Intrepid Winter Ascent of Ben Hiant

Exclusive Report

Following blizzard conditions on the mountains of remote Ardnamurchan, a brief window of opportunity opened up on Sunday afternoon between the crucial lie-in and the early afternoon sunset for an epic climb to the summit of Ben Hiant’s snow-covered peak. The party of two daring adventurers – Rachael Haylett from the towering seacliffs of Ormsaigbeg, and Ben McKeown from the misty mountains of Snowdonia – said what might be their last goodbyes to family and friends before setting off from the road up the eastern flanks of the mountain – only to discover they’d been beaten by a lone climber in red, making his descent. Attempting to discourage the young pair, he told tales of hurricane-force winds at the final 100m push to the summit.

But they were not to be discouraged. They tightened up their scarves and pulled on their mitts and plodded on through the deep snow. As they emerged on top of the ridge, their faces were blasted by the sharp, icy wind from the north-east. Pushing ever higher towards the snow and rock roof of Ardnamurchan, still stronger blasts knocked Rachael to her knees. Ben tried to encourage her on, offering to pull her up the steep slope, but Rachael declined, hiding from the wind in a snow cave with a chocolate digestive to keep up her energy levels.

Ben continued on against the wind to reach the summit, where he fought his way to the cairn and briefly admired the frozen forests and lochs below, before making a careful descent down through the drifts to meet Rachael and enjoy the easier descent down. Accompanying them were two golden eagles, which appeared around the hill and soared overhead before disappearing into the blue.

Safely down the mountain, the two adventurers went back for a much deserved cup of tea, and put their frost-bitten toes in front of the warmth of an afternoon film.