An 82-year-old man mentioned he’s “ready and very excited” to scale the ultimate peak in his mission to climb all of Scotland’s Munros.
Nick Gardner has made headlines for setting himself the problem to scale the nation’s 282 highest peaks since his spouse Janet, 84, was moved right into a care dwelling after creating Alzheimer’s illness and osteoporosis.
The grandfather-of-four, from Gairloch, within the north-western Scottish Highlands, set off into the hills in July 2020 to start his spectacular feat.
Now, simply over two years later, he’s about to embark on a bid to bag his ultimate Munro – Cairn Gorm.
Nick Gardner is assembly others to make his ultimate climb at Cairn Gorm on Saturday (Scott Jackson/Nick Gardner Collection/PA)
(PA Media)
Speaking to the PA information company forward of his climb on Saturday, Mr Gardner mentioned: “I really am absolutely ready and very excited about finishing the final Munro.
“I honestly feel like a child on Christmas eve.
“There will be a lot of my friends and some of my family joining me, so it’s going to be a big day.”
Having by no means climbed a Munro earlier than – a Scottish mountain that reaches a minimal of three,000ft (914.4m) – the previous physics trainer, by the top of his problem, could have climbed greater than 500,000ft (152,000m), the equal of scaling Mount Everest (8,848m) about 17 occasions, and walked an unimaginable 2,000 miles (3,218 km), a distance just like mountain climbing from Edinburgh to Greece.
Spreading the phrase about his mission alongside the best way, the skilled climber has raised greater than £50,000 for Alzheimer’s Scotland and the Royal Osteoporosis Society.
Staff and volunteers from each charities will probably be becoming a member of him for the ultimate climb, in addition to pals and his two daughters and 4 grandchildren.
A piper has been organized to play on the summit.
Doing this ultimate climb, I think about, goes to be very emotional
Nick Gardner
One of his two daughters, Sally McKenzie, has nominated him to Guinness World Records for the oldest particular person to climb the Munros.
Having accomplished seven Munros within the final 10 days alone, Mr Gardner mentioned he’s wanting ahead to giving his knees a relaxation after he has reached the ultimate summit.
“The last three in Knoydart that I did were really tough,” he mentioned.
“We unfortunately had bad weather for Ladhar Bheinn, so it was a bit more challenging.
“Because I had already organised this final day, and for people to join me, I just had to push on through, and I made it.
“I’ve had no injuries, but my knees are certainly tired. It will be good to give them a rest.”
Speaking about how he feels being hours from finishing the epic problem, he added: “It will probably be an anti-climax at the end of all of it.
“Doing this final climb, I imagine, is going to be very emotional.”
Mr Gardner mentioned he was “knocked for six” when his spouse Janet, needed to be moved right into a care dwelling.
Feeling getting ready to a psychological breakdown, he mentioned he wanted to discover a problem to maintain him going.
Having all the time felt at dwelling on the mountain aspect, he set off to bag all of Scotland’s Munros.
To donate to Mr Gardner’s trigger, go to www.justgiving.com/workforce/nicks-munro-challenge.
Source: www.impartial.co.uk
