seriously, have you been medically cleared to do this? Do you have a plan more than "taking breaks" if your BP tanks?
I've been doing this for all my life (ok, not as a child simple because my parents never went into the mountains. But I could not run either). So yes, some 24 years of dragging myself up lots of elevation with lots of minibreaks all over the world. So don't worry. Nothing will happen other than pensioners overtaking me, wondering why a young-looking small woman needs so many breaks. 2 -
Just dropping in to wish you a fantastic hike. (I'm quite envious, in a nice way)
Try to elevate your legs when resting and keep you eye on your electrolytes- especially if the heat wave is still toasting Scotland.
Don't forget to take pics, then come back and post them.
(I wish I had known you lived in Scotland, I have just spent 2 months in the Borders and it would have been fun to meet up.)
Cheers, h.3 -
It sounds like a great hike but , seriously, have you been medically cleared to do this? Do you have a plan more than "taking breaks" if your BP tanks?
I've been doing this for all my life (ok, not as a child simple because my parents never went into the mountains. But I could not run either). So yes, some 24 years of dragging myself up lots of elevation with lots of minibreaks all over the world. So don't worry. Nothing will happen other than pensioners overtaking me, wondering why a young-looking small woman needs so many breaks.
Nothing wrong with breaks. Have fun, we look forward to your report!0 -
Your post reminded me of my visit to Scotland and hiking Cairn Gorm. We went with a guide, up the “most direct” route; I think there were about 6 false summits. We had only moments of visibility but it waaa still worth the climb. How does it compare to what you will be doing, OP? Will you start at the base? I’m pretty sure we didn’t but what do I know!0
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Your post reminded me of my visit to Scotland and hiking Cairn Gorm. We went with a guide, up the “most direct” route; I think there were about 6 false summits. We had only moments of visibility but it waaa still worth the climb. How does it compare to what you will be doing, OP? Will you start at the base? I’m pretty sure we didn’t but what do I know!
Oh wow! that sounds lovely! yes, I have to start at the base, nearly at sea level as there's no other way up. I'm getting super excited now
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middlehaitch wrote: »Just dropping in to wish you a fantastic hike. (I'm quite envious, in a nice way)
Try to elevate your legs when resting and keep you eye on your electrolytes- especially if the heat wave is still toasting Scotland.
Don't forget to take pics, then come back and post them.
(I wish I had known you lived in Scotland, I have just spent 2 months in the Borders and it would have been fun to meet up.)
Cheers, h.
Oh wow! Should have known, right? I hope you had a lovely time in the Borders.
My funny blood pressure problem is a bit similar to this low blood pressure issue where you suddenly get a fast pulse when you get active: it stops when you stop doing this. In my case my blood leaves my legs immediately when I stop, and drops down again when I continue. It's always fascinating to reach the top of something: I drag myself up the last few meters, walk on kind of flat ground, and all the problems are immediately gone and I could add another 10km of brisk walking as long as the terrain remains flat.2 -
I'm always annoyed that I never climbed Ben Nevis (a bunch of my friends did), however apparently compared to other hikes they did it's actually not as bad as you'd think. I mean, yes, it is still a bloomin' great big mound but the walk is steady, and if you're going up the main route, then the trail underfoot is very nice to walk on.
Anyhoos, good luck, don't worry about having breaks, if you need them, then you need them 1 -
I'm always annoyed that I never climbed Ben Nevis (a bunch of my friends did), however apparently compared to other hikes they did it's actually not as bad as you'd think. I mean, yes, it is still a bloomin' great big mound but the walk is steady, and if you're going up the main route, then the trail underfoot is very nice to walk on.
Anyhoos, good luck, don't worry about having breaks, if you need them, then you need them
Thanks a lot
Shame you never managed to walk up. For me, it's only a 3.5hrs drive to Fort William, thus if the weather is really bad then I might be able to repeat this another time. 1 -
It sounds like a great hike but , seriously, have you been medically cleared to do this? Do you have a plan more than "taking breaks" if your BP tanks?
I've been doing this for all my life (ok, not as a child simple because my parents never went into the mountains. But I could not run either). So yes, some 24 years of dragging myself up lots of elevation with lots of minibreaks all over the world. So don't worry. Nothing will happen other than pensioners overtaking me, wondering why a young-looking small woman needs so many breaks.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with breaks. I forgot my inhaler on a hike yesterday, with a 1400-ft elevation gain, and there were several short (<5 minutes or so) breathers while I convinced myself that yes, it would be worth it and awesome, and my glutes and lungs just needed to get themselves in gear.1 -
Thanks @collectingblues1
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good luck and enjoy yourself
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Wow, that's really step!0
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NorthCascades wrote: »Wow, that's really step!
