Ben Nevis - A canvas for self-discovery

In August I set out with a group of over 20 hikers from the alcohol-free community Over The Influence, on a 16.7km ‘walk’ to the summit of Ben Nevis, the highest point in the British Isles at 1,345 metres or 4,413 feet above sea level. It is an experience I will never forget - 36,000 steps and memories that will last forever.

I had to draw on everything I had physically and mentally to make it to the top. It is tough going when you’re in your 50s, but it was so worth it.

Ben Nevis was much more than an eight-hour walk up and down a mountain, it was a truly life changing experience. The mountain became a canvas for self-discovery. Even though I was in a group, there were many moments for self-introspection.

The ascent embodies life's journey, marked by challenges, perseverance, and growth. Each step on the way up reminding me of the value of small, steady progress.

Reaching the summit gave me a humbling perspective, triggering my sixth sense. I am standing at a point above everyone else in the whole of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. This feeling inspires humility, highlighting our place in the universe. Yet, it also fuels the realisation of human potential, teaching that with determination, goals can be achieved.

The sixth sense is like a sense of happiness. It’s a magical feeling of wonder excitement, transcendence, even ecstasy. When we connect to nature with all our senses, this magic happens, and our lives can be transformed. Walking up the mountain I was connected through all my senses – the magnificent views, the sound of the wind and rain, the smell of the heather, the touch of the rocks and the taste of the water from the streams running down the mountain side. I connected to something much larger than myself.

Edgar Mitchell, on Apollo 14, said, “In outer space you develop an instant global consciousness, a people orientation, an intense dissatisfaction with the state of the world and a compulsion to do something about it.” You don’t have to be an astronaut to get this. You can use the outdoors and nature to understand your relationship with the planet. Take a step back, zoom out, and see life from a higher vantage point. This can turn daily worries of anxiety to absurdness.

Take a trip up Ben Nevis and connect with the universe!