Members of the public enjoy the sunshine on the trip to the Nevis north face
A group of walkers enjoyed the Olympic heights of Britain’s top peak as part of the countdown celebrations to the London 2012 Games.
About 1,200 events were held across the country to mark the One Year to Go weekend, but a group of 26 led by arguably Britain’s most adventurous traditional rock climber stood way above the rest of the UK with a visit to Ben Nevis’s north face.
Dave MacLeod accompanied the group to the base of the cliffs where he completed his Echo Wall ascent in 2008, which has been described as the hardest traditional rock-climb in the world.
The event, organised as part of the Olympic Open Weekend celebrations by the John Muir Trust, which owns most of the upper reaches of the mountain, saw the group walk up the Allt a’Mhuilinn path and past the Charles Inglis Clark hut to a height of 1,000m.
There, the Spean Bridge-based climber explained the history of climbing on Nevis’s north face, from the early Victorian attempts to his own Echo Wall triumph.
Duncan MacPhee, director of Lochaber Sports Association said: “It was an unmissable opportunity for non-climbers to see Ben Nevis’s north face close up, and to hear from the expert how he goes about his extraordinary business. The day was thoroughly enjoyed by all. I think it should be made an annual event.”
Rob Bushby, John Muir Award manager for the John Muir Trust, said: “If the Cultural Olympiad is about engaging people and showcasing what the country has to offer, then its natural heritage should feature highly amongst its finest assets.
Dave MacLeod, sitting, third from right, with walkers who made the trip
“We’re delighted to be promoting wild landscapes, and introducing people to new and exciting aspects of them as part of a wider celebration. It’s been great to have such a high level of interest from the local community.”
Climbing has been shortlisted with seven other sports for consideration for the 2020 games. If it wins International Olympic Committee approval, it will be in the form of sportclimbing, most likely on indoor walls.
