2017 was a year in which I managed to get a lot more walks in than in previous years.
Jan 2017A frosty, perfectly clear day on Helvellyn and friends – the start of a renewing acquaintance with the Lake District.
Feb 2017 A Blencathra-Skiddaw round of 12 on a clear & VERY cold day.
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March 2017 Several expeditions, a round of the wonderland that is the Rhinogs being probably the most memorable…
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April 2017 A wintery round of the 5 Glen Orchy munros, plus some Corbetts and tops was great….
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…but the real highlight was camping in the shadow of Crib Goch on the little island in Llyn Glas with my grandson, and then doing Yr Wydffa, Carnedd Ugain and Crib Goch with him afterwards.
May 2017 Holidayed in Tenerife, where I ascended Teide, and did quite a few walks in the little know Anaga area, which is quite superb.
However the high- perhaps, heat-light was getting Barbecued on the Mamores round…. It was hard to credit that Scotland could be so hot!
June 2017 No new expeditions in June, though brother Frank and I did a round of the Snowdon Horseshoe. But we took a family holiday in Germany (Cochum on the Mosel). Very picturesque - quite a revelation.
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July 2017 Similarly I didn’t seem to do much in July, though the one I did do - a round of the Arenigs - provided a solid challenge!
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August 2017 Under normal circumstances the highlight of the month would have been a round of the Ben Alder Munros….
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But really the number one experience was a wild camp beside Llyn Hywel in the Rhinogs with my grandsons, my brother and his granddaughter.
Sept 2017 The highlight of September was my first WH Meet (albeit informal), and a great walk round some of the smaller hills in Snowdonia.
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Oct 2017 The most memorable walk of October was a round of Hewitts in the Cadair Idris area, not least because I saw my 2nd Brocken Spectre.
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Nov 2017 I explored the Howgills for the first time during the month, but the high point was the WH meet at South Laggan, where I met lots of folk I only knew via WHRs, as well as some old friends; and got in 3 walks in superb winter conditions, one with malky_c. This latter was particularly memorable because there was a point when he showed signs of being a wee bit chilly, something hitherto unheard of in connection with a man that cycles through winter blizzards in shorts.
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Dec 2017 A short break in the otherwise rather unencouraging weather motivated me to get up to the Highlands in mid-December. The walk around the Loch Earn Munros and Corbetts was memorable, both from the spectacular character of the views, and the sheer physical exertion required. I don’t think I’ve been so exhausted since I did the Mullardoch Round.
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All in all a superb year, and now that I’m retired I should be able to get up into the Highlands more often.
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