Marhofn 106.06 - May 2004

Baglogs:

Ticking over: Ken Butcher

Fellow Grampian Club members did not accompany me on Druim na Cluain-airighe for number 1000, as Corbetts or low-level walking were preferred, and the seas were not suitable for a crossing to Canna until the next day. So celebrations were carried over from dinner to the summit of Carn a'Ghaill, with everyone in good spirits. Sending the land-lovers home, the second week was spent cruising amongst the Outer Hebrides, adding Taransay, Scarp, a traverse from Loch Leosavay to Loch Crabhadail (taking in three Subs), and a circuit of the western hills of Lewis from Loch Cheann Chuisil.

Other highlights:

• Landing on the Flannan Isles in a 20ft swell as the dinghy rose, I grabbed the remaining eroded vertical-rung ladder precariously fixed to the rock face. Puffins checked our visas as we climbed up the former rail track bed. The return to the dinghy was with the aid of a rope down the slime-covered non-existent former steps.
• When Michelin Outdoor Club chose my birthday weekend to go to Skye, I knew that with Mary and our son Chris in attendance, it would not be kept a secret. I was greeted on entrance to breakfast with the traditional chorus, which was repeated on every pinnacle and top between Pinnacle Ridge and the Bhasteir Tooth. I had waited several years to have assistance to do this route (the In Pinn normally takes preference) so that I could complete another round of Munros. Some way to celebrate getting older; being held on a lead to scramble and abseil (not my favourite pastime), but it made the pints in the pub that much tastier.

During a wet day in the autumn I spent a little time getting the computer to isolate the walks I had done that included a relative hill for the first time. The totals gave the following statistics: 1000 relative hills in 770 walks, covering 6391 miles, and climbing 1,612,710 feet. Of course, during those walks other hills were climbed, e.g. Munro Tops and repeated Munros.

Ken Butcher's celebration cake (photo: Ken Butcher)