成人快手 Scotland - 成人快手 Scotland - How a teenage trip to the Scottish Highlands left an indelible impression on mountaineering legend Sir Chris Bonington

How a teenage trip to the Scottish Highlands left an indelible impression on mountaineering legend Sir Chris Bonington

18 April 2018

Sir Chris Bonington is one of Britain’s most successful mountaineers. In a career spanning over six decades he has made numerous first ascents of some of the world’s highest peaks and has summited Everest and the north wall of the Eiger. Recently he revealed how a youthful escapade in Scotland drove him to begin all those adventures.

On Out for the Weekend, Sir Chris recalled a trip in the early 1950s when he hitchhiked to Sutherland with a friend. With a route planned for a rock climb up a craggy face of Suilven, the duo set off confidently. But the best laid plans often go awry…

“It’s a great whaleback of a mountain,” he explained. “It’s a sandstone peak and it sits on a granite platform…. you approach it from its front and it looks like a wonderful peak with a big buttress of rock leading to the summit.

“We left our rucksacks at the bottom of it and then picked our way, climbing it with the basic gear you had in those days — I think I had a nylon rope and a few slings — but we lost the route.”

That would be enough to cause some to abandon the ascent, but the intrepid young climbers weren’t put off. They simply found a new route and made their way to the top of the mountain.

Having achieved their goal, the boys swiftly found a new challenge.

Spectacular Stac Pollaidh in the North West Highlands

“The view from the top of Suilven is absolutely magnificent,” said Sir Chris.

“From the top, if you look south you’re looking towards Stac Pollaidh, which is about 10-12 miles away.”

Inspired by what they saw the boys made it back down the mountain and set off on their new adventure.

More than 60 years later and now in his 80s, Sir Chris retains fond memories of the expedition.

“That is what, to me, walking, adventure and climbing is all about. It’s a sense of mystery, it’s a sense of beauty, it’s a sense of expansiveness.

“I’ve remembered that day to this very day.”

A group of adventurers set themselves an unusual challenge.

Out for the Weekend

Fiona Stalker chats to mountaineer Sir Chris Bonington as well as offering inspiration and insight into what鈥檚 happening across Scotland as the weekend approaches.

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