To climb Ben Nevis with no experience?

[CiderWithRosy]

My DH and DS (17) are driving up to Scotland next week to climb Ben Nevis. I hadn't really given it much thought but I mentioned it to my mother and sister today and they were absolutely appalled. They said it was very dangerous and DH and DS shouldn't be attempting this by themselves. DH and DS don't have any experience of climbing mountains. DH (55) is relatively fit, keen cyclist and runner but DS is unfit, typical teenager spends most of his time gaming and has done absolutely no training for this. I've done some googling and there seems to be some pretty mixed information, some sources saying it's dangerous, some saying it's fine. Does anyone have any experience of this? Would they be foolish to attempt it? I feel quite worried now.

It's a walk not a climb if you take the main path. You need reasonable fitness, good boots and waterproofs but no experience

I went up Ben Nevis at night as part of an organised group raising money for Alzheimer's Society a few years ago. I trained for it by walking the tough sections of the Cornish coast path for about 2 months before and I was still pretty tired (mind you I was in my late 50's at the time). I was wearing well worn in walking boots, good quality waterproofs, had plenty of layers and I used walking poles. Coming back down is more dangerous in my opinion as your legs are tired and you are more likely to stumble. It was snowy at the top and raining as well.
Good well worn in boots are essential in my opinion. I've done a couple of these charity treks and the people with the new kit got blisters pretty early and dropped out.

Yeah I think that’s exactly it, it was the mental concentration of watching your footing the entire time as you went down. On the way up we were chatting and taking in the view, the way down was a solid silent trek.

Agree the most important thing is to be prepared to bail if the conditions change or someone's struggling, however near the top you are. I've climbed Munros as an unfit amateur, but only ever on very clear days where the ground has been dry.

My DC bagged their first Munro this summer, and while the football playing 10yo flew up, the 14yo PE dodger was blowing very hard indeed and needed more frequent rest stops than I did. At least she eventually understood why I'd said that if we were lagging or the weather changed I'd turn us round and brook no complaint - before we we on the mountain she thought I was being slightly hysterical.

As someone else said it’s not a climb as in you’re scaling a rock face roped to someone else, it’s a pony track. Still a slog but quite doable if you’re reasonably able.

As so many have said going up the main path is ok. It’s the weather that can cause problems and so many people don’t understand how it can be nice on the ground and terrible when you’re up there and come unprepared. Plus, the weather has been very unpredictable and not great recently so I wouldn’t do it.

I live near the Ben and took the dog up a walk last night. It was really busy and there is still a fair bit of snow up the top. I walked up in my trainers, Jean's a top and a hoodie.

It has essentially a large path the whole way up. Every time I've walked it there are primary aged children walking it. People with walking poles look silly.

I did it last summer with my 7 year old and even with really poor weather at the top it was totally fine.
Just pack plenty water/snacks and layers/waterproofs in case the weather changes and they will be fine 😁

It was busier than the M25 when we did it.

They'll be fine, I've done it. I was fit but no experience climbing mountains.

It's all about which route they take. If they take the Pony Track (aka Tourist Route) then it's easy peasy and they need no prior experience. Just appropriate footwear, clothing and food & drink.

My brother walked up Snowdon when he was 4, if that helps.

As long as they stay on the pony track they’ll be fine, your unfit DS will likely hate it…

When I did it as part of 3 peaks challenge we found most people only went halfway up ( to the lake bit)

I was shocked to step aside for a party coming down....6 middle aged Asian women in colourful sari's and dolly shoes! They were chatting and laughing away not phased at all!

That spurred me on

I highly recommend walking poles and they will need a shed load of water

They'll be fine. It's summer, it's not like they are climbing it in winter with no supplies. Take water, hiking boots, some snacks and theyll be fine.

Don't forget that mountain rescue teams are all volunteers. For those saying oh it's ok there is mountain rescue if you get stuck. They get frustrated with poorly equipped walkers, who end up inn difficulty because they've not prepared or attempted things they shouldn't. But that they'll ever tell you that!

My father tackled Ben Nevis in the '60's to see if he'd like mountain walking - he went up in a suit, carrying an umbrella 😂

He went on (later in life) to climb Mount Blanc and got to base camp on Everest (twice!).

@Eyesopenwideawake

he liked it then?

The tourist route is straight forward, but if you don't know any of these mountains, please, please take a map and compass and know how to use them. I had to lead a lost group down Snowdon when fog came in. They'd entirely lost the path they were aiming for and had no map.

Use the Mountain Weather Service for forecasts, not any weather apps you may be used to using. If thunderstorms come along get off the mountains. Look up what to do for staying safe in storms (or I can post it if people won't roll their eyes at me)

Why Ben Nevis? (I mean - obviously - why not?!).

But surely there are countless other hikes that they could do to build themselves up a bit, and see if your DS like it.

We're seasoned hikers and Ben nevis was bloody terrifying with some of the shit people were doing.

Wear supportive hiking boots, not sandals. Take water, take warm and waterproof clothing. Be mindful of the edges, do not treat snowy hillsides as slides and slide down the embankment to skip bits of winding paths, there are rocks hidden in the snow, you will break something or fall off the steep edge (and break something). Don't stand on the edge of the snow overhangs 🤨

When one thinks they can't do it then you both turn back, you don't push yourself or someone else to keep going up when they're at their limit, that's how you have accidents on the way down because you're exhausted.

It was a lovely day out with incredible views and honestly a quite easy one, but the crowds can make it feel safe and people go so unprepared it made us quite nervous tbh.

Climb, are they ascending Tower ridge.
If not it's just a walk.😂

Me too! Make sure they take plenty of water, wear proper shoes and a hat, and to set off very early. They should also be prepared to turn back/seek shelter if necessary.

Little kiddies go up Ben Nevis! It's hardly Everest!

I'd assume they'd just turn around and head back if it got too much! Suitable footwear, and plenty of water, and they'll be fine.

I did Three Peaks Challenge having only climbed Snowdon a few years beforehand and it was fine. I did have a generally good level of fitness though, as I had many half marathons under my belt etc. One of the people I did the challenge with managed to climb Ben Nevis but had an awful time as she had no basic level of fitness. She didn't climb the two other peaks after that but she survived! I would just ensure that they make sensible choices based on the weather.