Marhofn 255.14 - May 2012

Baglogs:

All year round: Peter Collins (+18=1533)

Another seven trips to Scotland during 2012, including an abortive St Kilda trip when force 9 gales prevented us from going north of Portree. However, we did reach lifelong targets Staffa and Iona before the May weather got even worse. The M6 signs all the way south warned of strong winds for the next day. Other highlights of the year:

• A boat trip that I organised to the Pairc area of Lewis. Six of us briefly stood on the top of Caiteseal before Douglas Law and I got Ruari's boat back across Loch Seaforth. The others went their separate ways across country to Gormol, Uisenis and Eisgein. Three days later, Eric Young made a very agreeable companion when I climbed these last two hills. Two splendid days.
• I completed the New Donald list on Cape Law and also finished a Marilyn for each day of the calendar year - 366 hills all told - in February on Worcestershire Beacon. I climbed 79 Humps in the year including six Grahams and 12 other Marilyns.

Two poor hills were Druim na Sgriodain, with an ascent on all fours for 200ft on very steep mossy ground, and Beinn nan Cabar involving a very rough approach for 1100ft.

Coming down from Sgurr Choinich late in the year, I fell backwards five or six times in a spell of dizziness which was later diagnosed as vertigo. This put an end to my 2011 bagging season but I am hoping it will improve and I will be able to attempt my remaining mainland Marilyns in 2012.