The 82-year-old has climbed the final mountain in his challenge to collect all of Scotland’s 282 Munros.
Nick Gardner was greeted with a bagpiper and a guard of honor of fellow climbers’ canes who cheered him on as he reached the top of Cairn Gorm on Saturday.
The grandfather of four has made it his mission for the past two years to climb all of Scotland’s highest peaks as his wife, Janet, had to be cared for full time.
And, in his words, he’s “gone and done”.
Speaking to the PA news agency at the latest summit with a glass of prosecco in one hand and a sip of whiskey in the other, he beamed: “I just feel elated.
“Words don’t exist to describe how I feel.
“I’ve climbed a lot of mountains, but I’ve never had a day like this in my life.
“Not many people experience such a day.
“I feel very happy. I am a very happy man.”
Mr Gardner, from Gairloch, in the northwest Scottish highlandssaid he felt life was over when Janet, 84, had to move to a care home after developing Alzheimer’s disease and osteoporosis.
During his epic adventure over Scotlandwhich he started in July 2020, three months after his 80th birthday, the intrepid retiree has raised money and given attention to charities Alzheimer’s Scotland and the Royal Osteoporosis Society.
To be Just give page has exceeded its original goal of £10,000 and has now raised nearly £60,000 with donations still pouring in.
The challenge culminated in Mr. Gardner climbing his final peak surrounded by an entourage of about 150 friends, family, fellow climbers and loyal fans he met along the way, in bright orange and purple t-shirts both promoting charities.
Mr Gardner got emotional and added: “I’m very excited because what I wanted to do was take on this challenge, but also raise awareness of these two diseases, and the work that these charities are doing, and I’ve done it.
“The fact that I have made the public more aware of these diseases is the real success for me.
“I’m just so happy that a lot of people think I can help them.
“I admit that the first impulse was to take on this challenge for me.
“I felt so helpless when Janet went into healthcare, and I knew I had to fight that, and I needed a project to keep me going.
“But to be able to help these charities, raise awareness and help others feels incredible.
“I felt very emotional because they all came to help me do this last climb today.
“I feel very humiliated.”
When asked if there’s another hike in the pipeline, Mr Gardner replied: “I just enjoy being in the mountains so I’ll keep doing it, not with the same intensity, but I’ll keep going. This is certainly not the last.”
Craig Jones, chief executive of ROS, who visited Cairn Gorm on the day of Mr Gardner’s final climb, said the money raised will go towards research.
He added: “Nick is one of the most impressive fundraisers in the history of our charity, we are so proud of him.
“He’s extraordinary.
“He is a real inspiration, he has made us realize that as we get a little older we don’t have to give up things, in fact we can throw ourselves into big challenges and really break new ground in things that we may never have dreamed of . when we are younger, he is living proof and an inspiration to all of us.”
Fellow climber Douglas McKeith, who has climbed 85 Munros with Mr Gardner over the past two years, said the day had been emotional for many.
“I’ve become very close to Nick since I did part of his challenge with him,” he said.
“He is a member of our climbing club JMCS Glasgow, and we have almost made our own journey within his journey.
“It was great to see him do that.”
One of Mr. Gardner’s two daughters, Sally McKenzie, nominated him for: Guinness World Records for the oldest person to climb the Munros.
To donate to Mr. Gardner’s cause, visit https://www.justgiving.com/team/nicks-munro-challenge.