We had some really good hill days in the year despite a lot of very wet or indifferent weather. I finally managed to finish the Munro Tops and hence the Murdos and have stopped bothering about my apparent inability to finish the Grahams - it will happen eventually. I seem to prefer doing my favourite hills again and again rather than drive miles to bag new ones. For me, mountaineering is about enjoyment and if I am bagging more slowly than I used to, then that's the way it has to be (AD: Who are you kidding, +64 is not slow by anyone's standards). I enjoyed several work-related bagging trips to England last year, and managed to do a stack of hills in the Lake District and a few in the Midlands. Hergest Ridge, on a warm, clear autumn afternoon, was particularly fine.
I have continued to use as many artificial aids (but non-motorised and inanimate) as possible on my hill trips, including various sorts of skis, bikes and canoes or kayaks. These things do seem to increase the amount of work required to plan and pack before a trip, but they almost always result in more fun and a lower risk of exhausted legs on long trips. Some highlights:
High Cairngorms: Camping and ski-touring in April in perfect weather, perfect snow, stunning mountain scenery and great company (partner Andy and friend Tony Kinghorn). We could have done with a pack-horse to carry all our food and gear up to Loch Etchachan, where we camped for a few nights, from the Linn of Dee, but I am sure all that hard work did us good.
An Stac, Meith Bheinn, Druim a'Chuirn: More perfect weather in the same company. After thoroughly enjoying the Marhof dinner and gathering at Strontian, we kayaked up Loch Morar from the west and camped there for a few days. An Stac was particularly fine; magnificent dry rock and superb ridge scrambling, with lots of rare flowers including six different orchid species. I definitely recommend this way of reaching these remote mountains, with no uncrossable rivers, horrific bogs or miles of slogging with a huge rucksack. The paddle out was a struggle though, due to a strong headwind.
Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan: We cycled up to Iron Lodge then wandered in generally pleasant weather around all the tops of Mullach na Dheiragain and Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan. We ended up on Stuc Fraoch Choire, my final Munro Top, and got the celebratory dram out just as the heavens opened and the breeze increased to a gale. We postponed the celebrations till later and sploshed down the glen to the bikes. The combination of a speedy retreat, water, copious cow pats and a lack of mudguards resulted in a pretty horrifying prospect for those waiting for us back at the holiday cottage down the glen.
Ben Nevis: A mountaineering club trip to the CIC hut seemed like a good chance to go up Tower Ridge. Bad weather forced a change in plans and we opted instead for the easier Castle Ridge. However, we forgot quite how slippery the rock on the Ben can be in wet weather, and our 'friendly descent route' of the past turned into a bit of an epic ascent. However, the sense of achievement in reaching the summit plateau felt even better for it.
Mullach na Carn: A completely idyllic paddle in perfect weather in the sea kayaks around the little island of Pabay, with seals and a friendly otter swimming around my boat. Then over to Scalpay for a pleasant walk up Mullach na Carn and a long bask in the summit in the sun. Glorious - Marilyn bagging at its best.
