Monday, March 21, 2011
100th Munro celebration
With so many people having done the munros these days, it may seem a bit low key to celebrate a 100th. But I don't expect or plan to do them all, because I don't get up to Scotland that much, and also there are too many good ones that I want to do again before I would prioritise doing those I have not done. Also, it's a worthy celebration because it's taken me 30 years to achieve..!!
A few stats, for those like me who love this stuff:
First munro - Stob Dearg on Buachaille Etive Mor on 23 Feb 1981 with Michael Simpson
50th Munro - Spidean Mialach in April 1987 with John Shepherd
80th Munro - Garbh Chioch Mor in May 1992 with Jim Rutter
100th Munro - Meall na Teanga in March 2011 with Simon Fox
You'll notice the decline in rate...and I did infact gain 6 new munros from upgrades in the late 1990s.
my 100th Munro..!!
my 100th Munro a photo by Ade Holmes on Flickr.
"For here lies the true joy of battle, in exhilerating contest with the elements, upon mountains that may be won, yet never conquered, shared by companions who to may be defeated, yet whose spirit I have never seen shaken."
(WH Murray, Mountaineering in Scotland).
With this quote always in my mind when I'm on the hills, it is fitting that my 100th munro should have been in a blizzard on the relatively unknown summit of Meall na Teanga with Simon Fox - a man with over 200 under his boots. We had planned to climb Craig Meagaidh, one of the great scottish mountains, but it was snowing hard, even down at sea level, so we opted for a low place to park, and a lower and uncomplex summit. It was a worthy summit for the day and the weather on the summit ridge was inspiringly awful, with storm force winds and massive amounts of spindrift.
Click on the title for the full set of photos from the trip
