In 2012, I found myself less focused on ascending new Marilyns. I did set myself a target of ascending a hundred new Marilyns during the year, but it was a bit of a struggle to meet it owing to a desire to also ascend other hills such as second-round Munros, second-round Corbetts, New Donalds, Hewitts, Wainwrights, and even a handful of 4000m Alpine peaks.
My hill count for 2012 started on 1 January with an ascent of Beinn nan Carn on Skye. On 31 December, my hill count reached a hundred thanks to a return to Skye to ascend the three Marilyns on the Sleat peninsula.
My favourite overall trip of 2012 was the week I spent in the Swiss/Italian Alps. During this week, with very-limited acclimatisation, I was fortunate to summit The Weissmies, Breithorn (West and Central), Castor and Signalkuppe.
During 2012 I spent a week in Snowdonia, a week in the Lake District and a week in Dumfries and Galloway (with John Henderson), with 14 of the 21 days spent walking in rain.
Dalveen, Dumfries and Galloway (photo: Bert Barnett)
It was also a year with some great Scottish highlights. Particularly special were: a two-day traverse of the Trotternish ridge with the aurora borealis witnessed above my tent, wild-camping on Eigg and Canna, and a second traverse of the Aonach Eagach, in perfect conditions. View my highlights of 2012 at:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ni82rRh1Uw
