I'd always planned 2008 to be a quiet year, having reached the Hall of Fame after more than a decade of hillwalking. My aim was for 25 peaks, with every expectation of exceeding that. However, a winter trip to Fort William changed that. I could blame battling a blizzard across the rough moorland of Druim Fada for the damage to my knees that plagued me for most of the year, but it was more likely caused when I squatted down to a low shelf in Morrisons in Fort William, and struggled to get back up again. My knees are better now, and with some great trips in the latter half of the year I just reached my goal. My best moment was a walk through autumnal woodland around Ben Aigan (21A). The golden larches were most impressive. My worst moment was walking from Kendal to Fell Foot in torrential rain (in August) to claim my last two Lake District Marilyns, Whitbarrow and Gummer's How.
