Forget the Munros - climb the Allans!
Sir Hugh Munro could hardly have known what he started when he decided to catalogue all the Scottish peaks over 3000 feet in altitude. His idea was soon copied - the Marilyns being thought up by some bright spark who latched onto the obvious connection with Munro. The ball having been set rolling, other minds got to work, and we now have Corbetts, Donalds, Grahams, Humps, Hughs, Murdos, Simms, Tumps, Hewitts, Nuttalls, Birketts, Synges, Deweys, Dodds, Hardys, Wainwrights and others too numerous to mention.
This is all well and good, providing as it does, an endless source of inspiration for inveterate summit baggers still in the prime of life. However, little thought seems to have been given to the needs of the more senior members of the walking community, the experienced elder statesmen and women that form a substantial part of the Ramblers today. People who've been there, done that, climbed this or that without any need for catalogues or lists to spur them on in their younger days. Maps and compasses provided sufficient stimuli to pull on the boots and get out onto the tops.
Mulling this over, it occurred to me that a hill categorising system specifically designed to cater for the abilities of these older walkers (of which I am one) might be of service. But I wanted the system to be as simple as possible, so after giving the matter some thought, I came up with the 'Allans', this being an acronym for Any Little Lump Attainable Non-Strenuously.
I have long held the view that things in life should be kept as simple as possible, and my system fits the bill perfectly. It is brilliant in its simplicity, is applicable anywhere in the world, and does not need a long catalogue of named heights - indeed it would be quite impossible to create such a list. There must be trillions in West Yorkshire alone, which would give the summit baggers something to think about!
So, the next time you are taking a gentle stroll in the countryside and happen to encounter an undulation, give yourself a pat on the back. You have just ticked off another of the Allans. Enjoy!
Allan Humphrey, Keighley Group member for 35 years, and fading fast!