It is now more than five years since I was told in no uncertain terms by a senior urologist working at the Diakonessenhuis hospital in Utrecht in The Netherlands that if I did not take the medication he was prescribing me, I would be dead within a year, and that even if I did, I would likely be dead within three. Another urologist, working at the Wilhelmina Hospital in Nijmegen, who some weeks later offered a second opinion, suggested that three years was maybe a bit pessimistic, adding that five was more likely. (more…)
Category: Mountain Journeys
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Munro with cancer #128 and #129
13:15 – Spidean Mialach (M146), 3268ft, 996m
14:45 – Gleouraich (M097), 3396ft, 1037m
The meanings of the names of these mountains refer respectively to wild animals and the noises they make. (more…)
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Munro with cancer #124 to #127 – the high Laggans
10:00 – Carn Dearg (M098), 3392ft, 1034m
11:40 – Geal-Charn (M026), 3714ft, 1132m
12:15 – Aonach Beag (M037), 3661ft, 1116m
13:15 – Beinn Eibhinn (M048), 3615ft, 1102m
There is vigorous discussion among mountain people about which peaks are the most remote. There are many fine candidates, and I have visited a good few of them. Always in combination with an expedition of one or several nights out. (more…)
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Munro with cancer #122 and #123 – a tale of midges and tourists
14:00 – Meall a Bhùiridh (M045), 3635ft, 1108m
15:00 – Creise (M050), 3609ft, 1100m
16:00 – Meall a Bhùiridh (again)
I should have known from recent visits to Glen Coe that 12:30 in the afternoon of the busiest Sunday in August would not be the best time to find somewhere to park before climbing Buachaille Etive Beag. (more…)
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Munro with cancer #110 and #111 and Stob Coire nan Lochan
15:00 – Stob Coire Sgreamhach (M065), 3517ft, 1072m
16:00 – Bidean nam Bian (M023), 3773ft, 1150m
17:00 – Stob Coire nan Lochan, 3658ft, 1115m
Stob Coire nan Lochan is not classified as a separate Munro summit. But it should be. (more…)
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The Great Moss
Since the start of 2017 I have sought the advice of two Buddhist teachers about how to deal with my condition. As I have often said, the effort is almost entirely mental – although this is now changing somewhat as I feel the effects of the medication not working any more. (more…)
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Stuc a’ Chroin
Here I am at an altitude of about 630m not far south of the summit of Stuc a’ Chroin – just at the point where the cloud begins to envelop everything with cold damp invisibility. (more…)
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My favourite mountain
Ever since I first climbed to the top of Braeriach at midsummer in 1986, it has been my favourite mountain. The views of it from Speyside are fascinating. It seems to look down on the flat forests and pastures of Speyside like a wise old man with many faces, whose expressions are determined by the weather and the extent of snow in the northern corries. (more…)
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Some statistics so far
It is now exactly two years since I took up climbing mountains again after returning to live in Scotland while still recovering from radiotherapy. (more…)
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Chemical castration
I had always intended to be away in the hills somewhere for the week or so before my next oncology appointment, which was planned for 27th June. (more…)