The year got me trying new things and my confidence in my abilities has improved from these new experiences. At the beginning of the year I had been making plenty of solo trips in the snow, including Ben Wyvis and Little Wyvis. I also learned that I really needed an ice axe, when I found myself kicking steps up a snowy and icy Glen Lochay side of Ben Challum. I was fortunate enough to visit Skye for my first walking trip there, even if any hills climbed were beneath 600m. I also had the great pleasure in visiting Raasay and climbing the two Marilyns there. Both were great.
What I have lacked in quantity, I have made up for in quality. I got many of the remote tent-excursions under my belt - the big six in Fisherfield, three days in Knoydart, a trip to Loch Monar and three days in Glen Affric. I never imagined I would get as much as that done, so quickly.
I had my first encounter with the dreaded clegs in Knoydart. I am sure many of you can relate to an experience like walking from Inverie back to Kinloch Hourn, all the way being pursued by those winged demons. I did learn how to kill them as effectively as seems possible though. It does not stop there though. The Loch Monar trip found me meeting another variety of pest, namely the ked. Keds may not bite but they are every bit as annoying and put me on edge just as much.
I bivvied for the first time on my trip to Fisherfield and did so again in Knoydart. I had never been so concerned about ticks as I was in Knoydart. Due to the weather, I have not been up a Munro since mid October. That explains why I have been doing a lot more Humps in 2013 than Marilyns.
