Americans Hike the UK's Highest Mountain for the First Time!

Please don't say you don't need any real experience to climb Nevis. In Scotland the weather can change in a heart beat, more so in the mountains, even on a day like you had. There are 2000ft cliffs right beside the summit and cornices form that people fall through to their death. The wind is also no joke and can push people off cliffs. The climate at the summit of Scottish mountains is "sub arctic" and is a really serious environment. At the very least, wear strong boots, take layers of clothing, including waterproofs, carry a paper map and compass and not only know how to use it, but USE IT! Throw a bivvy bag into your rucksack - that may save your life.

The stopping and chatting is just a friendly thing that happens in Scotland whilst walking the hills. It isn't just because it is Ben Nevis. People are friendly here.

When in the Scottish Highlands pray for a strong breeze, no midges !!

Climbed Ben Nevis via the Carn Mor Dearg Arete on my 50th birthday. We were hoping for great views of the north face, but the visibility was terrible. Deep snow and overhanging cornices surround the summit. People die on the mountain every year, not to be underestimated!

It's the "Tourist Route" (doesn't mean its 'easy', rather it's the easiest), so lots of people also eager to ask and talk about the experience. For typical UK weather, you typically go from a moderate /warm sea level to a cold/severe weather on the summit. On good days the summit is clear (plenty sunshine) and fresh, but on bad days it's a real blizzard - hence the discussions about what it's like 'Now'! Enjoy.

SUPERB video. I'm 60 and have been totally disabled since 55. After a lifetime of hiking/MTBn I miss this. Thanks for the vicarious adventure. (and thanks for Kramer's subtitles!!🤣)

Great video as always. Can we congratulate the Catherine, Princess of Wales who completed the 3 Peaks challenge last week. That’s climbing Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in the Lake District and Yr Wyddfa in North Wales, the three highest peaks in each of our nations, all within 24 hours (and that includes driving between them). All in aid of the Royal Marsden charity, the hospital that treated her for cancer not so long ago. Just to add that stopping to say hello is pretty normal when you walk anywhere in the wild in the UK. Also on the rivers (and canals). We spend a lot of time on the Norfolk Broads. Waving to passing boats is the norm, as is helping out other boaters.

Ouch, NEVER go to the edge like that! Cornice everywhere. Many people are killed doing that. :28

I've climbed Ben Nevis perhaps a dozen times by various routes. Though the "tourist" route is straightforward in good conditions, when you get thick mist and significant snow it's easy to go off the path on the summit plateau and fall through a crevasse. Some of the gullies cut into the plateau quite near the path and become covered in snow. And you can get those conditions most of the year and they're common for 8 or 9 months. Accurate navigation is important in those conditions. As an aside, having been on a few winter mountaineering courses, one of the things you get told is that your water requirements can increase in winter as your pack is heavier and moving through snow takes twenty five to fifty percent more effort. Anyway, you were lucky enough to have great conditions which is always a bonus in Scotland.

That’s was a very close call walking on that snow cornice!! You seemed oblivious ?

Us Scots are very sociable 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍 we love everybody

It is quite traditional in Scotland that walkers pause to chat to other walkers. This can be most useful, as it can elicit useful information about the route ahead.... Something to look out for, like a soaring eagle, an unusual rock formation, or sometimes an area best avoided. I have, over many years, stopped and chatted to some really interesting people and for me, it is one of the great pleasures of walking in Scotland.

'No midges' is by no means unheard of. They can be a menace any time in summer, but if there is any breeze they get blown away. There is usually a breeze.

Same most places in highlands, everyone says hello and talks.

That is a great dog - Kramer. It was cute seeing Kramer getting a ride in the backpack. Very thoughtful.

Well done for hanging in there ! I have not done Ben Nevis yet , but I will do ....

Your pup is absolutely adorable. Really good video by the way.

When you're on snow at a high point, if there's a sudden drop, DON'T GO NEAR THE EDGE! Because wind sculpts the snow so that it can overhang a vertical or very steep drop, so that if you go near the edge of what you thought was rock, has nothing under it and you can slide suddenly through, dropping through the snow disappearing for ever!

The local environmental organisations have done so much work in the past 40 years to create pathways up the various hills and mountains in the UK to help protect the terrain. I can remember the Lakes and Snowdonia back in the mid 80s and some of the "paths" or trails were little more than sheep trails. In poorer weather you certainly needed to understand how to use a map and compass, as there weren't the "motorway" paths back then.

We started from the youth hostel and that 1st ascent nearly made me quit 😂 had to turn back three quarters up as the weather came in, visibility dropped and we got scared! People die on Ben Nevis nearly every year, take it with some caution and be prepared for all weather.