I would like you to meet the 4 SHERPAS!!!

Sherpa Roy
Sherpa Jimmy (the old man)
Sherpa No1. Me
Sherpa No.2 yet another Les

We have been talking about hiking to the top of Mount Benson now for nearly 12 years. Mount Benson is the lovely mountain that overlooks the city of Nanaimo and the ocean and to the rear the mountains of the west part of the island.

Well yesterday was the day!! We could not have picked a better day lovely sunny and warm. Base camp was Tanya’s restaurant at 7.30am for bacon and eggs!!!

We then drove to Witchcraft Lake to start the accent of the mountain, which is about 3200 feet. None of us are experienced mountain “ears” but we had all the safety gear with us and enough food for three weeks. The only slight problem was that the maps we had were not that great but if 4 intelligent and highly motivated senior men could not figure this out, where does that leave the world.

I have to admit we didn’t get off to a great start as we took the first wrong turn about 100 yards in and after about 10 minutes arrived back at the same parking lot we had left from but down a few yards. We felt that our leader Sherpa Les No.2 should be demoted and not allowed to lead again!!! In his defence the signs were very few and far between and not clearly marked at all.

With a new leader we soon found ourselves on the right track and climbing steadily. We went through small streams, over wood ladders, through thick brush and yes snow, with I might add many bear footprints. At this stage we discussed the strategy for encountering a bear. This is where I came to the front because I had read that for grizzly bears you run like heck and for black bears you stay still and pretend to be dead or was it the other way round???? Anyway Sherpas Roy, Les No2 and myself said it didn’t really matter because we all felt we could maybe not run faster than a bear whatever kind it was BUT we could run faster than Jimmy!!!!

After maybe 2 hours and a few more wrong turns we came to the first viewpoint and we all felt that if we didn’t get any further it was worth the trip just to see the views of the islands from here. The weather was spectacular so bright and sunny.

We continued on stopped for lunch and just were enjoying the day and the company. Finally at 1pm we were within a few feet of our dream the SUMMIT!!!! It had taken us 4 hours and we were celebrating the incredible feat, even though our feet were not celebrating, high 5”s all around.

Within minutes the thoughts of weary bones, smelly feet and aching legs were all forgotten, when like a mirage over the cliff face hiked these two lovely young ladies and their dog. We were all smiles and trying to hide the fact that we were so tired and we were utterly demoralized when the girls told us they had left 2 hours ago and here we were celebrating 4 hours of HIKING!!!! The girls were great and it was wonderful to have them take photos of the 4 of us together at the peak.

Getting down was quicker although we took a different route down and it was only two hours down. We decided to celebrate at a different base camp, the Black Bear pub, where we had to help each other up of the chairs when we decided to leave.

It was a great day, which we all enjoyed and will remember for a long time. For me now when I look up at the Mountain, which we all tend to take for granted, I shall have a new respect now that I have been to the top!!!!

Please enjoy the photos as much as I enjoyed taking them, blessings….