Marhofn 153.08 - May 2006

Baglogs: Hip Op Generation:

Hoglog: Miles Hutchinson (+85=760)

It has been a most interesting year and a refreshing change from Munro bashing. Highlights of the year included:

• Beinn Bharrain (Arran) in February.
• Ben Buie and Creach Bheinn (Mull) in April, from a camp by Loch Buie.
• Ailsa Craig in August with Hamish Brown and party.
• The 50th anniversary of my first Munro completion on Ben Hope, when the company of good friends and the hospitality at the Crask Inn more than compensated for the absence of summit views. My thanks to Dave Hewitt for suggesting this celebration.
• Hogmanay on the summit of Creag Bhan (10D), with those tiny rock pools frozen and glistening in the winter sunshine; a mountain setting in miniature.

There are no epics to relate, although I would not advise the direct descent of the Allt Coire Easaich gorge from NH035272 to Carnach in Glen Elchaig. On a lighter note, I saw recently that some joker had awarded Ben Bowie the wooden spoon, which is set upright within a ring of pebbles, in lieu of a summit cairn. Bottom of class 1E.