Ben Nevis, wearing Project NORA
On 3 October 2026, two of us from Viking Exos are climbing the UK's highest mountain — one wearing our own exoskeleton the whole way up — to raise funds for Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team.
Why we're doing this
We build wearable robotics to support the human body under real physical strain — in warehouses, on building sites, on the battlefield, in care settings. There's no better test of that mission than the highest mountain in the British Isles, in whatever weather October decides to throw at us. This is a genuine field trial of Project NORA under real load and real terrain, and a chance to raise money for a team that does this for real, every day, unpaid.
The route
- Glen Nevis Visitor CentreStart point — parking, toilets, and a final conditions check.
- Halfway Lochan (~570m)Deceptively named — the steepest section starts right after this.
- Red BurnThe true halfway point by height gained, and the last reliable water source.
- Summit (1,345m)Highest point in the British Isles. Descent follows the same path back down.
Who we're supporting
Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team — Scotland's busiest mountain rescue team, based in Fort William at the foot of Ben Nevis.
- Formed in the late 1960s by local climbers who simply started helping others in trouble on the hill
- 39 full members and 14 aspirants, responding to 150+ callouts a year
- On call 365 days a year, day or night, in every weather condition
- Trained for serious medical trauma, multi-day mountain searches, technical rope rescue, and winter operations
- Entirely volunteer-run — funded almost completely by public donations