After almost a year on crutches from mid-2008 to mid-2009, I had to learn to walk again (there was talk of amputating the left leg above the knee when the bones got badly infected after a minor cartilage operation). Thankfully, I managed to get back to some gentle Marilyn bagging again during 2010, albeit at a much slower pace and only managing some of the more accessible hills. Cairnpapple Hill between Glasgow and Edinburgh was the first one conquered, on a cold January day. Various outings saw raids into the hills between Edinburgh and the Borders and around Perth. A November highlight was Meall Gainmheich via beautiful Ben A'an on the day before the big snows. These kept me and Gesine, my girlfriend in way back German schooldays, stuck at Edinburgh airport for several days.
Real jungle-type struggles were encountered on Ben Bowie and Dumglow, but the absolute highlight of the year was the stroll up Sithean Bhealaich Chumhaing on Skye at the end of May in glorious sunshine, again with Gesi. Scotland at its very best.
Hats off for Sithean Bhealaich Chumhaing (photo: Klaus Schwartz)
