I achieved my aim of scoring in each area: as well as clearing the IoM hills I also managed a near blitz of section 42, doing the 13 mainland tops in five days. The highlight of my year was another scorching May day over the four Grahams around the head of Glen Gour -terrific rough country and a fine sunset over Garbh Bheinn (18B). Epic of the year was Mickle Fell (35A). First I ran into the hunt around Little Fell, then a grouse shoot on Murton Fell. Finally on Mickle Fell I had a squall from hell with torrential rain and gale force winds. Luckily the weather relented and I had an idyllic sunny evening traverse of Roman Fell back to Hilton. It was one of those days that's terrific in retrospect. Panic of the year was on Claife Heights (34D) where the summit trig proved elusive in fading light when I found I'd forgotten my headtorch. Fortunately the thing was found (but only just in time) as it was my halfway Marilyn (776).
