{"id":6579,"date":"2021-03-29T12:01:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-29T10:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ver-ooginoog.nl\/bibliotheek\/mountain-climbing-with-one-eye\/"},"modified":"2026-09-15T17:27:04","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T15:27:04","slug":"mountain-climbing-with-one-eye","status":"publish","type":"library_pt","link":"https:\/\/ver-ooginoog.nl\/en\/library\/personal-stories\/mountain-climbing-with-one-eye\/","title":{"rendered":"Mountain Climbing with One Eye"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2021-03-29T12:01:00+02:00\">29 March 2021<\/time><\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On this touristy yet beautiful island lies the Cuillin, a relatively small mountain range offering a number of challenging hikes. Although none of the thirty-six peaks of the Cuillin rise above 1,000 meters, this area has a rather rugged character due to its northern location and the weather conditions coming in from the Atlantic Ocean. In short, it\u2019s the ideal place for Martin to discover what he\u2019s still capable of. The OOG in OOG Association is pleased to share Martin\u2019s remarkable story.   <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Five degrees at sea level<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When we arrive at Glenn Brittle\u2019s campground, a strong wind is blowing through the valley. The landscape offers little shelter, causing the RVs to shake and a few tents to be flattened by the force of the wind. As I\u2019d been keeping a close eye on the weather forecast over the past few days, both today and tomorrow seemed like good days to head into the Cuillin. The weather forecast I see at the campground reception desk, however, isn\u2019t what I had expected. For the coming days, a strong north wind is forecast, temperatures at sea level won\u2019t rise above five degrees Celsius, and there\u2019s an occasional chance of a hailstorm. Fortunately, many Scots say that the weather in Scotland is hard to predict, and that helps me stay positive.     <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Most Difficult Mountain Peak in the UK<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The most famous peak in the Cuillin is without a doubt the Inaccessible Pinnacle. The Inn Pinn is really nothing more than a giant boulder jutting out above the mountain on which it stands and is considered the most difficult mountain peak in the United Kingdom. When I discovered the Inn Pinn in an old climbing guide last winter, it struck me as a great challenge to test my strength and skills once again. In the shelter of the camper van, I sort out the necessary gear, and although I\u2019m going to tackle the climb on my own, I\u2019m still bringing forty meters of rope. Since I\u2019ll be climbing the final stretch to the summit in climbing shoes, I expect to use the rope only to descend from the summit along the west face. I place my backpack next to a neatly arranged pile of clothes on the driver\u2019s seat so that I can head into the mountains first thing in the morning without any delay. It will be an important day; tomorrow I\u2019ll find out whether the climb is feasible in these weather conditions and with my newly acquired disability.      <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Seeing Less, But Looking More Closely<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"530\" height=\"361\" src=\"https:\/\/ver-ooginoog.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/tempImagestJOmG.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2321\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ver-ooginoog.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/tempImagestJOmG.jpg 530w, https:\/\/ver-ooginoog.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/tempImagestJOmG-300x204.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ver-ooginoog.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/tempImagestJOmG-360x245.jpg 360w, https:\/\/ver-ooginoog.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/tempImagestJOmG-270x184.jpg 270w, https:\/\/ver-ooginoog.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/tempImagestJOmG-124x84.jpg 124w, https:\/\/ver-ooginoog.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/tempImagestJOmG-55x37.jpg 55w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 530px) 100vw, 530px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At night, the wind buffets the RV, and I\u2019m occasionally woken by a hailstorm pounding hard on the roof. Still, I manage to get enough sleep, and eventually I wake up when it\u2019s light outside. After a quick breakfast with coffee, I kiss my wife and child goodbye, grab my backpack, and walk the first stretch along the road to the start of the trail.    <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is the first time I\u2019ve gone back into the mountains alone since I lost sight in my left eye six months ago due to optic neuritis. The time that followed was frightening, uncertain, and filled with large doses of medication. While my physical condition was deteriorating, this period caused me to start looking at things differently. I discovered what really matters to me and realized that, despite all the setbacks, I could remain positive. The support I received warmed my heart and strengthened my friendships and relationships. My vision may have worsened, but at the same time, I began to see life in a better light.     <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Embrace<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first part of the route follows a well-defined trail, and I have no trouble at all gauging the depth of my next step with just one glance. I look up and see that the clouds clinging to the mountaintops are moving quite quickly. As I enter the large, bowl-shaped valley between Sgurr na Banachdich and Sgurr Dearg, I feel the wind tugging less and less fiercely at my clothes, and after a while I find myself in the lee. The slopes on either side of the valley drop down at nearly the same steep angle, and when I look back, it feels as if the mountains are embracing me. I feel welcome, and I\u2019m proud that I\u2019m making this hike. It feels good to be alone and set my own pace, to stop whenever I want, and to let my thoughts run free without the presence of other people. Today, the Cuillin Mountains are a desolate, rugged place where I can experience my own emotions without inhibition and decide for myself how far I want to go without having to explain it to anyone else.      <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Doubt<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"450\" height=\"670\" src=\"https:\/\/ver-ooginoog.