Ben Nevis is a mountain in Scotland that I have visited several times. This particular mountain is the highest in Scotland at about 4,400 feet. Several years ago on my first trip to the mountain I went with a group of friends to hike to the top. We caravanned together to Fort William, a small city in the mountains where we started and ended our hike. Everyone in the group talked about the excitement they were feeling about climbing to the highest peek in Scotland and the United Kingdom. Reaching the top would be the biggest challenge we faced in several years. We eagerly anticipated the views we would see from the trail as we ascended the mountain looking back to where we came from. Maybe there will be waterfalls, as well, to enjoy as we climb.
Located at the foot of the trail was Ben Nevis Inn where we lodged for two nights. The inn’s location was the perfect place for the group to start the adventure. Upstairs was a pub where hikers and guests of the inn could stop to enjoy a nice cooked meal and a pint of beer after a day of hiking. Downstairs was a hostel with capacity to sleep twenty-four people. The hostel had three open areas which accommodated eight people with four sets of wooden bunk beds in each area. The bed was surprisingly comfortable with the small mattress that was provided. Each person had to bring their own pillow and sleeping bag or sheets and blankets as they were not provided. The showers and toilets did not have separate areas for women and men but at least there were doors for some sense of privacy. The bathrooms were located on one side of the sleeping area and on the other side was a kitchen and sitting room.
The morning of the hike started with a light fog and a chill in the air. After breakfast we packed enough food and water in our backpacks for eight hours, not knowing how long it would take to reach the top and return. We started the hike walking through a meadow where sheep would graze but none were in sight. We had to climb over several rock fences using a ladder that was built onto the fence for the hiker’s use. As we walked, the area went from the meadow to mossy tundra to rocky outcropping to a desolate area--no trees just rocks and boulders with small patches of grass growing between the gaps in the rocks. It’s amazing how plants thrive in areas where conditions are not amiable for growth. We would stop and admire the small waterfalls cascading down the mountain. We watched as the water flowed over a ledge and splattered on the rocks below and rejoined the water flow continuing to the next ledge displaying a chorus of beauty. Waterfalls have always fascinated me; watching the water spray as it hits the ground and hearing the roar as the water continues it journey.
About four miles into the hike, we came to stairs built into the rock that seemed to go on and on. It must have taken about 30 minutes to climb the stairs. At the top of the stairs we reached the base of Ben Nevis and the start of our ascent to the top. The trail was made using a zigzag pattern called switchbacks. The ground became steeper as we hiked the switchbacks challenging our minds to overcome the pain and discomfort our muscles and lungs were experiencing. As we progressed up the trail the sun was in full force with no trees for shade. We did not need the shade to block the heat of the sun due to the temperature plummeting as we went higher but because the sun was in our face at times and would be nice to have a tree or two for cover. Next trip sunglasses would be a necessity.
Some of us stopped to catch our breath and to look around to take in the beauty of the landscape. The city had become very small from our vantage point and the cars below barely perceivable. There was a small lake about half a mile off the trail situated between two small mountains. The lake had a smooth surface like glass and I could see the clouds reflected as they passed by. As the mountain trail went steeper Vince, the oldest on the trip, needed to stop more frequently to catch his breath. At the switchback turns there were benches for people to stop and rest. At the benches we would take the opportunity to talk with other hikers--no particular conversation just about the views and desires to reach the top. Closer to the top the ground leveled off and was snow-covered. We walked through the snow and at times was knee deep making it hard to stay on the trail.
After four hours of hiking we finally reached the summit. We quickly forgot how our bodies felt and with jubilation we congratulated ourselves for the accomplishment. Walking on the top we found a stone marker with a metal plate inscribed with the location and elevation marked the highest point on the mountain. We all had our photo taken at the marker to prove we were there. There was also a small windowless building where we took shelter from the cold and wind and ate lunch. While enjoying the moment of standing at the top of Scotland taking in the beauty of the view, the clouds moved in and obscured the view. We were in the clouds. It was time to start the hike back down.
We started the trek down following the same path we came up. In two hours we arrived back at Ben Nevis Inn. The journey down the mountain was hard on the legs from the jarring of stepping down. After a nice hot shower we went upstairs to the Pub for dinner and had the best hot lamb stew ever with a pint of Scottish ale. We felt recovered and ready for the next adventure: a drive to Loch Ness.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Computer Predicament Revised
In 2008 I decided to return to college full time after completing my service in the Air Force. I considered what I needed to be successful in the college environment. I knew that most colleges had moved into the digital age so I wanted to ensure I could utilize the computing power. I chose to purchase a laptop computer for the ease of transport to school and home. In June of 2008 I ordered a laptop computer from Dell. I ordered the XPS model 1710 which was not the top of the line but was an advanced system.
