Setting yourself a challenge to reach the summits of all 282 Munros in a single winter season is an audacious ambition. Actually completing the round of all of Scotland’s tallest mountains when faced with many risks and variables, including fierce weather, inhospitable conditions, physical niggles and fatigue, and in an “astronomical winter” of less than 90 days, is also incredibly courageous. To then sit down and write about the experience, warts and all, takes guts and further resilience. On all counts, Anna Wells, who has published a book about her 83-day round, called Breaking the Snowline, has excelled, in my opinion.
Anna becomes first woman to complete the Munros in a single winter
I watched and followed Inverness-based Anna, now 34, on-line as she announced her goal in 2023 of becoming the first woman to tackle all the Munros in a single winter, starting on December 22. She was brave enough to publicly declare her intentions and face the ultimate joy if she completed, or the potential mental anguish if she did not.
During the challenge, Anna did not hold back from saying when things were tough or painful, but she also reported on the many joys and uplifting experiences of her challenge. I wrote about her achievement when she did successfully finish.
Self-publishing a book about the challenge
Subsequently, Anna was keen to write a book about the winter Munro round but this was never going to be easy for someone who clearly finds sitting down – and not being outdoors – quite tricky. Anna told me it was “much harder than I had imagined”, plus she needed to learn how to design layouts, liaise with the printers etc because she decided to self-publish.
The result is an account that oozes energy and drive, that reveals the many highs and some lows and also gives a frank insight into her own psyche, which can be self-doubting and anxious, by her own admissions.
The reader is taken on the full journey, from Munro one to 282, with each entry describing an individual outing, whether a single Munro or an epic adventure to reach numerous Munros.
I easily skipped through the pages of the hardback book every evening for a week and enjoyed everything that I read. Anna’s descriptions are lively and enlightening, while also showcasing her skills as an accomplished mountaineer and climber.
Yet, she also sounds human and relatable and doesn’t shy way from reporting when she felt scared, vulnerable, overly anxious or doubtful. It could be so easy to write a rather arrogant account of a successful outcome, but Anna comes across as humble and personable, and in the knowledge that she is fortunate to be in a position to aim for such an esteemed goal.
I liked that the reader also learns about her childhood, career, desires and aspirations, with these details intertwined into the overall tale.
Anna ensures she mentions and gives thanks to everyone who helped her, including family and friends. She is not ashamed to say that she much prefers driving home to the comforts of her mum’s house compared to staying with strangers or sleeping rough in a tent or car.
Anna favoured day trips for Munros where possible. The number of miles driven and the hours spent behind the wheel of her car during the round must have been immense but she clearly knows her own needs and had decided the driving was preferable to more time away from home.
There are other people, including Helen Rennard who completed a subsequent winter Munro round, who seem to be able to cope with the relative discomforts of car sleeping and camping, or some, like Jamie Aarons, who holds the record for the fastest Munro round (in summer), who can withstand the non-stop linking together of summits, without much pause for sleep or home time.
Anna completed many of the mountain days solo, but also welcomed the company of people whom she knew to be experienced and speedy on the Munros.
She describes being humbled and warmed by the kindness of people. She also tells of times when she was over-awed by nature, sometimes due to the horrific conditions but mostly because of its spectacular beauty.
Overall, the book showcases Anna’s determination, skillset, bravery, energy and physical strength. This is balanced with an honest and open story of her inner journey, where self-belief, motivation and self-discipline are mixed with doubt, anxiety and fear.
I highly recommend this book whether you are already a keen Munro bagger, or you simply want to read about a daring challenge in harsh Scottish winter conditions. It’s well-written and easy to consume thanks to the bite-sized day trip descriptions. I also love the wee route drawings that give an at-a-glance pictorial overview of the outing.
Anna finished on March 13, 2024, becoming only the fourth person at the time to complete a Munro round in winter and equalling the previous record of 83 days set by Martin Moran.
Buy Breaking the Snowline by Anna Wells for £25.