I guess that I'm rather a new kid on the block, given that I only outed myself as a Marilyn bagger midway through 2002. Yet there again maybe not, as I passed the magic 600 as long ago as August 2000 but elected to maintain a low profile for quite some time. Whatever, this last year has certainly seen a burgeoning obsession come into the harsh spotlight, and I've contrived to ascend an absurd number of sub 2000-foot hills in a twelve-month period. I guess I'll never repeat that feat, as I'm rapidly running out of unclimbed hills within any reasonable driving distance. 2003 should mark a return to some form of sanity (but not until after I've reached the milestone of entry to the upper hall).
The first major event of my year was an utterly enchanting week spent on Jura in March, a north-to-south walk crossing all twelve Marilyns. The weather allowed an easy ride over the feisty mini-mountains of the north-west, before closing in to deny me any views from the Paps - an excellent excuse to return. Jura seems to me to epitomise the real reason for climbing Marilyns; summits such as Ben Garrisdale and Corra Bheinn concede no superiority of character to their higher neighbours and are a damn sight less scarred by access paths.
Ardgour in April gave a similar haul of superlative unfrequented summits - a mixture of nine Corbetts, Grahams and lower hills. Quite my favourite was Druim Leathad nam Fias (18B), an elegant grassy whaleback offering dramatic views to the surrounding giants. Mind you, Meall an t-Slamain (18B) was another delightful grandstand, with Ben Nevis seen to advantage from an unusual angle across Loch Linnhe. This hill also had the notable feature of making Fort William appear almost attractive. Curiously, this ugly urban sprawl looked equally appealing from Druim Fada (10D) on an early October morning.
September saw a change of venue from Highland hills, when I completed a north-to-south stroll through Wales, based very loosely on Offa's Dyke path. Someone commented after I'd dropped from the Clwydian hills that the toughest part of the route was now over. Little did he know! Over the next 13 days a further 27 Marilyns were traversed, making for a strenuous completion of an otherwise tame national trail. I'd recommend this trip, and I'm sure that some of the committed hard cases could link together an impressive total of tops in a much shorter time than my relaxed perambulation.
Midway through November I hauled out the malt to celebrate a significant moment on the summit of Creag Dhubh (9C) - my 250th new Marilyn for the year. The weather, sadly, declined to join in the bonhomie, preferring to hurl a painful hail squall across my flank. The ice added to my dram was most unwelcome.
My bagging year ended with a trip to Cadderlie bothy in the week between Christmas and new year, collecting the awkwardly placed Beinn Mheadhonach (just missing a wee shite terrain nomination due to the mitigating factor of its views), and the more convenient but equally treacherous Beinn Duirinnis (3B).
