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)

Turning point?

Through the late 80s and early 90s, progress was quiet on the Munro front. Family took precedence, so only a few expeditions per year.

Still, the tally kept rising, with at least 1 new Munro every year except 1988, 1990 and 1993. Even in these years, we weren't exactly flat-earthers: for example, in 1990, Anne and I escaped for our first weekend without children (courtesy of Granny and Grandpa), and did some hills in the Lake District, and in 1993, we climbed Ben More Mull again. In fact, this was Iain's first Munro (not counting being carried up Stuchd an Lochain on my back as a baby).

The turning point was probably August 27th 1998.

My colleague at Hawick High School, John Reed, invited me to join him (and a group of others) on his final Munro - The Saddle.

Here we are on the summit:

Cheese sandwiches and malt whisky - an interesting combination!

As you can see, the weather wasn't perfect, but we had a good time.

It happened to be my 85th Munro. "If John can do them all, maybe I could go for it?", I thought as we headed back to the Cluanie Inn afterwards.

The seed was sown, and the challenge was accepted!

Two more the next day (Beinn a'Chaorrainn and Beinn Teallach), after a night in Loch Lcohy Youth Hostel (where I was the only English speaker among a huge group of Eastern Europeans!).

Only 197 to go!

(written 14/08/09)