And what an excellent plan B.
I enjoyed a leisurely yomp up the Ben and mused about the times we have been up there as a family. The first time we climbed it was Christmas Day 2006, junior daughter was 5 and it was a brilliantly sunny winter’s day. We ascended in T-shirts, had a picnic at the top and opened a present each. We have tried to climb it every Christmas Day since then and have done so in all weathers. The second year, there was a 40 knot wind and junior daughter had to be physically restrained from soaring up and off like a kite as her all in one “muddy buddy” suit inflated with each gust. There was the year with thigh deep snow and snow cornices hanging off the peak, which prompted a complete sense of humour failure in one of our guests. There was the ascent in sheet ice, when the only form of safe descent was sliding down on our arses. (That reminds me of a summer descent of Blencathra with a friend who was unhappy about heights and slopes, who slid down the dry grass so rapidly on his bum that he managed to set fire to his leggings with the friction).
Mountain walks, family, friends, dogs, picnics and adventures all enriching my life and leaving me with happy memories.
Big brother, who loved nothing better than pulling on his old walking boots and striding off up a hill, was watching me and smiling today.