A keen walker, H J Harper, has come up with a list of Scottish hills that he believes are worthy of the title: Harper100. He says: “It is a list that I put together because I wanted to establish a better hill climbing list for people who only want to climb the very best of the Scottish Hills.
“It is the result of having been dragged up a dull Munro or Corbett too many by my hill-bagging friends. I thought it might be a helpful list for others who suffer the same predicament. It’s something I’ve done for my own fun and to helps others.”
I’ll let you read the list and see what you think. Harper knows there will be some who agree and those that disagree with his subjective list, but he acknowledges that. Read on to find out more.
More details: Harper100
H J Harper is a supply teacher from Dundee. He has named his list the Harper100. He writes: “The spiritual and therapeutic connection with the Scottish mountains that have drawn so many people to them seems to be at risk from an evolving data-centric thrust: How many, how high, how fast. These changes are being foisted upon us by product managers and app developers and one has to wonder if they are adding anything, or are they taking something away.
“There is the emotive nature of a remote hill, where your cares and worries are left many hours behind you and are replaced with something much more valuable but invaluable at once.
“It’s where boot rubber clutches to a sharp precipice, yet you still notice the moss campion holding tight; a steep intimidating ridge line, yet it is the view that finally steals your breath; or the woodland approach in a native forest where a chance encounter with a capercaillie leaves one wanting for nothing more in life.
“It’s at these times that the hills are not reduced to a collection of soporific data, or of an abstract numerical challenge.”
He asks whether we in danger of losing the very essence of why we went to the hills in the first place? He continues: “We went to the hills to have our emotions and thoughts transformed and enriched.”
Harper does acknowledge that climbing all the Munros or Corbetts is a “mighty achievement” but he argues that the hill lists are developed from a quantitative perspective.
Harper reveals that he has been drawn up many hills, while accompanying hill-bagging friends on what he calls “tick box exercises”.
“Yet,” he adds: “My eye has often been drawn to a neighbouring hill, one with a fine looking sharp arête or a ridge with a slight dusting of excitement-inducing snow or a deep circular coire encircling a dark lochan in its recesses, where a wee dook may be a possibility. How my heart soared to be there.”
Harper100: ‘Quality versus quantity’
Harper100 is what H J Harper calls a “qualitative not quantitative Scottish hill-list”.
He writes: “It is still a list, of course, but it serves as a guide, not a target. Nobody is there to chastise or tell you off if you choose to bypass the summit cairn entirely or if you explore your own way in the hill. Indeed, that is to be encouraged.
“I’ve had long discussions in Highland bars and bothies with walking pals about how long the list should be, what should constitute an entry and which hills should make the list.
“Most agreed, 100 hill days was about right. Achievable by most, but not too intimidating for the many.
“As to the criteria of what an entry would be…a single summit, a hill day, a route? Ultimately, it was felt that a single summit would be listed and this may represent a larger outing. For instance, Sgurr na Ciste Duibhe is listed and this represents a traverse of The Five Sisters of Kintail, with the listed summit being the highest on the ridge.
“Sometimes a hill has been chosen to select a summit that represents the best of a given hill region. In these cases there may be many alternative options to achieve that summit and this choice is left to the walker’s discretion. As an example, Sgurr nan Clach Geala was selected to represent the beautiful Fannichs region, while there can be many ways to climb the hill and all offer a fabulous day out in the hills.
“Then, there was the thorny issue of qualitative assessment. Even some dreadfully boring hills can become exciting and noteworthy in challenging, wild or beautiful weather.
“Or what about a day that there is a surprising and unexpected spring in your step, or the company is full of good craic and humour abounds?
“Separating a given hill from the environment or one’s individual experience on a given day was not an easy task.
“Many experienced hillwalkers will discuss the list, criticising that summits that are absent or overlooked. For every inclusion, however, there must be an exclusion. This, undoubtedly, was the hardest element of compiling the list. It has been sweated over and chatted about at length.
“The list of those hills that didn’t quite make the list was – and indeed still is – long.
“A favourite wee hill of mine is Creag Bheag but which hill is to be excluded from the list to let it in? In the end Kingussie’s Hill didn’t make the list. Being such a small hill, it was felt that the exposure-time to its joys and charms was too short compared to many longer and more iconic hills. It still holds a strong pull on my heart though.
“Some hills came close to not making the list, surprisingly, for instance, Ben Nevis. It was deeemed too busy, too formulaic, too littered. But, finally, after a few winter accents and scrambles over the Carn Mor Dearg arete, the king of the quantitative hills made it on to the qualitative list.
“So, THarper100, is meant to be the very best of the Scottish Hills.”
See the list: Harper100.