After my last Graham, Pressendye, in January 2006 I stayed in hot hot Queensland for a while. Once back I went through my diaries and found out that:
Several outings to meet friends for climbs (including Ben Nevis for the 61st time, via the north-east buttress) were combined with solo Marilyning. Then on 31 May a six-summit day, with unexpected lovely views from all of them: early morning on Cairn Table (27C), the lovely windmills (no dead raptors anywhere) on Common Hill, lunch on Dungavel Hill (both 27A) with paragliders above nearby Tinto (I had flown there myself in the late 90s), through the woods to Lamington Hill (28B), then Trahenna Hill and a late evening on Black Mount (both 28A).
The view south from Pressendye (Klaus Schwartz)
A memorable excursion was Skye in June: from Ruadh Stac traversing endless slopes and ridges to Glas Bheinn Mhor in brilliant sunshine, followed by Ben Dearg (17A) above Loch Fada, weaving a route through impressive cliffs with clouds moving in, and ending that brilliant day in thick fog on Bioda Buidhe near the Quiraing. Macleod's Tables and many seaboard hills followed before I took some pals over the spectacular Clach Glas - Blaven traverse in superb weather; a worthwhile repeat of a much longer solo traverse years earlier. Sgurr na Stri via its superb rocky SSE ridge, above the beautiful but badly littered bay of Camasunary, was pure magic, with fabulous Cuillin views all around. Ben Meabost on the way back was totally different but had equally grand views; then a hot sweat up Ben na Cro followed by a long evening wander up to Beinn na Seamraig above Kylerea. Rounded this trip off with lots of magic secret gems east of Loch Ness. Tom Bailgeann (9B) had a stern police warning at the bottom not to use the track which, of course, I followed to the letter by walking up beside it to the huge mast on top - the sunset views making up for it.
The backside of the Cuillin from Ben Meabost (Klaus Schwartz)
In July hard rock climbs on the Etive slabs were balanced the morning after by the 4.30am sunrise on awkward Creag Dhubh (11B) with only silence for company. Three more hills that day, with the beautiful cairn on Bidein Clann Raonaild (13B) somewhat spoilt by a radio mast. Next day, after three tops near Shieldaig, I got myself lost in vast forests trying to reach Carn nan Iomairean (12A) having forgotten map and compass. I managed to reach the summit the morning after, accompanied by zillions of flies. From Auchtertyre Hill (12A) a quick glance across to Skye, once again my destination, later that day. Ten more Marilyns there, including a windswept crossing of Ben Lee with a mate from Aconcagua, and the impressive 300m sea cliffs down from Biod an Athair.
Glas Bheinn Mhor and Ben na Cro (Klaus Schwartz)
Returning home I spent a fabulously lazy day painting on Beinn a'Mhonicag high above Glen Roy, and a lovely stroll to the tremendous viewpoint of Druim na h-Earba above Fort William (I had lived nearby from 1967 to 1976), only finding the good path for the run down. Short visits to gentle central Scotland hills were complemented by rough Galloway mountains. The immensely dense forests and weird exotic zoo of Bainloch Hill were not easily forgotten.
Knock Hill from the east (Klaus Schwartz)
After a long spell of house-building I finally dropped the shovel and climbed sunny Cruach Tairbeirt (1D), with its glorious surrounds in glistening snow. Then it was off to the north-east, the highlights of which were: Meikle and Little Conval in a good storm, sunset on Knock Hill, the fabulous round-the-summit track of Tap o'Noth (all 21A), the magic top forest of Coiliochbhar Hill (21B) and the challenging Creag Ghiubhais (8), picked as a worthy 800th Marilyn.
I am still pleasantly surprised by the new areas the Marilyns have 'forced' on me, never expecting hills of small height could have such attractions. May many other nutters have a go, and anyone visiting 19C is most welcome to stay during their forays into our local hills; just email klaus@schwartz.fsbusiness.co.uk
'A joy to read' - John Edwards
