Marhofn 255.14 - May 2012

Baglogs:

Gavin Theobald (+8=797)

I have been concentrating on Humps over 600m and Munro Tops so, since I've already done all the Marilyns over 2000ft, I rarely get up any new ones. However, I am regularly ticking off Corbett and Graham Tops so it seems that I am now also collecting Sims. As can be seen from the tables, I only do hills in Scotland. This is partly because I do not have a car but mainly because I prefer the shorter trips. I find doing new hills in Scotland is enough of a challenge. I have now done 1332 Sims, but that leaves 858 Scottish ones to do.

View from Ladhar Bheinn (photo: Tony Deall)

• In March, I walked into Knoydart from Morar along all the major ridges in the area and climbed Ben Aden, Luinne Bheinn, and Ladhar Bheinn amongst others. This was a backpacking trip of four nights.
• My second trip was for three nights with my wife, Suzanne, starting from Kinloch Rannoch and finishing at Pitlochry. We did Schiehallion, the Cairn Mairg group, Meall Tairneachan and Farragon Hill. Suzanne had ankle trouble and did the trip on painkillers, but was determined to get up the hills.
• I had great weather in early May starting from Loch Mullardoch dam and finishing at Cannich. This included the hills between Loch Mullardoch and Loch Monar, the Glen Strathfarrar hills and a number of others.
• A four-night trip in June started from near Garve with Ben Wyvis, then a big circuit through to Beinn Dearg, before crossing the A835 to do hills north-east of the Fannichs.
• In early July I did my 50th birthday challenge walk. I started from home at 6.45am and climbed over Ben Nevis, the Aonachs and the Grey Corries to Stob Ban. At about 5pm I arrived at the head of Glen Nevis where, after a change of clothes, I returned along the Mamore ridge to arrive home at 3.15am. The whole walk took 20 hours, 35 miles and over 5500m of ascent. Not many people can have walked over 15 Munros in under 24 hours starting and finishing at home (in Fort William). What will I do for my 51st birthday?
• A three-night camping trip later in July started from Strathcarron station and went over the numerous mountains to the north, finishing at Achnashellach station. I was again fortunate to have good weather. Camping in July is to risk being midged, especially since I only use a tarp but, by staying high, I escaped them.
• In August, Suzanne and I were briefly on Mull with friends. During this time I actually managed to get up some new Marilyns. I got up Ben More in a severe gale, but Suzanne had to turn back, so we will have to return to Mull yet again, not that this is much of a hardship.
• My last camping trip of the year was in November in very cold but fine weather. I started the three-night trip from Inverarnan over Meall an Fhudair, Binnein an Fhidhleir, Beinn Bheula and many others before hitching back from Lock Eck to Tarbet for the train home. On the third day of the trip there was a cloud inversion the whole day, which I spent in the sun while the valleys were constantly in cloud.

So all round, I probably did more hills than any previous year, even though not many of them were new Marilyns.