A modest year, but especially disappointing that I managed only nine new Grahams. Several reasons for this; foreign trips, including a month in Patagonia, the fact that most of those remaining are more than a day trip from home, and increasing health problems towards the year's end. The Grahams did include some of the awkward squad, such as Slat Bheinn (10B), Beinn Tharsuinn (15B, 714m) and Hunt Hill (7) from Glen Muick. I also had a memorable night out near the top of Druim Fada (10A), watching and listening to red-throated divers from my bivvy bag.
Hunt Hill, with Mount Keen beyond (photo: Trevor Littlewood)
I did better on the sub-610m Marilyns, with 30 new ones, to bring my Scottish total over the 700 mark. One of the best was one of the smallest; Meall an Fheadain (16F), a superb viewpoint on a lovely summer's day. Other good days included Glas Bheinn Mhor (17B), done for free thanks to my new bus pass, Bennachie (21B) at long last, and Ben Aigan (21A). Easily the worst hill was the aptly-named Burach (10C), for its lower slopes on the Loch Ness side were a mess of brashings.
The Hall of Fame dinner at Fort Augustus was the first I'd attended, and it was good to put faces to familiar names. Finally, it is not often that a visit to the dentist brings unexpected pleasure. When I explained to my dentist, with whom I have climbed a little, what exactly a Marilyn is, he was chuffed to bits to discover he has a head start over all of us in the Hall. He has climbed both Stac Lee and Stac an Armin.
