Wester Ross pensioner (82) who took on all Scotland's Munros after dementia heartbreak is recognised by Guinness World Records
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AN INTREPID octogenarian who became a mountaineering legend by conquering every one of Scotland’s Munro peaks in just over two years has been recognised by Guinness World Records.
Retired teacher Nick Gardner (82), who lives near Gairloch, is to be officially inducted into the tomes of the gold standard authority on global record-breakers.
The super-fit pensioner scaled all 282 Munros – Scottish peaks of over 3000 feet or 914.4 metres – hitting the national news headlines in the summer after completing the incredible challenge at Cairn Gorm summit.
Along the way, he raised over £80,000 for Alzheimer Scotland and the Royal Osteoporosis Society as a tribute to wife Janet, who sadly passed away on Christmas Day after a long period of illness.
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When beloved Janet had to move into a care home, Mr Gardner realised he desperately needed a new focus to improve his mental state in the face of his devastating sense of loss.
To that end, the pensioner came up with an adventure that would eventually see him scale a total height equivalent to climbing Mount Everest 17 times – a challenge he said “saved” him amid the sorrow of Janet’s declining health.
Formerly known as the Guinness Book of Records, Guinness World Records is published in 37 languages around the world.
“I’m close to tears much of the time in my thoughts and memories of Janet, but I'm grateful for these awards.What I did just seems to have captured the imagination of so many people, it is lovely.”
It is the primary international authority on cataloguing and verifying a huge number of world records, ranging from the great and heroic, to the quirky and eccentric.
Mr Gardner, who was nominated by daughter Sally, said: “I can barely believe I’m to be included in what we used to call the Guinness book of records, as the oldest person to have climbed all the Munros.
“I’ve also just heard I’ve been given a commendation in The Great Outdoors magazine, awarded by members and outdoor enthusiasts, which makes it all the more special.
“Together, these two honours have really given me a boost at a very sad time for me.
“Like a lot of people, I grew up reading the Guinness Book of Records, but to be in it – my goodness me!
“I’m very proud. Life has just been a rollercoaster.
“I’m close to tears much of the time in my thoughts and memories of Janet, but I'm grateful for these awards.
“What I did just seems to have captured the imagination of so many people, it is lovely.”
Mr Gardner’s feat is already listed online by GWR and could appear in its next annual publication.
Only days after completing the Munro quest, he declared his intent to embark on another adventure, possibly walking the USA’s 2,200 mile long Appalachian mountain trail.
But while the mind is willing, Mr Gardner admits the body may not be able to carry him to such heights in the future.
He explained: “As it stands , there is nothing in the pipeline, partly because my knees are very tired.
“They do not hurt as such, but I developed a weakness immediately after I finished the challenge.
“I’ve sought advice and the best answer they can come up with is that I was so determined and focussed on completing the challenge that I didn’t notice any issue.
“The truth is my knees don’t hurt in any way at all, but if I overdo it, the muscles there stop working.
“In mountaineering, you are constantly losing and regaining balance and the knees tend to compensate for it automatically. If that’s not working, you fall.
“It could be difficult to challenge myself in the same way again on the mountains, and if I do I will need to have much shorter days.
“I’m not ruling anything out, but I'm staying at home for now.”
