It's becoming more difficult to bag new Marilyns in a day trip from Glasgow, but there is compensation in repeats of Dumgoyne, which is becoming a popular target (I know of three or maybe four people who have over 1000 ascents, and by May 2004 I should be past 700). Some notes on my 2003 Marilyns:
March: Carn Glas-Choire (9A). Overnight snow at 300m. Wide track past stalker's hut. Virgin snow beyond, except (at c500m) zigzag hare tracks, which suddenly stopped and disappeared in mid-track. Wing prints in the snow suggested that perhaps the hare was taken by an eagle (or a very young hare by a buzzard?). The top had expansive views (white slopes and blue skies) on what proved to be a nice wee hill.
May: Ben Mor Coigach and Sgurr an Fhidhleir (16F). What a round (from Culnacraig). Glorious. Must be in anyone's top 50. We had the blessing of fine dry and windless weather, with firm rock and great 360-degree views.
June: Slat Bheinn (10B). A wet weekend at Barrisdale bothy, spending a lot of time trying to dissuade four young US tourists from 'going for a stroll' round Glen Barrisdale, Gleann Cosaidh and Gleann Unndalain, via Loch Quoich. Thankfully for them the fleshpots of the pub at Inverie prevailed. For me, a sopping and boggy approach to gain the south-west ridge of Slat Bheinn, though it cleared momentarily on top to give superb views of Knoydart. The descent north-west is purgatory - steep, sodden grass with craggy outcrops, mud and stones hidden in the thick heather, then a deep river crossing at NH900036 to gain the estate track. The stalker's bothy was locked, so there was no comfortable refreshment stop out of the monsoon rain.
November: Skiddaw, Binsey, Watch Hill. A bagging day out to complete section 34A. Misty on Skiddaw, via Ullock Pike, but weather improving for a quick up-and-down of Binsey from the road at Fell End. Weather cleared on Watch Hill to give good views from a beautifully constructed drystane dyke (sorry, drystone wall) running along the summit bumps.
December: Cruach nam Miseag (19C). Soft snow at 350m, so a hard slog with breaststroke techniques required through snow-filled drifts (possibly the 'deep irony pools' encountered by Hamish Brown on his first Marilyn, as described on page 39 of Climbing the Corbetts). Strong winds, blowing spindrift from slopes and crags, would have made some good photo shots - but no camera.
Jimmy White celebrates his 65th birthday on Bishop Wilton Wold
