The gentle upward trend in my annual Marilyn total continued last year. I kicked off in February with a trip to Bala for four Welsh Marilyns. That my bike ended up in Edinburgh when I got home to Guildford by train is another story. All the rest were in Scotland and as usual were connected to our sailing activities. Highlights were solo camping trips. Abandoned on wet and midgy Rum, the main ridge was done in thick cloud. A momentary clearance on Trollaval produced a heart-stopping moment - what an airy situation I was in. Cloud closed in again before I adjusted to the huge drop down to the coast.
A shift to the mainland and a walk in to camp beyond Corrour Lodge led to one of my best hills days ever - 15 hours tent-to-tent in sunshine and a cool breeze. Up over Beinn Eibhinn, Aonach Beag, Geal-Charn and their Tops; onwards to Carn Dearg via its Top and then down to An Lairig; over Beinn a'Chlachair and down the SW ridge back to base. The energy just kept on flowing. It was a different story the next day, with hot sun and a tent on my back. North on easy tracks to modest Meall Luidh Mor and on to camp by the River Spean near Luiblea cottage. Only half the distance of the previous day; a real struggle, but I was restored for Binnein Shios and Binnein Shuas the next day before heading back to the boat in Stornoway.
The Western Isles were finished, doing Mealaisbhal, Cracabhal and Tahabhal by bus from Stornoway; out in the evening to camp, hills done in sunshine the next morning, then back on the afternoon bus to Stornoway.
I jumped ship again and returned to Ullapool with the tent. Sun on Meall Liath Choire and cloud on Seana Bhraigh; sunshine and fabulous panorama from the otherwise undistinguished Corbett, Meall Dubh, and rain on Meall Glac Tigh-fail. In October David and I took a couple of days off from boat maintenance for a clear and rewarding day doing the Five Sisters of Kintail. The year ended on the Graham Sgiath a'Chaise on our way south.
