Kevin Woods' Hillwalking

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Top 2010

2010 was a good year. I went to climb foreign mountains for the first time (Polish and Slovakian Tatra), did a lot of the Southern Upland Way, completed the West Highland Way and got around Scotland a lot - spent two weeks in the Outer Hebrides, went to Glen Coe, the Cairngorms, Glen Finnan and more - not to mention Glen Shee, where I climbed my 100th Munro. And upon reaching the trig point of Auchineden Hill on the 31st December, I climbed my 100th hill of the year.

Not all was positive. My big walking buddy Michael died among his mountains in February, and things have been a little different since. My outlook on life has probably irreversibly changed and, I hope, for the better. Things have been pretty good though - I originally tried to find the ten best walks of the year, but there was a lot to pick from.

Here are 15.

1.
Rysy 12 September The highest mountain during a week-long trip to the Polish and Slovakian Tatra range. The summit of Rysy is in Slovakia, but a small NW top - only metres away - lies in a Poland and is therefore the country's highest top. This was the first day of good weather and views took our breaths away.

2.
Uisgneabhal Mor 22 July The first half of a surreal Hebridean day on North Harris. I climbed this Graham alone in pure paradise, with widespread views all across the islands. But the second half of the day - Maodal (#3) - really made this day complete.

3.
Maodal 22 July Myself and my brother Steve climbed to the top of Maodal at sunset. Beautiful views lay all around us then we ran/drove back to Horgabost in time to meet dad to see the sun set across the beaches.

4. Jahnaci stit 14 September The second climax of the Tatra trip, Jahnaci stit is a compact granite pyramid at the eastern end of the Tatra range. The mountains in this range are absolutely spectacular and Craig, Dougie and I reached the summit shortly after sunrise after a dangerous and thrilling ascent. A real high return to Scotland on.

5.
Orchy 5 11 April I took advantage of a springtime weather window to climb the five Munros above Bridge of Orchy. The resounding memories are ones of huge space, freedom and fun. Views were expansive and I was felt on top form, spending the day walking the high ridges above Rannoch Moor.

6.
Stob Coire nan Lochain 28 January The avalanche and weather forecasts were looking superb so Ian and I thought we'd have a crack at Bidean nam Bian. At flat tyre saw us arrive later in Glen Coe than hoped, but we still made it up the magnificent NE ridge of Stob Coire nan Lochain, one of the most exciting and scary, though wonderful ascents I've ever done.

7.
West Highland Way June Steve and I, and friends Marri and Sarah, walked the West Highland Way while a week-long period of good weather settled on Scotland. It was sometimes tough, especially when Sarah and Marri had to leave us at Inverarnan, but the memories were mostly of long, fun days walking through the Highlands.

8.
Starav 5 31 August I fulfilled an adventurous ambition, to walk over the five Munros including and surrounding Ben Starav, in a day. I did it by public transport, starting and ending at Bridge of Orchy. Using a bike between Bridge of Orchy and Loch Dochard made it possible. It was a lot of fun and tough towards the end, but well worth it.

9.
Auch 5 25 August This solo trip was a good fun and again completed by public transport. The weather was warm and dry and I had a lot of pleasure traversing all the tops of Auch and Breadalbane. Burn-out occurred just short of the last summit, but the long walk back to Tyndrum was deeply joyful.

10.
Southern Upland Way (W) June A mental week-long trip across the Southern Upland Way with Mackenzie. Originally we intended to finish, but we were burned out by Moffat, 200kms and over half way in. But there were many good times, the weather was mostly sunny and it is one of the most fun trips I've been on - asides the absolutely torturous sections which were a test indeed.

11.
Sgurr nan Coireachan (Finnan) 28 December The last Munro of the year was also Kev McKeown's 200th. What made this so pleasurable was eventual success in the face of apparent failure - and our ability to get out of a dangerous situation on the summit ridge with some neat navigation.

12.
Buachaille Etive Mor 7 November This calm morning of bright blue skies was one of the most pleasurable I've had. The Buachaille is an amazing mountain to experience and we only went up the normal route! Add to the deep calm and peace, I also did the full ridge traverse for the first time, even though the weather closed in by the end.

13.
Carn a' Gheoidh - 100th Munro 9 October My hundredth Munro at Glen Shee - Carn a' Gheoidh - was climbed with Sam Munro and James Seaman. A fun walk in itself, the hundred mark made it extra special, add to that a V.Diff ascent of the Cairnwell summit mast. ;-)

14.
Slackdhu, Feb '10 19 February I include this one, not because it was the one of the best trips of the year, but the most unique. Michael died among the mountains a few days before and this was my first hill 'back' - I saw the mountains for their danger, and felt many emotions about losing someone, bad and good: 'He'll will never see this again...', against 'If there's shit you want to do, do it because you get one shot.' I suppose we all come to understand this sooner or later.

15.
Aonach Eagach 25 May The Aonach Eagach - finally! Can't say it was immensely fun on the actual ridge (I was too busy eyeing up the big drops and concentrating), but what a ridge traverse. Adrenaline was running in full flow, but it's such a classic ridge with some of the most sound rock I've touched. It's also a hell of a drop to the floor...!

