This list caused much surprise in mountaineering circles, as until his list was produced many thought that the number of mountains exceeding this height was around 30, rather than the nearly 300 that he listed.
Jeho seznam vzbudil v horolezeckých kruzích velké překvapení, protože v té době se mínilo, že tak vysokých hor je ve Skotsku kolem 30 a ne téměř 300.