Highlights for 2014 included achieving my 1000th Munro ascent. Having kept accurate records (like most Marilyn baggers I suspect), I recently found that I had done almost 1000 Munro ascents, so I chose to celebrate my 1000th on my own local peak, Schiehallion. The weather was less than perfect, but the summit dram tasted sweet in the company of husband Andy, stuffed dragon Flapjack and, er, over 40 others on a final Munro party. I chose not to spoil the moment for the completion gent, who was surrounded by congratulating and admiring pals by telling him - when asked what I was celebrating - that I was on my 1000th ascent and was well on with my third round. However, my parting shot as the others left the summit 'here's to your second round' was greeted with uproarious laughter - I had not meant it as a joke. I had a wee smile to myself and another swig from the bottle as Andy and I toasted my next 1000 (only joking - or maybe not - some of us do not know when to stop).
Another highlight was Helmsdale in June, where again I thoroughly enjoyed meeting other Marilyn baggers. It was especially nice to meet Miles Hutchinson for the first time at the youth hostel. We went for a walk round Helmsdale one evening and I had to trot to keep up with him, despite being well over 30 years younger. I hope I am as fit and youthful looking as he is when I reach his current age.
Lowlight:
The parts of Scotland which, for me, are becoming no-go areas thanks to the increasing desecration caused by large-scale onshore wind developments. The Southern Upland Way is now little more than a trudge from one view of a wind farm to the next. Can you believe that there is now a plan to site a 21-giant-turbine wind farm just to the north of Loch Rannoch, within around five kilometres of Ben Alder and visible from Rannoch Moor, the A82, the West Highland railway and the mountains of Glen Coe, Glen Lyon, Ben Lawers and Schiehallion? There have been over 1000 objections to this so-called Talladh a'Bheithe wind farm, including those from the John Muir Trust and the Mountaineering Council of Scotland, which lies WITHIN an area newly designated as wild land by Scottish Natural Heritage. Please be aware of this and be ready to help fight it.
