The big target for 2013 was to cross the threshold for entry to the Upper Hall. This was achieved but with difficulty thanks to a combination of compulsory lay-offs due to health issues and the increasing distances required to go in order to find new hills.
Sutherland and Skye provided steady pickings throughout the year and I tried to take advantage of any visit to the central belt and below, but this was too slow for the target to be achieved. However, three triple-hill days in September and October transformed the situation and in November the 1000 came up with Minch Moor in the Borders, quickly followed by Sell Moor Hill, surely one of the easiest in Scotland.
A totally windless, clear day on Ben Loyal and Cnoc nan Cuilean in February was perhaps the year's stand-out, but other memorable occasions were enjoyed on Beinn na Lice, Knockdolian and Trahenna Hill. Least appealing was Middlefield Law, a Johann Lamont of a hill; lumpy and uninspiring.
Constant gales in late November and most of December finally relented on Boxing Day to allow me to climb my first Munro of the year and thus maintain a sequence of at least one per year which began in 1962.
