The first new hill of the year was not until April and proved to be one of the best - Caer Caradoc Hill (38B), a lovely little hill, climbed on a day of clear sunshine. This was also my friend's hillwalking debut and I could not have picked a better hill to encourage him to take up this pastime. He is a big burly rugby player (think Shrek but without the green-ness) who might come in handy on some of the more access challenged hills, especially as I am a 5' 4" midget. The next (and last) new hills of the year were the nine Munros bagged in May while based at Spean Bridge for a week (only five Marilyns though). It was nice to finally climb Binnein Mor in the Mamores after having to bail off it in heavy snow some ten years ago. Of my 15 remaining Munros only one is not in Mr Dawson's list.
On the western slopes of Caer Caradoc Hill (photo: Alan Dawson)
Planned trips to Lancashire, Herefordshire and South Wales had to be postponed after my father suffered a major stroke that left my brother and me in charge of both parents and the family business. The remainder of my year's walking consisted of some low-level walks, which is not quite the same. The prospects for 2007 look a lot better, as my dad is recovering well and I have already bagged three new hills.
