Anthony Boddle - Loch Eil, Scottish Highlands, 1987

For the climax to our 5 day expedition Norrie & Nile took us up Ben Nevis via Tower Ridge, the first time an Outward bound team had attempted such a challenging climb. We camped in a corrie at the base the ridge and the morning of the climb the sky was cloudless and the midges were swarming all over us. Norrie told us that for only around 30 days a year will you reach the top and not be in the clouds. We set off, roped up and started our climb. Unfortunately half way up the clouds descended and we were faced with a dilema continue up or descend. We were given the choice and as a one we all agreed to soldier on to the top. My memory of the climb was the dead mans drop, where we had to hang onto the rock above us and drop into the unknown. I did it as did the rest of the team, we got to the top soaked to our skin, which of course mattered not a jot because we were the first Outward Bounders to reach the summit of Ben Nevis via tower Ridge.