Note from Jae: Well, we had our first male guest blogger earlier this week when Da shared his questionable photos of the 3GKiliClimbers doing a 7 Minute Workout. Quick on his heels comes a guest post from another male – Sheila’s great nephew Ben (Leslie’s grandson, and Lou’s son for those of you who have been reading the blog regularly). Better still, it includes a cameo by his twin brother Alex – so that’s three male contributers in less than a week. Thanks lads!
Me and my family have been climbing mountains for over six years. Though none have involved altitude sickness, overnight camping or sub-zero temperatures, we can relate to the incredible experiences of great views, challenges and just being high up! There is nothing like reaching a summit and looking back at the way you have come. For the 3G Kili Climbers, they will have come a long way. Not just the climb, but everything before, including the support from family and friends and of course the blogs. So before the Kili trio make many more Mountain Moments, here are two of mine and my brother’s.
Alex: Helvellyn
We had already climbed Swirral Edge. I’d felt a bit scared because of the sheer drops on either side and scary scrambling. We’d reached the summit of Helvellyn and I was ‘looking forward’ to the even scarier Striding Edge on the way back down! It was bitterly cold and horribly windy on the summit plateau; all in all, I wasn’t very happy! I decided to vent my frustration, verbally. I shall not repeat all of what I said but it was something like ‘Get me off this f*****g mountain!’ In my defence, it was so windy that no one would have heard my, erm, colourful language!
I went on to thoroughly enjoy Striding Edge and I can safely say that Helvellyn, in all its terrifyingly technical, seriously sweary and furiously freezing glory, is my favourite Mountain Moment!
Ben: Snowdon
As it is the tallest mountain in England and Wales, I was very excited to climb Snowdon. We were staying with the Chamois Mountaineering Club in Llaanberis (do not check spelling!). I don’t know what I was expecting of Snowdon but there was one thing I wasn’t prepared for … As we came round a corner after leaving half our party who were climbing Crib Gogh, a hair raising, craggy edge of rock (again, do not check spelling!), I was struck by the immensely beautiful view of a mountain lake and the summit towering above everything. After being interrupted by a rescue helicopter performing a daring rescue on a stricken climber, we reached the top. The view from up here was even better. It felt like the top of the world and I was on top of the world!
