Until 1998 I had been a racing cyclist at national level for decades. Suddenly I decided to do something different. What about the Pennine Way? So within a week I had purchased all the right gear (or wrong gear as it turned out) and set off. Carried a tent etc. but no map or compass - just a guidebook (useless). Got lost on Kinder, Bleaklow, Black Hill and everywhere else. I had expected a national trail of such standing to be seriously way-marked. By Hawes I had bought waterproofs, sleeping bag and maps, but to no avail, for at Alston I had to abandon the walk as my ankles had become totally wrecked. However, it could be said that on the road to Kirk Yetholm I saw the light and became converted. Seeing information at a youth hostel, I joined the Long Distance Walkers Association (LDWA), and so Kinder Scout was my first Marilyn and the beginning of my walking, of which peak bagging became an important ingredient (the Nuttalls must take some responsibility). A couple of years ago I was the first to complete the grand slam in the LDWA Hillwalkers' Register (2000-footers and county tops of England, Wales and Ireland, plus Wainwrights and Deweys). I am now working through Munros (54 to go) and Donalds (30 to go), picking up Marilyns on the way. I have also managed to squeeze in a few larger peaks - Mount Whitney, Kilimanjaro and Toubkal. I knew nothing of RHB and Marilyns until one wet day about three years ago at a shop in Betws-y-Coed, where I found a copy of the bible and was then able to go forth climbing and ticking.
