A Scots pensioner is simply eight peaks away from finishing 282 munros after setting himself the huge problem when his spouse was taken into care.
Eighty-two-year-old Nick Gardner will full all however eight on his record after setting himself the goal three years in the past.
The grandad of 4 from the Highlands is displaying no signal of stopping,
Nick mentioned he was 'knocked for six' in 2020 after being informed that his spouse, Janet, wanted to maneuver right into a care residence.
Affected by Alzheimer's and osteoperosis, Nick was unable to manage on his personal, and as an alternative set himself a brand new problem to maintain him going, with all of his climbs elevating cash for charity.
Starting the problem simply three months after turning 80, Nick has now gathered enormous help from everywhere in the nation, with the ultimate summit to be accomplished in simply eight days time.
He informed the PA information company: "When Janet went into care it completely shattered me as we had been extremely shut as a pair, she was probably the most fantastic and caring spouse , mom and grandmother potential, and now she would not recognise me.
"I used to be heading into some psychological situation, so I believed I've to get myself a problem, to tug me out."
Having by no means climbed a Munro - a Scottish mountain that reaches a minimal of three,000ft (914.4m) - the previous physics trainer gave himself 1,200 days (simply over three years) to finish the problem whereas elevating cash for Alzheimer Scotland and the Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS).
However, along with his remaining summit deliberate for about two weeks' time, Nick is on monitor to complete a lot earlier - in beneath 800 days.
"I'm so near finishing it, I actually really feel like a toddler within the run as much as Christmas," he mentioned, "I've butterflies."
As soon as he makes it to the end line, Mr Gardner could have climbed greater than 500,000ft (152,000m), the equal of scaling Mount Everest (8,848m) about 17 occasions, and walked an unbelievable 2,000 miles (3,218 km), the same distance to mountaineering from Edinburgh to Greece.
One in all his two daughters, Sally McKenzie, has nominated him to the Guinness Ebook of World Data for the oldest particular person to climb the Munros.
"I will in all probability cry once I make it to the top," he laughed.
With a compass in a single hand and a map within the different, Nick mentioned he loves the sensation of being on the hillside however provides that he is by no means really on his personal.
"I'm over 80, and I believe it could be irresponsible to climb by myself at this age, so I all the time have individuals with me.
"I do not climb in a rush, and after the primary two or three Munros, I simply began stopping individuals on the hill to inform them what I used to be doing.
"Folks could not imagine it, they usually began becoming a member of me and donating cash. Now, when I'm strolling, I often hear, 'Nick' shouted.
"One man got here as much as me and mentioned: 'Nick, excuse my language, however you are a f****** legend'. I do not usually get sworn at like that."
Having been a climber all his life, Nick has developed immense respect for mountains, a lot that he chooses his phrases correctly when speaking about them.
"I've by no means conquered or overwhelmed a mountain, I've climbed them," he mentioned.
"For those who begin attempting to overcome them, they'll get their very own again."
Out of the 274 peaks he has scaled up to now, Nick mentioned finishing the Cuillin Ridge on the Isle of Skye a few month in the past stands out as his most bodily difficult second.
"It is onerous for individuals to do of their 40s, not to mention 80s. It was extremely rewarding," he mentioned.
"I'm not a non secular particular person, however there's something nearly biblical about it, actually religious."
Mr Gardner's guidelines for reaching Scotland's highest peaks features a head torch, waterproof clothes, a down jacket and a spare heat garment. However above all, he mentioned a map and compass are his necessities.
The remaining peaks for the intrepid grandfather are three in Knoydart: Ladhar, Mell Buidhe and Luinne Bheinn; 4 in Glen Dessary: Sgurr na ciche, Garbh chioche mhor, Sgurr nan coireachan and Sgurr Mor; and lastly, the 282nd summit at Cairn Gorm within the Highlands the place he can be joined by family and friends for the ultimate climb.
His goal was initially to lift £10,000, however he's now on monitor to reaching £50,000.
He added: "I'll preserve strolling once I've completed this problem, so long as my legs can carry me."
Craig Jones, chief government of the ROS, and who can be becoming a member of Mr Gardner on the ultimate climb, mentioned the charity is "extraordinarily grateful" for the fundraiser.
Kirsty Stewart, of Alzheimer Scotland's, added: "His great effort will assist us proceed to be there for individuals residing with dementia, their households and their carers."
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