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/tempImageAvSyyV.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2322\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ver-ooginoog.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/tempImageAvSyyV.jpg 450w, https:\/\/ver-ooginoog.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/tempImageAvSyyV-201x300.jpg 201w, https:\/\/ver-ooginoog.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/tempImageAvSyyV-360x536.jpg 360w, https:\/\/ver-ooginoog.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/tempImageAvSyyV-270x402.jpg 270w, https:\/\/ver-ooginoog.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/tempImageAvSyyV-124x185.jpg 124w, https:\/\/ver-ooginoog.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/tempImageAvSyyV-55x82.jpg 55w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The trail ends at a fast-flowing stream at the end of the valley. I take a moment to rest and refill my water bottle for the rest of the hike. The rest of the route is clearly marked with cairns and follows the stream upstream until steep cliffs block the way. It\u2019s clear to me that the route traverses a stretch westward at the same elevation, and soon I come across cairns again. Yet after a while, a sense of unease creeps over me as I scan the terrain for cairns and fail to find any. Upon reaching the bottom of a steep boulder field, doubt sets in, and the euphoric feeling I\u2019d had earlier fades into the background.     <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Suddenly, I think I see possibilities all around me to continue on my way, but when I try to move forward, it turns out to be much steeper than I had anticipated. Whenever I need to use my hands to move forward, I decide to go back to where I started. This is supposed to be just hiking terrain, so as soon as I start climbing, I know I\u2019m in the wrong place. My courage sinks. It\u2019s hard for me to stay confident and keep my spirits up. For the first time, I can really feel that I\u2019m visually impaired and that my life has changed drastically. Determined to keep going, I scan the landscape, and after a while, I come across another cairn. Meanwhile, the wind has picked up, and the cold air makes my eyes water, making my visibility even worse. Through a narrow couloir filled with debris, I finally reach the ridge, where the wind hits me squarely in the face.        <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Inaccessible Pinnacle<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the other side of the ridge, I look down into the depths; it\u2019s a wild sight of dark clouds swirling as they\u2019re blown upward by the wind. The windward side of the dark, rocky peaks is covered in rime. I follow a clearly worn path to a sort of secondary summit of Sgurr Dearg. Then suddenly I find myself face to face with the gigantic boulder, the Inaccessible Pinnacle. The wind is blowing fiercely from the north, and when I look in that direction, I see that the sky is filled with hail. Less than a minute later, hail is falling all around me, and I crawl for cover on the leeward side of the rock massif.     <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wrapped up tight, I sit on my rope and backpack, waiting for the hailstorm to pass. I notice that I feel uncertain because my thoughts are restless and racing in all directions. I knew the weather conditions wouldn\u2019t be good and that there was a chance I\u2019d have to turn back without reaching the summit, but at the same time, it seems so satisfying and challenging to keep going anyway. I decide to act quickly and brush the hail off my gear. I tie the rope to my harness and hang the small amount of gear I\u2019m carrying within arm\u2019s reach. I blow a few warm breaths of air into my climbing shoes, put them on, and start climbing. For the first part, I\u2019m still climbing in the lee, but as soon as I reach the east ridge, the wind is blowing hard against me. I continue climbing cautiously, keeping three limbs in contact with the rock at all times.       <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As I climb, I feel my confidence returning, and I become so absorbed that I don\u2019t even notice I\u2019ve lost sight in my left eye. That realization only hits me again when I set up my camera at the summit to take a photo of the view using the self-timer. As I look through the viewfinder to frame the shot, I see nothing. \u201cIs my lens cap still on?\u201d flashes through my mind. \u201cOh no, I\u2019m using the wrong eye!\u201d    <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Wefers\u2013Bettink from the eye hospital and Dr. Blok from the neurology department at Erasmus for their caring and decisive approach. During this difficult time, I felt I was in safe hands, and that gave me hope. Thank you very much for that!    <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Martin Fickweiler<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Follow Martin Fickweiler&#8217;s adventures on Instagram:<\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">@martinfickweiler\u2014stories from my life.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Article source: Hoogtelijn\/NKBV<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Text and photography: Martin Fickweiler<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After a difficult period following the loss of vision in Martin Fickweiler\u2019s left eye, he moved with his family to the Isle of Skye in western Scotland in late April 2019.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":6580,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_daextauttol_enable_tooltips":""},"library_cat":[113],"class_list":["post-6579","library_pt","type-library_pt","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","library_cat-personal-stories"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ver-ooginoog.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/library_pt\/6579","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ver-ooginoog.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/library_pt"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ver-ooginoog.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/library_pt"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ver-ooginoog.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6580"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ver-ooginoog.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6579"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"library_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ver-ooginoog.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/library_cat?post=6579"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}