Sometimes they unzip your backpack for you because you cannot feel your fingers. In other words, my new friend Ashley is a hero. Also, shoutout to her for all the photos you will see in this blog because my hands were NOT coming out of my gloves on that hike.
Brief Backstory: Ashley is a paramedic from Canada. She was looking for some career inspiration as well as an adventure of her own and found herself at the World Extreme Medicine Conference (also is going to travel around the UK for the next few weeks.) We met because I noticed our names were very similar. Ashley Holtz vs Ashley Boldt. Then later on, we discovered we were both headed towards the Scottish Highlands to hike. She offered me a spot in her rental car, and TAH DAH – adventure buddy.
Onto the story…SCOTTISH STYLE
Ashleys’ Braw Quest for the Peak: A Tale o’ Friendship and a Wee Bit o’ Rain
In the mist-shrouded heart of a Scottish morning, Ashley pulled up to my hostel, her car’s cheerful hum a welcome break from the hushed silence of the Highlands. Fueled by a steaming mug o’ instant coffee and a hearty bowl o’ porridge, my spirit was as fiery as a dram o’ whisky, ready to embark on our grand adventure. The sun remained hidden behind a veil of clouds, but Ashley’s infectious enthusiasm cast its own warm glow over our journey.
Before long, we found ourselves pulling into the Ben Nevis car park, a small haven nestled beneath the looming shadow of the Britain’s greatest giant. The air was crisp and invigorating, filled with the promise of adventure.
We set off on our hike, our footsteps echoing in the stillness of the morning. As we ascended, the world around us transformed into a landscape of misty grandeur. The verdant hills rolled away beneath us, their slopes dotted with grazing sheep, their coats as white as the snow that crowned the mountain peaks.
A quaint inn stood nestled amidst the greenery, its windows glowing like beacons of warmth and hospitality. We paused for a moment, imagining the cozy respite it might provide after our conquest of Ben Nevis.
But alas, the capricious Highland weather took a turn, and a persistent drizzle descended upon us, transforming the picturesque scene into a damp and chilly affair. My newly acquired waterproof coat and trousers, fresh from the shop and eager for their maiden voyage, valiantly protected me from the elements. However, a crucial detail had slipped my mind – ski gloves, it seemed, were not designed to withstand the relentless onslaught o’ Scottish rain.
OK. I will stop with the folk story there hahah.
Anyways, we ascended the mountain in the rain. Funny enough, early on in the hike we ran into a man that looked really familiar. I said he looked familiar and asked him what brought him to the area. He was a speaker at the conference!!! Specifically, he was the mountaineer/paraglider who was raising money for polio! I talked to him a little bit as we hiked, and he gave us his email in case we ever go to Australia. (If he were to take me paragliding I think I would die of happiness).
As we continued on, soon my fingers (curse my Raynaud’s syndrome) were turning white and lifeless. I couldn’t even open my own bag to pull out layers or snacks. I was so so grateful to have Ashley with me. She helped me zip my jacket, get stuff from my bag, and even offered me her gloves later on! I would definitely not have gotten as far as we did without her.
Unfortunately, a summit was not in the cards that day. As we reached about 1100 meters (the mountain totals 1345 m, so we were very close!), the path disappeared, and the snow was up to our thighs. We decided today was not the day we wanted to die, so we turned back and headed down.
Cute Instagram reel that Ashley made –> Here.
Later on, we found ourselves back at the inn for beer, music, new friends, and then a stop at the local McDonalds:)
Creating Space 
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