In which we strike a blow for disabled rights, or something
So, I was thinking: given the recent ascent of El Capitan by paraplegic adventuress Karen Darke, have we now got the definitive answer to those grumpy souls who complain that (for instance) the existence of a path up Ben Nevis means "you could get up it in a wheelchair"?
Then I read a bit more of her blog, and found that Ms Darke has actually attempted to get her handbike up Ben Nevis, and failed.
You heard it here first, folks: El Cap is easier than the Ben Nevis tourist path.
But the real response to the grumpy complainers is to ask why exactly would it be a bad thing if the Ben were wheelchair accessible? Don't get me wrong - I love the wild places too, and I understand that their very inaccessibility is part of what makes the mountains so special. But by that same token, I want to share that specialness with others. If people in wheelchairs can aspire to get to the top of Ben Nevis, or Snowdon, or Schiehallion, or wherever, and experience the beauty that's up there, that's no bad thing. Yes, it reduces the challenge for the able-bodied, but if you want challenge, then some of the world's finest scrambles and most challenging rock and ice climbs are over on the other side of the mountain.
There's a balance to be struck here, between providing accessibility so that more people can enjoy the summits, and preserving the remoteness that makes them attractive in the first place. The key point is that there are many mountains in the UK, and we don't have to have the same levels of accessibility for them all. As long as there are still relatively unsullied areas of wilderness for those motivated to go there, I see no problem (and much benefit) with making some highly accessible, including to disabled people.
Then I read a bit more of her blog, and found that Ms Darke has actually attempted to get her handbike up Ben Nevis, and failed.
You heard it here first, folks: El Cap is easier than the Ben Nevis tourist path.
But the real response to the grumpy complainers is to ask why exactly would it be a bad thing if the Ben were wheelchair accessible? Don't get me wrong - I love the wild places too, and I understand that their very inaccessibility is part of what makes the mountains so special. But by that same token, I want to share that specialness with others. If people in wheelchairs can aspire to get to the top of Ben Nevis, or Snowdon, or Schiehallion, or wherever, and experience the beauty that's up there, that's no bad thing. Yes, it reduces the challenge for the able-bodied, but if you want challenge, then some of the world's finest scrambles and most challenging rock and ice climbs are over on the other side of the mountain.
There's a balance to be struck here, between providing accessibility so that more people can enjoy the summits, and preserving the remoteness that makes them attractive in the first place. The key point is that there are many mountains in the UK, and we don't have to have the same levels of accessibility for them all. As long as there are still relatively unsullied areas of wilderness for those motivated to go there, I see no problem (and much benefit) with making some highly accessible, including to disabled people.