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As it happens… guys and gals join me for my final munro!
When i first started climbing the munros, every time Michael and I passed through Glencoe he would point out Jimmy Savilles house and just to wind him up I would disagree and point to another house.
Last year when we were walking up Gleouraich and Spidean Mialach I told Michael about the dream I had the night before which involved me meeting Jimmy Saville in a pub. He was sitting on a barstool and I gave it ‘Hello Jimmy how you doing’ as you do… and we chatted for half an hour. When we got off the hill I put the radio on in my car and it was announced on the news that Jimmy Saville died!! Spooky.
When I first seen Schiehallion from Bidean nam Bian in 2010 I knew that if I managed to complete the munros that it would be on that hill. I loved the pointy shape of it and became very fond of it… didn’t know you could grow fond of a wee hill.
Also when growing up in Dumbarton my 2 friends and I spent every weekend listening to Kenny Jamieson singing Scottish and Irish folk songs in the local pub…There wasnt much else to do in Dumbarton
Kenny is now living in Inverness ( we went to visit last year and spent the evening listening to him and his band in his local). Hes still gigging away and the name of his band is Schiehallion! Hence another reason for keeping it to last.
I never thought I would ever climb all 283 munros until I reached number 200. I thought if I could conquer Skye and my fear of the Inn Pinn then I knew I would finish the munros. So 2 years 11 months (get it right JC…not 3 years haha) later im now a Munro Compleatist! Yeeha
Its been an emotional year. My wee aunty was diagnosed with cancer in December 2010 and during the last 7 months of her life we spoke about all the things I had done on the hills to take her mind off things. She loved the outdoors and I would fill her in all my adventures including.. 8 munros in one day and finishing on Ben Nevis. When she passed away I decided that when I climbed my last one it would be in her memory and all money raised would go to the hospice which looked after her. So when going away to climb Schiehallion I had to bring along my wee mum, 2 aunts and uncle to enjoy the after party and raise a glass in my aunts honour.
So May 26th was the chosen day and what a day it was.. glorious! Left Tummel Bridge at 10 am and was in Braes of Foss carpark for 1015am. Excited or what? Im not normally an emotional person but I must admit I felt quite emotional driving there. It would be the end of an era.
Met 4 of my pals at 1045am and the hardcore team arrived at 11ish. Started walking just after 1130am slowly to allow another pal to catch up. Reached the summit for 130pm. Lots of stops along the way. When my phone came into signal i must of received about 15 good luck texts and one from Michael apologising for not being there! His ears must have been burning!
It was the first time ive carried a map but never once looked at it. Too much chat and a great path all the way from the car park straight up to the summit. Clear blue skies the full day and the hill in questioned was easily seen. A huge boulder field (which i hate walking on) leads you to the summit.
At the summit Jimmy Saville appeared as I was getting a summit picture. I initially thought this guy had just completed too. Then thought who is this maddy and get him out of my summit pics
Took me a good 10 mintues to realise who it was. It was Michael!
Michael had been there for 4 hours and was a wee tad sunburnt. He had carried a table, bags of ice, pink champagne and put on a great wee banquet with the champagne in an ice bucket! He was knackered because im usually the one who carried all the gear up the hill when we walk
I was gobsmacked but ecstatic! It was a totally awesome feeling to have reached number 283 and on such a glorious day and with such great friends.
We sat at the summit for over an hour and to be honest I could of sat for another hour at least. I did not want that day to end.
We headed back back down the same path. Reached the bottom at 4 pm and 4 of my friends from Glasgow had drove up to enjoy the celebrations at the end waiting in the car park.
So 283 munros done. what to do now?! who knows! Corbetts? a new challenge?
Just to say Thank you so much to Michael for the great surprise.. the great spread, the champagne, the buffet at the top… cocktail sticks with delights on them..… the trifle for Johnny, gingerbread cake again but this time with 283 on it, sweets, Thanks for the Bolinger and cake at the bottom. Also a big thank you for all the hills we have done together. I know I would not have achieved so many in such a short space of time if you did not try and squeeze as many munros as you could into a weekend.
Thanks to Johnny Corbett for all the walks we have done together.Thanks to Johnny, Mo and Jimmy Craghopper for joining me again and for the great company as usual..Thanks again to you 3 and Kim for the lovely card and Champagne! Hopefully see you all soon on a wee hill.
Thanks to the guys from here who I have walked with over the last 3 years… Monty and Dooterbang. And to the nice guys and girls I have met from this site.. GLW , Jb likes a Beer, Alan S..Louis6
Thanks to my other mates who joined me on the walk Paul, Lauren, Jill, Ian and Helen....and to the ones who appeared at the end Anne, Hazel, Lynn and Jack, Jacqueline and Matt..... And for the numerous bottles of champagne and presents.
Heading to Spain tomorrow for 6 nights and my wee boots and poles need a rest and are therefore not coming on this wee trip! Time to relax
- Schiehallion lager getting packed for the trip
- wee send off. my mum and aunty
- first glimpse
- hardcore getting tired already
- numero 283
- now then now then....
- jimmy fixed it for me to reach 283... i always wanted a jimmyll fix it medal
- thirsty work getting to 283. cheers for the lanson jimmy
- lets get this party started
- hardcore on the super lager
- hows about that then
- views from the summit
- views
- party on
- views
- summit party
- prize medal
- michaels big bag
- party at the lodge.. jimmy chiiling
- tummel bridge
- mum
- beautiful.... be rude not to... calories required
- one for the road.. uncle
- farewell. end of an era
- final look towards schiehallion.... thank you and see again )