Typically, there is a correlation between the height of a mountain and its difficulty to ascend, and some of the highest peaks in a country and in the world are ones that very few people will ever reach the top of.
From K2, the second tallest mountain behind Everest and one of the most dangerous places on Planet Earth, to Denali in the United States, Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa and Mont Blanc on the border of France and Italy, all of these mountains are famously extremely difficult to ascend.
However, the highest point in the UK is a very notable exception, as it is as difficult an ascent as visitors want to make it.
Whilst it still needs preparation and care, the Mountain Track, often famously known as the Pony Track, is one that is suitable for hikers of most skill levels, and guided mountain walks are available to ensure you ascend the Cloudy Mountain carefully and safely.
However, given the Pony Track name, one enterprising car dealer wondered if he could make the ascent even simpler.
The Adventure Of Henry Alexander
Whilst the Ford Model T was a huge success as soon as it started to be mass-produced, it took some time to become a truly global car and sell well in the United Kingdom.
The first step was setting up a manufacturing centre in 1911 in Trafford Park, Manchester, so that Ford cars could be made in the UK rather than having to be imported from the United States. The next step was setting up a large dealer network, and the third step was a striking marketing campaign.
The third step was very much assisted by the second, as one of Ford’s early dealers was Henry Alexander Sr, who was similarly keen to prove that the mass-produced American machines were superior to coach-built cars made in the UK.
To this end, he challenged his son, Henry Jr, to ascend to the summit of Ben Nevis in a Model T, allegedly under threat of stopping his allowance.
The younger Mr Alexander took on the challenge, driving from Edinburgh to Torlundy, near Fort William, before ascending the Pony Track to the summit.
However, whilst it would seem like using a car, even an old model such as the Tin Lizzie, would be cheating, it turned out that the journey was even harder, more arduous and longer than it would take on foot.
It ultimately took the team five days to make it across the boggy ground and up the typical zig-zag path.
The descent, however, captured for posterity, took only a day, although it involved a lot of dynamite in a way that would be seen as rather abhorrent today given the understanding that we need to carefully preserve beautiful sites of natural wonder such as Ben Nevis.
Whilst not the only reason for the success of the Model T in Great Britain, it was a crowning achievement that connected the mountain and pioneering car forever.
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