The laptop I ordered was meant for high end computing processing and gaming. My laptop had a dual-core CPU with each core operating as a separate processor and together increases the computer speed significantly. The memory was two megabytes of random access memory with an option of adding one additional megabyte for a total of three megabytes. The video card was a single card with 512 kilobits of memory to increase the speed of producing a high quality image on the display without using the main memory. Dell offered one of the first high definition blue-ray disk players at a substantial cost of 1,000 dollars. I chose the DVD drive with the ability to read and write a disk and to use the lower standard compact disk. The battery was six cells which did not provide more than two hours of operation. The laptop did have a 17 inch display with high resolution. The price tag for the system was 1,700 dollars and was more reasonable cost than the 5,000 dollar high end machine.
In December my laptop quit working three months after the warranty expired. I spent 600 dollars to replace the video card and was grateful to have the laptop working again. Friday the computer quit working again but this time a loud pop emanated from the back and the computer turned off. It would not turn back on so I feel the power supply had shorted out and is now defunct. I was able to power it up on the battery but have no method of recharging the battery. I am in a quandary as to repairing the computer or go and purchase another laptop. A new computer will cost about 800 dollars where the repair could cost between 200 and 400 dollars. I find it difficult to toss out a system that originally cost 1,700 dollars but knowing I could buy a similar computer for the price of repairs.
originally Published as Computer Predicament on March 25 2010 at 4:21 PM.
The laptop I ordered was meant for high end computing processing and gaming. My laptop had a dual-core CPU with each core operating as a separate processor and together increases the computer speed significantly. The memory was two megabytes of random access memory with an option of adding one additional megabyte for a total of three megabytes. The video card was a single card with 512 kilobits of memory to increase the speed of producing a high quality image on the display without using the main memory. Dell offered one of the first high definition blue-ray disk players at a substantial cost of 1,000 dollars. I chose the DVD drive with the ability to read and write a disk and to use the lower standard compact disk. The battery was six cells which did not provide more than two hours of operation. The laptop did have a 17 inch display with high resolution. The price tag for the system was 1,700 dollars and was more reasonable cost than the 5,000 dollar high end machine.
In December my laptop quit working three months after the warranty expired. I spent 600 dollars to replace the video card and was grateful to have the laptop working again. Friday the computer quit working again but this time a loud pop emanated from the back and the computer turned off. It would not turn back on so I feel the power supply had shorted out and is now defunct. I was able to power it up on the battery but have no method of recharging the battery. I am in a quandary as to repairing the computer or go and purchase another laptop. A new computer will cost about 800 dollars where the repair could cost between 200 and 400 dollars. I find it difficult to toss out a system that originally cost 1,700 dollars but knowing I could buy a similar computer for the price of repairs.
originally Published as Computer Predicament on March 25 2010 at 4:21 PM.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Spring is for biking 2
I look forward to spring’s arrival. To have warm days to venture outside to ride my bike or run five miles without the need for six layers of clothing for warmth. I also enjoy the cool of the evening so I can still sleep curled up under a thick blanket. I do not particularly care for the rain that will come with spring but the rain will nourish. My mother would tell me “April showers bring May flowers”. I just ask for less rain this year compared with last year’s near record level down pours so I can play.
Winter has been very hard on my physical and spiritual well-being. I did not have the opportunity to play on my bike to prepare for the racing season. My first mountain bike race this year was scheduled for January 2 in the mountains of Dalton Georgia. It was not a good day to start due to the snow falling as I drove from Atlanta to Dalton. I was resolved to ride in the snow but with the temperature outside hovering at 18 degrees Fahrenheit I questioned my sanity. Preparing my bike for the 6 hour ride in the current conditions I become colder and started shivering. I looked in the gear bag for more clothing to wear but I had everything on; I became demoralized. I decided to sit in my truck to warm up and contemplate the situation. At registration the riders were offered trash bags to wear over our feet and legs to stay dry crossing the creek. The creek had 16 inches of water and there is no way to ride across without causing mechanical problems. This revelation about the creek played into my next decision not to participate in this race. When I made the decision not to race the snow started coming down heavier. At that moment I knew the right decision was reached.
When the racers departed I tossed my bike back into the Xterra and started the drive back to Atlanta. The next day I heard from several friends about the conditions that they faced. The most prevalent issue was the water freezing cables which caused an inability to shift gears. Another problem was an inability to warm up. Jim told me about having to sit in front of a heater for an hour to warm his feet to regain feeling in them. I made the right decision not to race that day, but I would have enjoyed clearing my mind during the six hours of riding. Spring will bring a renewal of life and spirit and I will be outside taking advantage of the warm days.
