On Saturday, 25th October, I climbed Britain’s highest peak –Ben Nevis, in Scotland to raise money for Breast Cancer Care - as part of October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

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That day will go down as one of the most dangerous yet exhilarating experiences of my life.

The conditions on the mountain were extreme, some of the worst weather in years said some of the experienced mountain guides with us. When we started climbing in the torrential (horizontal) rain at around 4 degrees celsius, the winds were gusting at around 20 miles per hour. As we got higher and higher the gusts got more and more severe, 40-50 mph. But onward we climbed, enjoying the dramatic beauty of Glen Nevis and the power of nature.

We got wetter and wetter, my woolly hat blew off and landed in a waterfall, so out came the balaclava. We walked through waterfalls becoming stronger with all the rain, and my feet were soaked through within a couple of hours. At that point my endorphins kicked in and I was on a natural high, in a really elated mood despite the extreme conditions.

As we rounded the edge of the mountain, the climb got tougher as we scrambled over large rocks, but the gusts started to pick up and at around 2000 feet they were gusting at 60-75mph – I have never known anything like it in my life, I could not stand up, we could not move. Every time I stood up I was blown down again, not so great when you are on the very edge of a steep mountain. Then I was blown down backwards on to a pointed rock, and landed on the tail of my spine, I was lucky not to have been more injured than a very sore and bruised coxis (sorry no photos of that).

The rain had turned to sleet by that time and it was like tiny pellets hitting my face and in my eyes. At one point the raincover on my backpack came loose and the wind had created a sail/parachute on my back trying to literally lift me off into the air, aka - Mary Poppins style.

There were hurricane strength gales on the summit (110 mph), which meant that at 2000 feet the guides said it was no longer safe to continue and we had to go back. Three of the male experienced mountain guides had gone a little higher than where we got to and even with linked arms they were lifted off the ground – it was at this point they decided it was a risk to life to continue. I was very disappointed but I understood completely.

I can honestly say as we turned around to descend that was one of the scariest moments in my life as the gusts were spiralling, coming in at all directions, and the gusts slowly turned to the new wind speed and at one point I did not know how they were going to get us down off the mountain. “Just keep yourself safe” kept yelling Becky, our group's front guide.

We knew the weather was going to be bad, as forecast, but nothing like this, I was prepared for the wet, I was prepared for the cold, but not for the gale force winds. Heaven knows how no-one was seriously injured that day. You hear about people going up mountains in those conditions, and think who would be so crazy ? – now I can officially say I am one of them !!

It was a challenge and an experience of a life time, not the one I had originally thought it would be, but one nevertheless. A perilous extreme adventure, that I can remember with some fondness only now I am back at sea-level in the safe and in the warmth of my own home…..

A huge thank you to everyone who sponsored me or pledged to sponsor me, you can be assured that the money goes to a very worthy cause and your support kept me putting one foot in front of the other as I climbed that Scottish peak….

Despite everything, I can say all-in-all it was a fantastic experience, Ben Nevis conquered me that day, but one day I will go back to conquer it !!

Thank you.

Cheers, Ann xxx

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