Between climbing and meteorology on Scotland’s highest peak

NS Ben Nevis, the peaks of Glen Coe and the surrounding mountains offer some of the most beautiful snow and ice climbs in all of Europe.
Despite Ben Nevis Scotland does not reach even 1,500 meters above sea level, making it one of the most difficult tasks climbers undertake since weather conditions are unpredictable and was changing strongly, so much so that between the late 18th and early 20th centuries the Scottish Meteorological Society’s observatory was built here.

The observatory collected an extraordinary amount of data and was the basis for the construction of a “cloud chamber” by scholar Charles Wilson, an instrument for detecting elementary particles inside which vapor collects to form tiny droplets, fine fog.

Ben Nevis: Scotland’s highest peak

Although the height of the Sun in Ben Nevis is 1344 m And this Highest of all British Isles.
Ben Nevis is located within the Lochaber area near the small town of Fort William and the Glen Nevis Valley. hilly terrain and is part of the series Monty Grampiani. The mountain forms a massif with its neighbor to the northeast, the Karn mer Dearg, with which it is connected via the Karn mor Dearg Eret pass.

The name Ben Nevis is a Gaelic translation of the phrase “Bein Nibhis”, where Bein stands for mountain and Nibhis translates as “”.mountains in the clouds“.
Huge peak plateau Ben Nevis spans about 40 hectares and is a great vantage point because when clouds give way to the view of the landscape, you can see from one side the nearby mountains such as the Torridon, the Cairngorms and the Glen Coe valley. come. from other lee Hebridian Islands.

Invention of meteorological observatory and cloud chamber

Climbing to the top of Ben Nevis you meet on the way ruins of the astronomical observatory implanted by Scottish Meteorological Society In 1883 On the orders of Queen Victoria who financed its construction.

Some Fearless Man Lived Over Ben Neviso until 1904, is almost always surrounded by clouds and exposed to snow and lightning storms with temperatures up to -15 ° C; this brave scholar They recorded all atmospheric changes taking into account precipitation and wind speed, but also temperature and humidity, taking into account approx. half a million data.

They were joined during the summer and autumn months by other scientists, including Charles Wilson who started here to study clouds and extract the information needed for their formation.cloud room“, an instrument that made it possible to understand the formation of clouds, and thanks to which in 1927, Nobel Prize in Physics.

The data collected in those years is still used today: according to observations made by the observatory, in fact, fog was present at the summit about 80% of the time between November and January, and 55% of the time. Months of May and June. As for the temperature, the winter average is about -5 °C, and the average annual was only -0.5 °C.
In addition, the summit received an average of 260 storms in one year, receiving 4 350 mm of rain, more than twice that of the nearby town of Fore William.

to climb to the top of ben today mule track, Call pony track, built in the nineteenth century for donkeys who carried machinery and supplies to the observatory, which became unusable in 1904 due to high management costs.

climb to the top of ben nevisa

Every year 100,000 people challenge the highest peak of Ben Nevis amidst dire climate conditions and a difficult road to the top.

Although the mountain is relatively low, climbing to the summit puts pressure on the climbers they have to deal with. extreme climate conditions and unexpected, with sudden blizzard and low temperatures that challenge climbers.
To reach the summit, in fact, they are necessary excellent physical condition And adapted to the nature of the terrain, the climb can last 6 to 8 hours.

From 1903 periodic competitions were held that lasted 24 years until the observatory at the top of the summit was closed.
is held today ben nevis race, which takes place on the first Saturday of September every year, and hosts a maximum of 500 runners. The race begins and ends at the Clegane Park football field in Fort William, and runs to achieve a length of 16 kilometers and a height of 1,340 metres.

by reason mountain dangerEntry is limited to those who have completed the first three hill races, and runners must bring a raincoat, hat, gloves and a whistle; In addition, those who do not reach the summit after two hours are bound to return.

Ben Nevis’ fame is also linked to the influential and influential North sideMILF painted by steep wallsmilf buttocks, ridges and valleys, with ice climbing route, snow and mixed terrain all difficulties and a development that can reach over 600 meters.

The starting point for many climbs along the north face is the famous Alt ‘Muillin Trail, which leads to the 680m Cic Hut, a private alpine retreat owned by the Scottish Mountaineering Club.

For those who do not want or cannot climb Ben Nevis due to extreme difficulty and prefer skiing, it is advisable toaonach moro, a mountain located about 3 kilometers to the north-east, where a . Is ski station with relative cableways.
Finally, to warm up after athletic feats, guided tour with tasting Ben Nevis Distillery Fort William Key, where you can get acquainted with one of the most remarkable fine scottish whiskey.