Yeah, that's Scotland for you. Our small mountains and hills look like the tops of proper mountains. Some hills are so steep that you can only scramble up and if you fall you fall all the way down again.3 -
I didn't have internet for a few days as I spent some time after the hike on the isles, where there's no phone signal. But anyway:
I MADE IT!
It took me 4.5 hours to reach the top, and I was very lucky that the endless flog even lifted for 30 minutes and allowed for some views. Down only took 2.5 hours. I would have managed in 2 hours if my socks had not caused burning to my foot soles and I kind of tip toed down the last 3km. Time for new hiking socks. So happy! Now I can think of other mountains as well.
Yes, it was super tough for me and I was already soaking wet after the first 200m climb (of 1300) but I just walked on very slowly and took breaks whenever I needed them. I found that walking so slowly made me faster in the end than some other slow walkers who sprinted up, totally wrecked themselves and needed a long break very often.12 -
Hooray, and congrats.
Any pics you'd care to post?
Cheers, h.1 -
middlehaitch wrote: »Hooray, and congrats.
Any pics you'd care to post?
Cheers, h.
Hmm.. I have a rather political image that went all across twitter (lots of demonstrating against a certain orange guy all across Scotland on that day). Not a good idea to post that one here as people might be offended. Thus no photo of me then
Near the start:
Over halfway:
Top is in the distance:
View from top:
View from top:
12 -
I'm so glad I read the waking guide and looked at the map when you first posted. It gave me a really good sense of place in your photos.
It really is quite rubbley in the last stretch, more so than the discriptions would have led me to believe.
Is that snow?
(That section looks very like the rubble you see when mounting a glacier in Canada.)
The views are spectacular. Did you walk it on your own?
I ask because I am tempted to drag myself out of the Borders and walk it when I'm over next year, but have no one fit enough to accompany me.
Cheers, h.0 -
middlehaitch wrote: »I'm so glad I read the waking guide and looked at the map when you first posted. It gave me a really good sense of place in your photos.
It really is quite rubbley in the last stretch, more so than the discriptions would have led me to believe.
Is that snow?
(That section looks very like the rubble you see when mounting a glacier in Canada.)
The views are spectacular. Did you walk it on your own?
I ask because I am tempted to drag myself out of the Borders and walk it when I'm over next year, but have no one fit enough to accompany me.
Cheers, h.
a bit rubbly: well, the last 600m of elevation were that rubbly. I was basically jumping from stone to stone at times
It's basically due to water seeping into cracks of rocks, the water freezes over night and extends the cracks, and many of those cycles basically blast pieces of rock off, and then they roll down the mountain eventually. And yes, there are always a few snow patches left in the Highlands until into autumn.
I walked alone. Have no-one to take along (and no-one with enough patience to walk with me ) Lots of people walk Ben Nevis though that are way less fit than me. I might be tempted to do it again if I'm still around. Give me a shout next year 2 -
I didn't have internet for a few days as I spent some time after the hike on the isles, where there's no phone signal. But anyway:
I MADE IT!
It took me 4.5 hours to reach the top, and I was very lucky that the endless flog even lifted for 30 minutes and allowed for some views. Down only took 2.5 hours. I would have managed in 2 hours if my socks had not caused burning to my foot soles and I kind of tip toed down the last 3km. Time for new hiking socks. So happy! Now I can think of other mountains as well.
Yes, it was super tough for me and I was already soaking wet after the first 200m climb (of 1300) but I just walked on very slowly and took breaks whenever I needed them. I found that walking so slowly made me faster in the end than some other slow walkers who sprinted up, totally wrecked themselves and needed a long break very often.
CONGRATULATIONS!!! This is awesome! I'm so happy for you.
Any thoughts about your next endeavor?1 -
Thanks a lot @SaraKim17
Not really. I'll be going to Tenerife next month but will take a gondola to the top of Mount Teide. I think of walking down though.0 -
Wow, stunning views!
Congrats on the climb! Sounded like it went really well.
The rubbly bits at the end are giving me flashbacks to scafell pike. It's so tough walking on terrain like that isn't it?0 -
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Glad you had a great time! Way to go! I like 2 pair of socks, a very thin polypropylene liner and a midweight wool blend on top.0
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Wow! That looks amazing!1
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