Many of Ben's munro ascents have been made in full winter conditions. Photo: John Fleetwood
A 10-year-old schoolboy walked into the record books with his ascent of a Hebridean mountain.
Ben Fleetwood became the youngest person to summit all 283 Scottish munros when he stood at the top of Ben More on Mull yesterday.
He accomplished his feat about 12.30pm, with a group of 12 friends and family, including his father John, who has been with him on all his munro ascents, and mum Alison, who has accompanied him on a few of his walks up the 3,000-footers.
The weather on the 966m (3,169ft) ben failed to live up to the occasion. John said it was windy and cold with poor visibility. “We couldn’t see a thing,” he added.
The Ben More ascent was the final chapter in a story that began with the Kendal boy’s first munro summit: Beinn na Lap, at the age of six. He was already a record breaker, having gained the status of youngest completer of a round of the Wainwrights in the Lake District – since achieved by an even younger walker.
His father said: “I think we are both pleased to have finished. We’ve done a lot: 77 this year, all in school holidays.”
Ben marked his final ascent by carrying something extra to the summit. “We had taken a stone from the sea and we put that on the summit cairn, then we took one from the cairn and brought it back down and put it in the sea,” John explained.
Although the Mull trip marks the end of Ben’s quest to climb all 283 munros, he still has a thirst for adventure. His dad said: “We have definitely no more plans for bagging, but Ben does want to do more mountains. We’d like to do more in the Alps and more winter routes.
“And he is going on a canoeing expedition next week in the Lake District.”
Ben’s munro completion beats the previous record of Lynn Batty, who was 11 when she finished her round in 1995.
James Bussey
29 August 2011One could almost feel sorry for the SMC blazerati. One week they are having to put up with the Munro Botherers causing mountains to be demoted from their list, and the next those same mountains are being completed, sorry, complaeted (Dammit, how do they spell it again?), finished by those who are maybe too young to be sentenced to transportation to the colonies for stealing a bottle of water during a riot.
I foresee, probably before this year is out, the first 'foetal compleation' by a pregnant woman, thereby putting the age of the young mountaineer in the minus figure. You may use your imagination if you want to go younger than that.
Hopefully Ben won't be too critical of the scrappy looking writing the Clerk of the list uses when filling in the compleetion certificates. Mine looks like it was hurriedly tossed off with a bunch of others during a coffee break.
James Bussey (Munro complieter No 3,865,000).
The Piglit
29 August 2011I blame the parents
The Piglit
29 August 2011Further to Mr Bussey's comments, the first dead person to complete the munroes or better still the 3 peaks remains a distinct possiblity. Given the number of people who seem to be nailing memorials to their loved ones in all sorts of high places, perhaps someone could take the ashes of the dear departed in their bergan and well, empty the tiniest bit at each summit.
Richard
30 August 2011Just a very simple well done to you Ben - an incredible achievement along with the necessary support from his parents - god knows what his knee joints will be like when he gets to my age though - I only did half a dozen marathons and mine are shot.
Still very envious though of his achievement - he will go far in life
Julian
01 September 2011Well done again Ben, it is an amazing achievement. I was privileged to be present on Ben More Mull last Sunday. Thanks to John and Alison. Just ignore any ignorant negative comments.
The Piglit
03 September 2011No, just ignore any comments from friends and relations