Monday 10 May 1976

Statistics that tell a story

After a good start, progress has been erratic:

year Munros Tops
1976 4 5
1977 3 3
1978 7 14
1979 2 3
1980 2 2
1981 11 13
1982 13 28
1983 5 8
1984 10 16
1985 1 1
1986 1 3
1987 2 2
1988 0 0
1989 2 6
1990 0 0
1991 1 3
1992 1 4
1993 0 0
1994 3 5
1995 0 0
1996 3 4
1997 5 9
1998 11 20
1999 5 8
2000 16 29
2001 20 34
2002 22 38
2003 13 18
2004 14 26
2005 14 23
2006 10 17
2007 13 16
2008 6 11
2009 22 36


Here's the same story as a chart:

- a good start (79-85)
- then family came along (85-98)
- them I really got going again!
- and only 42 to go (2009)


I'm just going to pick out a few notable stories in my next few blogs. If you want to see the whole list, have a look at www.dbethune.com/mountains

(written 12/08/09)

Sunday 9 May 1976

Introduction

How did it all begin?

We didn't really go hill-walking as a family, apart from a few of the local hills. I can remember scrambling on rocks as a wee boy, though, while the rest of the family was on the beach, so the desire to climb must have been there from an early age.

My first real climb, I guess, was Goat Fell. It was July 1971, and I was at a SU camp at Kings Cross on Arran. It was hot and sunny, and we were a large group of teenage boys. I'm not sure what I had on my feet, but i do remember an enormous blister on my heel.

The following year, I climbed Cader Idris in Wales with my older brother, Andrew, then in 1975, on a family holiday in Harris, we climber Clisham (799m) on a very windy day. I remember having to go on all fours on the summit so that we weren't blown over! Typical Scottish summer day!

And so to the first Munro ...

May 1976, on a weekend outing with members of the Edinburgh University Physical Society (Physical as in Physics - my University degree subject) to Firbush on Loch Tay. We spent one day sailing (but were becalmed, and needed a tow back to the shore!), and one day climbing Ben Vorlich and Stuc a'Chroin.

So, here it is: Ben Vorlich, 8th May 1976 - my first Munro! Photo taken with a wee Kodak Instamatic 50 camera - image a bit faded now.

What can I remember from the outing?
Three things:
1. plodding steadily up the path on the north ridge of Ben Vorlich;
2. looking across to Stuc a'Chroin, and wondering how on earth we would manage to get up its steep craggy nose (but finding it great fun when we got there!);
3. the long trek back down Glen Ample.

But I was hooked!

(written 11/08/09)