With the extortionate tolls being lifted from the Skye bridge, I took the opportunity to begin 2005 with a day trip to the misty isle, to climb a few more of its 48 Marilyns. Further local day trips in Wester Ross kept me going during the winter days. Then the fun started when I attempted tree-covered hills further east. The hurricane we endured on 11 January had to be seen to be believed. Boats were washed on to the main street in Lochcarron, with many more lost along the coast from Oban to Cape Wrath, where extensive damage is still being repaired. As well as the many trees uprooted around Achnashellach, I counted numerous 100-year-old Scots pines literally snapped off at mid trunk. A few days later we were attacked again by an unusually strong gale from the north-east, to add to the mayhem. My problems started in the forests of the Black Isle and further north. Where bagging should have involved short sorties along forest tracks and rides, nightmares prevailed, where GPS, map and compass were of little use. There were times when I envisaged being lost forever in wind-blown chaos, only to be elated when a cairn or trig point appeared.
As well as trips to visit the family on the Wirral (not many ticks there) I managed two good days in north Wales, including another two 3000-footers, Y Garn and Elidir Fawr (30B), and bringing my Welsh total into double figures. Attending a very interesting Munro Society weekend at Dunkeld in April increased my tally of Grahams in this area.
For 30 years I have spent the same week each year in May with friends, hillwalking in different locations around Scotland, and this year we were based at Ord House at Muir of Ord; a little close to home, but I did manage 16 additions and a few repeats. A good day in early June helped me finish the Glen Albyn and Monadh Liath section (9B) to the south of Loch Ness. Another three days at the end of June involved a good attack on region 7 between Braemar and Brechin, with 13 tops to bring the half-year total to 72. I hitched a lift with the local bird-watching field trip to Eigg in August and had a good walk on An Sgurr, but will have to scrounge another lift again next year to bag Sgorr an Fharaidh.
The year ended with a month in Peru, which involved travelling the highlands by public transport and trekking, including the Lares trek and Inca Trail, all fascinating. Please do not let Alan loose on the relative hills of Peru.
