A great start to the year on New Year's Day, bagging Beinn na Caillich and Beinn Dearg Mhor on Skye with new Hall of Fame entrant, Graeme Morrison. Less favourable conditions were encountered later in January on Windy Hill on Bute. Two classic hill days in February on Beinn an Eoin (Coigach) and Beinn nan Ramh. March was mostly moist and misty with the exception of a classic winter day on Binnein Shios.
My Marilyn count increased by 15 in April thanks to a trip to Torridon, a day in Yorkshire and eight days in Snowdonia. The north ridge of Tryfan and Crib Goch were outstanding. A visit to Bardsey Island was also particularly special. The low point of the Welsh trip was sitting on an electric fence whilst trying to ascend Hope Mountain.
The beginning of May saw me back on the island trail again with a visit to Lewis. The remainder of May was spent re-ascending Munros and Corbetts. Much of June and July was spent in the United States, walking various low-level trails. However, I also managed to squeeze in a classic day on Fashven in Cape Wrath and numerous repeat Munros.
I had hoped to complete the Furths with a visit to Ireland in August (with John Henderson and Derek Harman). However, the weather was unbelievably bad. The ice-bucket challenge was undertaken whilst in Ireland leaving me less wet than any of the days spent on the Irish hills.
September saw a return to England to ascend peaks in the Peak District and Lakes. The highlight of October was a Munro completion for Penny (the dog) and third-round completion for Graeme Morrison.
In November I spent a week in the Scottish Borders completing the New Donalds. I am delighted to have completed them as I can now spend more time ascending much nicer hills instead. And finally, December was spent mostly walking the Scottish coastline.
