2007 was an interesting and varied year, with new and repeat ascents from Rhiconich in the far north-west to Hawes in the Yorkshire Dales, including a few days on Islay, in Torridon and Aberdeenshire. Best of all was a backpacking trip in to the Fionn Loch area with my wife, Connie, when we were lucky enough to have wonderful weather to appreciate the fantastic scenery, even from our camp site above Fionn Loch. Beinn Lair had been my last Corbett a few years previously, when Connie was recovering from a hip-op. She now has 'about 30' to complete, which she says she never will. Other highlights:
Lowlights:
Not exactly a highlight or a lowlight, but another memorable Glenmore Club member completion was duly celebrated on Ciste Dhubh, despite (again) gale-force winds, with 41 people on top (well, just below) and the usual celebratory goodies.
Am Bathach and Loch Cluanie from Ciste Dhubh (photo: Alan Dawson)
On our way to Minishal (unlisted hill) on Rum, on a rather dreich and windy day, we met another walker and had a brief conversation with him, during which he told us that he had just been up Orval and was heading for Mullach Mor. After parting company with him we both thought 'he must be a Marilyn bagger' (MB). This was later confirmed at the Kinloch Castle hostel, where we found out that he was called Eric Young and briefly spoke to AD, who was part of a group of MBs at the hostel. A few weeks later, when reading Marhofn 171, his name jumped out, under the heading 'Hofferspotting'.
Talking of names, the more observant of Marhofn readers (I'm sure that means most of you), will have noticed that my first name is spelt with two r's (call it a maternal heirloom). At Easter our club was based at Lairg, and perusal of the relevant OS map showed a hill called Ben Harrald. It just so happened that there was a Marilyn nearby, so I managed to persuade a few people to accompany me to my (almost) namesake hill. I have to report that Ben Harrald was pretty insignificant, being a small outlier of the parent Marilyn, Meall an Fhuarain, but it did give slightly better views of Loch Ben Harrald. At least it gave us a reasonable, relaxed and sociable walk. There must be some of you out there who have been at the Marilyn, but the server of drinks at the Crask Inn was intrigued and surprised that none of us had been up Ben Klibreck, even after the reason for not climbing it was explained. No doubt he thought 'mad lot, these hillwalkers'.