Revised from blog Spring is for biking published March 14, 2010 at 3:39 PM
Winter has been very hard on my physical and spiritual well-being. I did not have the opportunity to play on my bike to prepare for the racing season. My first mountain bike race this year was scheduled for January 2 in the mountains of Dalton Georgia. It was not a good day to start due to the snow falling as I drove from Atlanta to Dalton. I was resolved to ride in the snow but with the temperature outside hovering at 18 degrees Fahrenheit I questioned my sanity. Preparing my bike for the 6 hour ride in the current conditions I become colder and started shivering. I looked in the gear bag for more clothing to wear but I had everything on; I became demoralized. I decided to sit in my truck to warm up and contemplate the situation. At registration the riders were offered trash bags to wear over our feet and legs to stay dry crossing the creek. The creek had 16 inches of water and there is no way to ride across without causing mechanical problems. This revelation about the creek played into my next decision not to participate in this race. When I made the decision not to race the snow started coming down heavier. At that moment I knew the right decision was reached.
When the racers departed I tossed my bike back into the Xterra and started the drive back to Atlanta. The next day I heard from several friends about the conditions that they faced. The most prevalent issue was the water freezing cables which caused an inability to shift gears. Another problem was an inability to warm up. Jim told me about having to sit in front of a heater for an hour to warm his feet to regain feeling in them. I made the right decision not to race that day, but I would have enjoyed clearing my mind during the six hours of riding. Spring will bring a renewal of life and spirit and I will be outside taking advantage of the warm days.
Revised from blog Spring is for biking published March 14, 2010 at 3:39 PM
Adventures Unlimited
I consider myself to be adventurous and a thrill seeker, but not to the extreme. One type of adventure I had was two years ago vacationing in Belize. I took the opportunity to swim in sting ray alley with about two dozen rays. It was unique to swim with the rays and to touch them as they glided around, but this adventure was not a heart pounding thrill. Another type of adventure I enjoyed was riding my bicycle in the mountains of north Georgia near Dahlonega. The adventure is in pushing my body and mind to their limit as each one fights for control to quit, but luckily neither decides to quit at the same time. The biggest challenge is riding to the top of Hog Pen Gap due to the long steep climb. On those occasions that I peddle up Hog Pen Gap I am thrilled knowing the descent makes the effort worth the suffering. The descent started quickly as the road dropped to a twelve percent grade which pushed me to speeds of 60 miles per hour. The ride down lasts only minuets however the thrill from traveling at top speed last for a time.
This past December I took a trip to Chattanooga Tennessee to participate in a caving adventure. I was hesitant with going for one main reason, I am a bit claustrophobic. This adventure was different then swimming with the sting rays and riding a bike up a mountain and screaming down the back side. My life was not in peril in the sense of riding off the side of a mountain or having a sting ray tail stab me. The peril was not real or a tangible situation only a mental struggle. As we ventured further into the cave I kept my fear at bay as long as I had some space to move. When we came to areas that were tight I was able to move through them as long as the group kept moving forward. There was one section of the cave system I could not travel through inspirationally called the birthing canal. I was attempting to enter the enclosed area but the people in front were having difficulties maneuvering through the opening. The claustrophobia started to take over so I back out of the opening and told them I would wait for them. It took about 20 minuets to come back for me and I used the time to settle my mind down. I thought about school and math problems I needed to solve for a distraction while I waited. That was the only section I could not complete. I was thrilled with completing the adventure and recovered from a mental challenge. The next big adventure I will participate in is hiking a 19,000 foot mountain called Kilimanjaro and hope it is just a physical challenge.
Revised from blog Limited Adventure published March 25, 2010 at 9:13 PM
This past December I took a trip to Chattanooga Tennessee to participate in a caving adventure. I was hesitant with going for one main reason, I am a bit claustrophobic. This adventure was different then swimming with the sting rays and riding a bike up a mountain and screaming down the back side. My life was not in peril in the sense of riding off the side of a mountain or having a sting ray tail stab me. The peril was not real or a tangible situation only a mental struggle. As we ventured further into the cave I kept my fear at bay as long as I had some space to move. When we came to areas that were tight I was able to move through them as long as the group kept moving forward. There was one section of the cave system I could not travel through inspirationally called the birthing canal. I was attempting to enter the enclosed area but the people in front were having difficulties maneuvering through the opening. The claustrophobia started to take over so I back out of the opening and told them I would wait for them. It took about 20 minuets to come back for me and I used the time to settle my mind down. I thought about school and math problems I needed to solve for a distraction while I waited. That was the only section I could not complete. I was thrilled with completing the adventure and recovered from a mental challenge. The next big adventure I will participate in is hiking a 19,000 foot mountain called Kilimanjaro and hope it is just a physical challenge.
Revised from blog Limited Adventure published March 25, 2010 at 9:13 PM
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
