Personal reasons, such as family demanding attention and a requirement to be on a callout rota for work, meant it was harder to get out in the hills for much of the year. That in turn led to fewer new Marilyns, down to 59 compared with about 100 in each of the previous two years. Of these, 45 were in Wales. The Welsh showed up in a mixed light in 2005 - three good encounters versus one GOMC (Get Out of My Country), but even that was just old graffiti, on the summit of Garn Boduan (30A). The farmer at Bwlchmawr was very friendly when I asked permission to park before my ascent of Pen y Garn-goch (31C). Coming down off Cefn Cenarth (31B), I nervously anticipated meeting the farmer who was coming up the track, but she held the gate open for me and chatted amicably, though I was not on a right of way. Best of all, following a wet autumn day on the Arans, Glasgwm and Esgeiriau Gwynion, I stepped into the gutter to allow a well-cared-for car to pass, and the elderly Welsh couple in it stopped and insisted on giving me and my dripping clothes a welcome lift for the couple of miles back to my car. Other Welsh highlights included the fascinating ridge of Garreg-hir, Carneddau with its great views all round, and the subbies Gamallt (with several red kites) and the delightful Dinas (31C).
Garreg-hir (photo: Jim Fothergill)
Despite the slight increase in the England list, I finished the year with only five to go, and hope to reduce this to one (Black Mountain) by Easter. Oddly, I found Staple Hill (41) a little tricky, but only because I was looking for the summit in quite the wrong place. A quick glance at a soggy map and it was suddenly easy to find the trig. Four brief visits to Scotland were all good, including a great day on the Grey Corries ridge in March and an exciting visit to Ailsa Craig in August, following which I turned poetic and came up with The Ballad of Ailsa Craig, which I may be tempted to sing at some future gathering. You have been warned.
