My hillwalking year started slowly in 2013, but I enjoyed a couple of Glen Spean Grahams in snow and sunshine in March. A visit to Arran in April was memorable for seeing snow still lying near sea level (the hostel at Lochranza had been cut off by the snow for five days earlier in the year) and a climb of Beinn Bharrain on a day when gusts of 160kph were forecast for the Munros.
In May I had a rough crossing of the Sound of Jura in severe gale-force winds on the passenger ferry from Tayvallich, then some rough walking over the Paps of Jura and surrounding area. I enjoyed a ten-hour epic on Meith Bheinn near Loch Morar (I was glad I was not attempting An Stac in the same walk).
Later, I reached 1000 Marilyns on Meall nan Eun near Loch Hourn. I had no celebrations planned; in fact, I had erroneously thought that my 1000th Marilyn had come a day earlier. Meall nan Eun is a great hill with a superb walk-in along Loch Hourn, but even better is Druim Fada on the other side of the loch, which I climbed a couple of days later. There are spectacular views across Loch Hourn to Knoydart and westwards to Skye, with Beinn Sgritheall to the north-west - possibly the best views I have ever had from a summit in Scotland.
Loch Hourn (photo: John Owen)
In June I enjoyed a repeat visit to Ben Macdui; there was still a huge amount of ice on some of the lochans in the area. I also climbed a few more Grahams in the Corrour / Rannoch / Bridge of Orchy area.
In August I had a few days in northern England, including a climb to the true top of Kinder Scout. I had the summit to myself in sunny weather until two men and a dog came along, obviously lost and asking for directions to Edale. I also managed to get a permit to climb Mickle Fell and met up with Marilyn bagger Richard Tibbetts, by chance at Slaidburn youth hostel.
A late highlight of the year was discovering how to tie my boot laces without them coming undone: see: www.fieggen.com/shoelace/secureknot.htm
As I have only ten Grahams left to climb, I am hoping to finish them on Ben Venue in 2014.
