passed the 100 mark (June 2000)

Three days in June 2000 took me past the 100 mark.

Friday 8th:

After a conference in Glasgow, I headed up Loch Lomond side to Crianlarich. 4pm, with 6 hours of daylight, so plenty of time to nip up Ben Challum before dark. A wee bit of cloud on the slightly confusing summit, but that was fine. So that number 97. Had a scare on the way down when my foot slipped crossing a fence, and I ended up taking a tumble, but survived unscathed. Camped at Tyndrum.

Saturday 9th:

Drove down Glen Etive. Cloudy but warm. Left the car at Coileitir at 10am, and headed up towards the col to the east of Starabh. Tricky to get across the burn, which was pretty full. Chat to an old chap who was picking off "tops" that he had missed, and was heading for Stob an Duine Ruadh (peak of the red man). Over the col and on to Beinn nan Aighenan (98) at 2pm. Good views down towards Loch Tulla. Retraced steps, then along and up the ridge to Glas Bheinn Mhor (big grey hill) (number 99). Down and up again to Stob Coir' an Albannaich (peak of the Scotsman's corrie), and danced and shouted to celebrate number 100! It was now 5pm, and i was pretty tired - tempting to head back to the car, but that would leave Meall nan Eun (hill of the birds)... so continued on down and up one more time to add Munro 101. Left the top at 7pm, for the longish walk back to the car at 8.40pm. It was before the days of mobile phones, so it was pretty late before I got to a phone box at Tyndrum to let Anne know I was safe!

Sunday 10th June:

Tired after yesterday's epic (26km and 1900m of climbing). Struggled up Beinn a'Chochuill (101) with sore muscles, then crawled on to the summit of Beinn Eunaich (102) in a howling gale. Fortunately the wind dropped once over the top. I could see a wall of rain heading in from the west, so hurried on down towards the car at Castles Farm. Nerves of steel were required to walk through a herd of cows astride the track, but the impending rain gave me courage! Just made it as the rain (heavy) came on, then headed back down the road to Selkirk, feeling tired but satisfied.

(written 15/08/09)