The two main targets for 2010 were to finish the Grahams and to bring my Marilyn total to 900, both of which were achieved by August. This was just as well because I learned that I had prostate cancer and faced surgery or other treatment.
My 20 remaining Grahams were scattered in locations either difficult of access or far from home or both. First were Moidart's Beinn Gaire and Croit Bheinn from a high camp on Beinn Gaire. The Ben Armine two were made easier by getting permission from the keeper to drive up to the eponymous lodge. Luss and Cowal required two visits, but easily the toughest trip was to collect Meith Bheinn and An Stac. As well as two ticks on the list, I returned with about 30 of the other kind. This left a finale in Galloway where, for the first time ever, I experienced a dry day. Unfortunately, it did not stay dry for my final Graham, Cairnsmore of Fleet, and even the ascent of lowly Cairn Pat was entirely in cloud.
There were fine days to compensate, among them four days of wall-to-wall sunshine in Skye. On Meall na Suiramach, above the Quiraing, I was shocked to meet mountain bikers churning up the soft vegetation. In August I climbed the Griams in Sutherland, with Ben Griam Mor proving to be pleasingly rich in mountain flora.
Visits to the Edinburgh Festival opened up opportunities to visit some Lothian and Borders hills. My 900th was Hownam Law, but yet again I came away from the Borders asking why the farmers there are so walker unfriendly? My last new hill was Creag na Criche, a pleasant addition to the list. Since then the surgery seems to have been successful, but I shall be out of commission for the early part of 2011.
Ben Griam Mor from Ben Griam Beg (photo: Andrew Fraser)
