SMC Journal 2021 212

Like most human activities, mountaineering has had an abnormal year, as attested by several of our articles. Constrained by Covid-19 restrictions, climbers have explored locally in summer and winter, and recorded an unprecedented tally of new routes on Scottish hills and outcrops. Some, such as our acclaimed contributor Olly Stevenson, have found unorthodox challenges among the concrete structures of a city, while others have sought solace in committing mountain memories to paper.

In reminiscent articles you will find Greg Strange exploring Beinn Eighe with the late Brian Sprunt or Dave Allan on Quinag with Andy Nisbet, Niall Ritchie climbing Mount Kenya, and Geoff Cohen benighted in the high places of the world. And in a reflective vein there is poetry from Donald Orr, Sophie-Grac Chappell, Peter Biggar and Ian Crofton, with Orr also surveying the mountain paintings of D.Y. Cameron.

If you enjoyed his dry humour last year in 'Travels with a Gun' you will relish another wordly-wise piece by Tim Pettifer, 'Almost Drowning', in this year's Journal. Or you can find high adventure with Callum Johnson, making the first ascent of The Shard (E5), and join Richard Ive on our sea-stacks. Or undertake a gruelling ski-tour with the super-fit Finlay Wild.

Historical interest is well served by Michael Cocker's piece on Aleister Crowley ('The Beast') and by Robin Campbell's impressive account of Harold Raeburn?s climbs furth of Scotland.

Munro completers are celebrated too, along with many other regular features.