*PLEASE READ THIS!*

In keeping with Groundspeak's rules, I can't include any of these details on the Ben Nevis Vertical Limit cache event page. However, TBs are different..!

My Justgiving 'Climbing Ben Nevis (plus Scafell Pike and Snowdon) for the British Heart Foundation in memory of my father, Mike Smith (1940-2005)' fundraising page

Latest News: I'm now *so* fit (111kg/17s6lbs this morning- April 11th. 80 lengths of the pool -2km- in 4 seconds under an hour, feeling pretty bouncy) that I decided to extend the climb of Ben Nevis into a full Three Peaks Challenge by going up Scafell Pike the following morning, and Snowdon later the same day so all three peaks are visited inside 24 hours. This will be the day before my brother's 40th birthday too, and he plans to join me. It'll be his first visit to Scotland and the Lakes, so a triple treat for him!

To start, a little history: I first tried to climb Ben Nevis, the UK's highest mountain, in August 2003. I got to a little over 3000ft (2/3 of the way up) when I had to stop due to what doctors call Jelly Legs.

I eventually got to the top on my second attempt, June 25th 2005. This was just two days after my father's death from a heart attack, so it's not surprising he was very much in my thoughts as I stood beside the trig point at the top, surrounded by mid-summer snow, and caught glimpses of the amazing mountain landscape below through gaps in the cloud.

I climbed Snowdon with my father and brother as a kid, and again with a mate and a dog named Boo in 2004. In 2006 I took a group up Scafell Pike to complete my set, two days after giving blood, which may have been poor timing!

On June the 30th and July 1st this year (2009) I'm holding three geocaching(.com) events, one each at the tops of the three peaks and thought it would be a good idea to combine the climbs to reach them with some fundraising. With a family history of heart trouble (my father's father died at 59) I thought the British Heart Foundation was the organisation to support. Also, it's an investment for me(!) I cycled 60 miles for them in 2002's London to Brighton bike ride too, so we've got history.

Some facts and numbers: More people die climbing Ben Nevis than die on Everest (according to the sign at the bottom) and it's a 10 mile walk from parking to the top -via the so-called 'tourist' track- and back. Starting at 15m above sea level (50ft-ish), the top is at 1343m (just over 4,400ft) so unlike Snowdon and most other mountains in the UK, I get to climb the whole. Darn. Thing. I'm currently in training and have lost over 3 stone so far this year (typing this in early march) in an effort to be in much better shape than I was after Christmas (21stone! How? HOW? Oh, cake) to climb Ben Nevis. Etc!

The informative stuff: Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: British Heart Foundation gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

Thank you for your support (presumptuous, but you know what I mean!)