Hitting the heights: 117 climb Munro in honour of much-loved mum

WHAT a peak performance!

A 117-strong climbing party conquered a towering Munro with a pint-sized mountaineer leading the way. Poppy Weatherall, resplendent in her cosy, pink all-in-one, was carried up the steep mountain in her dad’s backpack. The troupe of hardy hill-walkers are believed to be the single biggest party to scale a Munro. The group tackled 3,431ft Ben Wyvis in the Highlands with Poppy held aloft in dad Jack’s arms when they made it to the top. There were so many people desperate to make the arduous trek, local mountain rescuers joined them to make sure they all reached the top. The party snaked up the steep peak’s worn paths in a row of weather-proofed colour. The climb was carried out as a special tribute to much-loved family matriarch, Liz Weatherall, who died aged only 52 in 2012 from pancreatic cancer leaving a husband and two sons. She never lived to see granddaughter Poppy. Her son Jack, 25, a police officer, from Inverness, had to carry the smiling tot who can only walk a few steps to the top. “Mum would have been overwhelmed that so many people cared enough to trek hours for her,” he said. “We are sure she would have been especially touched by Poppy making the climb in my backpack.”

It’s believed that the 11-strong group was the single biggest party to climb a Munro Jack says he only stopped once to give the smiling infant her lunch during the two-and-a-half hour hike.

Memories of his brave mum’s six-month battle to survive the deadly cancer inspired him every step of the way.

The climb was organised by Liz’s sister, Lorna Taylor.

The 49-year-old from Contin in Ross-shire, said she was stunned by the turn-out.

“It’s a big ask to get people to climb a Munro but the fight people put up against pancreatic cancer touches many,” said Lorna, an assistant buyer.

“It was overwhelming to see people arrive in their droves with their climbing gear on.”

The climb which raised £10,000 for Pancreatic Cancer Action was assisted by members of Dundonnell Mountain Rescue.

“We were amazed by the turn-out for mum especially the mountain rescue team,” added Jack.

A spokesman for the outfit said they were delighted to help what they believe to be the largest single party to make its way up the Munro.

In July, we revealed how toddler Murray Walker was planning to scale his first Munro for charity.

The two-year-old has already scaled a 1,722ft summit and his parents are now preparing to take him up one of Scotland’s plus-3,000ft peaks.

Murray spends every day strolling through the parks and woods near his home in Alva, Clackmannanshire, in training for his mammoth trek.