Life after the Munros

David Smith

Little did I think when climbing Ben Nevis in July 1947 on route to Skye for my first mountain holiday that I would ever contemplate climbing all the 3000 ft mountains in Scotland.  It was not until the YRC Munro meet of 1983 that it first crossed my mind.  Being very much involved with the original feasibility study and then the basic planning with Derek Bush and Peter Swindells I began to realise that I had already climbed a good number of these mountains mainly on Whit Meets.   I had done more than half, thus there was no turning back.

In no small measure the listing and planning carried out by my wife over the past eight years played a vital part in the completion on Beinn Dearg on the 15th July, some 47 years on.  What were the highlights I have been asked, well my best day was undoubtedly the traversing of the Skye ridge from Gars Bhienn to Sgurr nan Gillean, tip to top in 10 hours in 1952 with Doug Spray a one time member of the Club.

Or was it that wonderful long day on the Fannaichs with John Gott and Roger AlIen, or even one of the traverses of Aonach Eagach on an icy February meet; each expedition’ had its own character from scorching sunshine on Beinn Alligin to wind mist and heavy rain on Bidein Choire Sheargaich and Lufg Mhor in June of this year.  I must admit that my final summit Beinn Dearg of Atholl with its pleasant cycle ride in, the steadily ascending path and that stone built trig point now has a very special place.

The great bonus obtained from the venture is that new areas of Scotland are discovered that would otherwise be missed are visited and a wider appreciation of the country results.  There is life for me after the Munros without resorting to the Corbetts, I will be accompanying my wife on her remaining 118 which she hopes to complete by the year 2000.