In 2007, as a response to getting over-stressed and a little depressed, I moved to a four-day working week. Slightly less income but weekends 50% longer, allowing me to justify (to myself if not to my family) a few more trips to Scotland. My intention was at least one long weekend in Scotland each month, which I didn't quite manage, but I was able to maintain progress at a similar level to the previous two years. A bonus was meeting up with some baggers more frequently, though I would have preferred happier circumstances than search parties and memorial services - whatever happened to JT, it's a great shame that she is missing. Still, Coraddie's an interesting hill, and the kindness and commitment of dozens of searchers was encouraging.
Once again I was surprised by the variety of hills, enhanced by the changing seasons, weather and time of day. Early evening on the unremarkable Grey Hill was made memorable by a wonderful hazy sunset silhouette of Ailsa Craig (yes, I'm struggling for words here). On various occasions I was delighted to see, fairly close up, a pine marten, red squirrel and curlew, and on the slopes of Cramalt Craig a young hare came very close and seemed fascinated by me. The red-throated divers on Lochan na Leirg north of Coraddie were another highlight.
A now-customary March visit to Spean Bridge was thoroughly worthwhile despite poor weather. Ben Laga and Meall nan Each (18A) on 17 March were quite hard work in miserable conditions, but soft snowy Sgairneach Mhor (5) on the way home a couple of days later was much madder in a very strong bitterly cold wind. Thigh-deep drifts on the way down were more easily tackled by rolling over and over than by trying to walk. Most of the rest of my days out were south of the Highlands, in the fringes of the Galloway hills, and in the Borders, largely solitary but with occasional encounters with baggers and editors. I was amused to find 'AD' written in sticks on top of the trig on Mochrum Fell; it seems I was a day too late to see them placed there (mea culpa, AD). Better timing on Ben Cleuch, though it hardly counts as a surprise if an unplanned meeting with Dave Hewitt occurs in the Ochils.
'The best route to Dumyat from Blairdenon is one of life's mysteries, and one to which I don't really know the answer'
Dave Hewitt
