There have been hill lists on my bookshelf for many years now, but until I came across Marilyn baggers I thought I was making fair progress. Only in recent times have I become aware of some extraordinary feats that have made my efforts look pedestrian. My long-term walking partners, Trevor and Sue Littlewood (well known in these pages) have been trying to 'out' me for some time now, but I decided I would remain in the closet until I reached 600. So here I am.
I completed the Wainwrights in 1987, with Sue on Mellbreak (Trevor had already sneaked ahead), and the Munros in 1998, with Trevor and Sue on Ben Lomond. Since then I have been working on Nuttalls and whatever else comes my way, but most of my days on the hill are on familiar ground with friends from the local climbing club.
In 2005 new hills included a snowy Hart Fell (28B) in February, then Calf Top (35B), Queensberry (27C), Ben Venue (1C) and Beinn a'Choin (1C) in March, but the finest spring day was on humble Hods Hill (27C). I also did a one-day trawl of six Herefordshire Marilyns. May and June were spent on the west coast but mostly on favourite hills. Three nights at Alltbeithe in Glen Affric included the Corbett Sgurr Gaorsaic, but the best hill day of the trip by far was Streap (10D).
Streap (photo: Trevor Littlewood)
The great 600 day came on Mount Battock at the end of October, with Trevor and Sue of course. Not quite the same elation and continuing warm feeling as finishing those Munros but nevertheless very satisfactory. Hunt Hill (7B) was the best day of the week, but it almost turned sour as a stalker told us that we couldn't go on. An interesting debate followed, with our opening shot of 'open access' being countered with 'yes, responsible access'. We agreed not to go on but a short time later, while we were still debating what to do, he returned to say that all was clear and we could continue. He didn't need to do that, so thanks and three cheers to the keeper at the head of Glen Esk.
Colin Green on Mount Battock (photo: Trevor Littlewood)
