Glencoe 1976-78

I suppose it was three summer SU camps in Glen Etive, where the main activity was hill-walking, that really got me started. We were based in canvas tents at Gualachulain, just at the head of the loch, so big hills all around. Each day, there were 2 or 3 expeditions offered, and as a "tent leader" I would be allocated to one or other of the groups. Some of the leaders were experienced in the hills, others (like me) were pretty well novices - but learned quickly. No risk assessments required in those days!

Here's what I climbed:

16/07/76 Starav

17/07/76 Buchaille Etive Mor (Stob Dearg only)

09/07/77 Buchaille Etive Beag (main top only)

11-12/07/77 Ben Nevis (overnight - watched the sunrise from the summit - see picture)

13/07/76 Ben Fhionnlaidh

08/07/78 Buchaille Etive Beag (both tops)

10/07/78 Bidean nam Bian (inc. Stob Coire Sgreamhach and Stob Coire nan Lochan)

12/07/78 Aonach Eagach

13/07/78 Buchaille Etive Mor (traverse, from north to south - all tops)

In between these camps, I also fitted in a climb of Ben More Mull, my first solo climb. This felt quite exciting, as I had never done a solo hill before, and the route I took was from the south, which involved quite a rough and steep ascent from the col between A'Chioch and Ben More. I remember being a bit worried about having forgotten to take my cagoule with me - but it was a very hot sunny day, so that was OK! Great fun.

I wasn't really a munro-bagger yet, but i started to keep a record of where I had been, and was now up to 14 Munros and 22 Tops (according to the modern classification). I didn't realise it at the time - but that was 5% of the total!

(written 11/08/09)

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)