... your problems pondered and ethical issues analysed ...
Dear Vic,
I know that Marilyn bagging is done to various standards of integrity, although helicopter-ascents seem to be beyond the pale. I feel I may have compromised my own standards last summer when I decided to bag Maovally, on the south side of Loch Shin. From the map it didn't look an attractive hill, with uniform heathery slopes, but it looked like there was an excellent Hydro track which climbed close to the summit. The bike would be great on descent so I decided to use it. As I was negotiating the large gate at the entrance to the track to Corriekinloch, a white van pulled up and the driver got out to open the gate. I was feeling tired after three hard days and so, quickly assessing the situation, I cheekily asked him if he was going to the power station. He replied that he was. Could he give me a lift as I was climbing a nearby hill? Yes he could. I decided to push it a bit further.
'Any chance of my bike fitting in the back?'
'Nae bother'
The rear doors swung open to reveal an empty space. The bike went in. He was a delight and laughed sympathetically at the concept of Marilyn bagging. At the fork in the track to the power station, I suggested that this was where to drop me off, but:
'No it's all right. I'll take you up the hill. It's a grand morning'
He then proceeded to bomb up the track to within 100 metres of the summit. I got my bike out and, as I thanked him, he swore that he wouldn't tell anybody about my lift up the hill, reversed and disappeared down to the power station. I was at the summit in ten minutes, smiling at my good fortune but feeling somewhat guilty at the unconventional assistance. What is more, I had a 20-minute free-wheel back to Corriekinloch before putting in a bit of effort cycling against the wind along the track back to the road. Should I feel guilty at my opportunism or is all fair in love and Marilyn bagging?
Embarrassed from Loughborough
Dear Embarrassed,
Guilt is an unhelpful and unnecessary emotion. Remember what Robin Williams said in that film when he was quite good, about the dead poets: Carpe Diem, Que Sera Sera etc. So you got a free ride? Well, we all get lucky sometimes (apart from Roderick, obviously). So go with the flow. The only downside is that the new Marhof membership secretary is running a much tighter operation than the previous lax regime, and has been interrogating members about Botley, Cracoe, Raw Head etc, to bring some overdue statistical rigour to the annual returns. So he may decide that your cheating freeloading on Maovally doesn't count and will deduct one from your total. Never mind Campbell, you can always go back and do it properly.
Dear Vic,
Despite complaints about the weather, mostly from those in the south, it seems to have been a reasonable year for outdoor activities. It is rather disappointing that Sgurr nan Ceannaichean has been relegated to a Corbett and Raw Head no longer merits Marilyn status. Are we not becoming over-obsessed with accuracy just for the sake of it and becoming fixated with statistics? Does it really matter anyway - life's too short to worry about a few inches here and there. On a lighter note, I applaud the idea to have a poll of best and worst hills. It produced some interesting, if subjective results. It was quite pleasing to see that seven others considered Bidean a'Ghlas Thuill to be the best Scottish hill over 900 metres. I have always considered it to be dramatic and inspiring without being too scary. It is remembered well as it was one of our first forays onto the Munros after Slioch and Beinn Alligin, thanks to Irvine Butterfield's tome.
Ron Turner
Dear Ron,
How innocently you step into this most complex area of metaphysical philosophy that has exercised thousands of fine minds from Aristotle through to Descartes and Jackson, who have wrestled with the opposing ideals of truth and certainty. Is it possible to be over-obsessed with accuracy? If you prefer certainty to truth, then accuracy is over-valued; it is more important to have heroes to follow, such as Mohammed and Jesus and Munro and Wainwright, along with a set of rules and a moral code, than to bother analysing the validity and relevance of their message in a world that is far more complex than when they preached their messages. But if you prefer truth to certainty then you will be inclined to question every assumption, to look for evidence of the wisdom of these heroes, to check the accuracy of measurements, and to make adjustments to your thoughts in order to take account of new findings. So does it really matter? Only if you prefer truth to tradition.
Dear Vic,
Is Vic there?
Anon
Dear Anon,
This seems to be a fairly simple question of presence or non-presence. A definitive answer can only be given if you are more specific about the 'there' to which you refer. As ever, a grid reference would be helpful.