Home >> Top 2010
Top 2010
2010 was a good year. I went to climb foreign mountains for the first time (Polish and Slovakian Tatra), did a lot of the Southern Upland Way, completed the West Highland Way and got around Scotland a lot - spent two weeks in the Outer Hebrides, went to Glen Coe, the Cairngorms, Glen Finnan and more - not to mention Glen Shee, where I climbed my 100th Munro. And upon reaching the trig point of Auchineden Hill on the 31st December, I climbed my 100th hill of the year. Not all was positive. My big walking buddy Michael died among his mountains in February, and things have been a little different since. My outlook on life has probably irreversibly changed and, I hope, for the better. Things have been pretty good though - I originally tried to find the ten best walks of the year, but there was a lot to pick from. Here are 15.
	1.	Rysy	12 September	The highest mountain during a week-long trip to the Polish and Slovakian Tatra range. The summit of Rysy is in Slovakia, but a small NW top - only metres away - lies in a Poland and is therefore the country's highest top. This was the first day of good weather and views took our breaths away.
	2.	Uisgneabhal Mor	22 July	The first half of a surreal Hebridean day on North Harris. I climbed this Graham alone in pure paradise, with widespread views all across the islands. But the second half of the day - Maodal (#3) - really made this day complete.
	3.	Maodal	22 July	Myself and my brother Steve climbed to the top of Maodal at sunset. Beautiful views lay all around us then we ran/drove back to Horgabost in time to meet dad to see the sun set across the beaches.
	4.	Jahnaci stit	14 September	The second climax of the Tatra trip, Jahnaci stit is a compact granite pyramid at the eastern end of the Tatra range. The mountains in this range are absolutely spectacular and Craig, Dougie and I reached the summit shortly after sunrise after a dangerous and thrilling ascent. A real high return to Scotland on.
	5.	Orchy 5	11 April	I took advantage of a springtime weather window to climb the five Munros above Bridge of Orchy. The resounding memories are ones of huge space, freedom and fun. Views were expansive and I was felt on top form, spending the day walking the high ridges above Rannoch Moor.
	6.	Stob Coire nan Lochain	28 January	The avalanche and weather forecasts were looking superb so Ian and I thought we'd have a crack at Bidean nam Bian. At flat tyre saw us arrive later in Glen Coe than hoped, but we still made it up the magnificent NE ridge of Stob Coire nan Lochain, one of the most exciting and scary, though wonderful ascents I've ever done.
	7.	West Highland Way	June	Steve and I, and friends Marri and Sarah, walked the West Highland Way while a week-long period of good weather settled on Scotland. It was sometimes tough, especially when Sarah and Marri had to leave us at Inverarnan, but the memories were mostly of long, fun days walking through the Highlands.
	8.	Starav 5	31 August	I fulfilled an adventurous ambition, to walk over the five Munros including and surrounding Ben Starav, in a day. I did it by public transport, starting and ending at Bridge of Orchy. Using a bike between Bridge of Orchy and Loch Dochard made it possible. It was a lot of fun and tough towards the end, but well worth it.
	9.	Auch 5	25 August	This solo trip was a good fun and again completed by public transport. The weather was warm and dry and I had a lot of pleasure traversing all the tops of Auch and Breadalbane. Burn-out occurred just short of the last summit, but the long walk back to Tyndrum was deeply joyful.
	10.	Southern Upland Way (W)	June	A mental week-long trip across the Southern Upland Way with Mackenzie. Originally we intended to finish, but we were burned out by Moffat, 200kms and over half way in. But there were many good times, the weather was mostly sunny and it is one of the most fun trips I've been on - asides the absolutely torturous sections which were a test indeed.
	11.	Sgurr nan Coireachan (Finnan)	28 December	The last Munro of the year was also Kev McKeown's 200th. What made this so pleasurable was eventual success in the face of apparent failure - and our ability to get out of a dangerous situation on the summit ridge with some neat navigation.
	12.	Buachaille Etive Mor	7 November	This calm morning of bright blue skies was one of the most pleasurable I've had. The Buachaille is an amazing mountain to experience and we only went up the normal route! Add to the deep calm and peace, I also did the full ridge traverse for the first time, even though the weather closed in by the end.
	13.	Carn a' Gheoidh - 100th Munro	9 October	My hundredth Munro at Glen Shee - Carn a' Gheoidh - was climbed with Sam Munro and James Seaman. A fun walk in itself, the hundred mark made it extra special, add to that a V.Diff ascent of the Cairnwell summit mast. ;-)
	14.	Slackdhu, Feb '10	19 February	I include this one, not because it was the one of the best trips of the year, but the most unique. Michael died among the mountains a few days before and this was my first hill 'back' - I saw the mountains for their danger, and felt many emotions about losing someone, bad and good: 'He'll will never see this again...', against 'If there's shit you want to do, do it because you get one shot.' I suppose we all come to understand this sooner or later.
	15.	Aonach Eagach	25 May	The Aonach Eagach - finally! Can't say it was immensely fun on the actual ridge (I was too busy eyeing up the big drops and concentrating), but what a ridge traverse. Adrenaline was running in full flow, but it's such a classic ridge with some of the most sound rock I've touched. It's also a hell of a drop to the floor...!