Sunday
Hikes December 2005
HIKE PROGRAMME |
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MEET: Burgh Quay
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DEPART: Sundays 10.00 am
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COST: Private bus. €10
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Date |
Route
Description |
Distance |
Leader
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Dec 11th |
Route: Oldbridge - Kanturk - Scarr - Paddock Hill –
Laragh |
13km / 500m |
Martin
Fagan
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Dec 18th |
Holly Hike Route: Drumreagh Forest Entrance (GR 937 032) - Drumreagh
Forest Park - Church Mountain - Turf Cutters' Track - Hollywood Village. |
12km / 600m |
Don
Reilly
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Dec 26th |
Christmas Hike Route: Bens of Howth and Coastal Path. Meet at the Marine
Hotel, Sutton Cross, at 11 am |
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Frank
Rooney
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Sunday
Hikes January 2006
HIKE PROGRAMME |
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MEET: Burgh Quay
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DEPART: Sundays 10.00 am
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COST: Private bus. €10
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Date |
Route
Description |
Distance |
Leader
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Jan 1st |
New Year Hike Route: Traditional New Year Hike up Lugnaquilla. Meet at
Fenton's Public House, Glen of Imaal, at 11 am |
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Jim
Barry
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Jan 8th |
Introductory Hike Route: Carragoona - Rocky Valley - Glencap - Great Sugar
Loaf - Downs Hill – Kilpeddar. |
16km / 650m |
Brian
Madden
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Jan 15th |
Lake View Route: Woodend Forest – Woodend Brook – Ballinatona -
Sorrell Hill – Ballynultagh Gap – Blackhill – Hampton Bomber Crash Site –
Kilbeg – Blessington Reservoir – Lackan |
18km / 500m |
David
McCann
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Jan 22nd |
Circuit of Glencree Route: Tonygarrow – Glencree River – Aurora – Lough Bray
Lower and Upper – Eagle's Crag – Powerscourt Mountain – Tonduff North –
Maulin – Crone Wood – Glencree Hostel |
18km / 600m |
Garry
Byrne
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Jan 29th |
West Wicklow Route: Hell Kettle Bridge – Church Mountain – Corriebracks
– Lobawn – Cavanagh's Gap – Round Hill – Kings River – Granabeg |
19km / 850m |
Mark
Campion
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Feb 5th |
Introductory Hike Route: Sally Car Park (GR 137 087) – Lugalla (Fancy) –
Cloghoge River - Wicklow Way Track – Crone Wood |
19km / 650m |
Dave
Jackson
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General
Hike Notes
PARTICIPATION Mountaineering
is an activity with a danger of personal injury or death. Participants should
be aware of and accept these risks. People who take part in our club activities
do so at their own risk and are responsible for their own actions and
involvement.
INTRODUCTORY HIKES An Introductory Hike is organised once
per month for aspirant members. Participants on these hikes must be a member of
An Óige.
CO-ORDINATION Tickets are given out on Sundays to ensure
that participants reserve a bus place as they arrive.
LEADER The leader has
the right to refuse anyone who is not adequately equipped (e.g., without appropriate boots, rainwear, food, torch, hat,
gloves, etc). The leader may alter the route from that described in the
program. The leader sets the pace of the hike and walkers are expected to obey
the leader’s instructions at all times.
TORCH During winter months it is essential to bring a (head)
torch on all Sunday hikes. Check your batteries / bulb.
ENVIRONMENT Try
to reduce the erosion and widening of trails, e.g. do not walk on the edge of
worn tracks; walk through the centre of the original track or go several meters
into the scruff where the ground is untrodden, walking parallel to but not on
the track.
LITTER Litter is unsightly and
dangerous to animals. Even bio-degradable items like orange peels and banana
skins take years to disappear. Bring all your litter home and try to include at
least one extra item from each day out. Do not bury litter – animals will dig
it up.
WALKING
STICKS In the interest of safety and
comfort please keep the pointed end of your walking stick covered, especially
when travelling on the bus.
HIKE LEADERS If any member is interested in leading a
hike, please contact:
Garry Byrne Email:
garry_byrne@environ.ie
Mark
Campion: Email: campion@ireland.com
Note on
January Hikes
NB: Walks may be
curtailed at the discretion of the Leader on the day, taking account of limited
daylight hours, group safety etc.
January marks not
just the start of the new walking year but also the start of the walk programme
being put together by the new Hike Co-ordinators, Garry Byrne and Mark Campion.
The aim is to try to walk in new areas or areas not frequently visited, as well
as in well established areas. Where possible, new leaders will also be
introduced and it is hoped that these two measures will encourage members to
come out more frequently and ensure a fuller bus every Sunday.
As mentioned in
the last Newsletter, the Sunday hikes are running at a considerable and
unsustainable loss and the continued support of members is therefore essential
for the continued success of the Club. You are asked therefore to give your
support to the Sunday hikes and ensure a good turnout, especially for the new
leaders. So make an early New Year resolution and join in a varied and
interesting programme of walks!
Garry Byrne,
Secretary
Navigation
Training
Map and Compass Course
2005/2006
The annual Map and Compass
Course started on 1st November 2005 with 21 participants. Feedback from
participants after the three Tuesday evening sessions, held in An Óige
Headquarters, and the two weekend training sessions in the Glendalough area,
was very positive, as in this email from Symphorosa Watson:
Thank you for the Map
and Compass Course that you organised and planned and supervised so well. And
thanks to all the leaders and everyone else involved in putting the course
together and supporting it with their time and energy. I really enjoyed the
whole thing from many points of view... the clear and interesting classroom
learning experience, the individual expertise, care and attention from the
group leaders, the social aspects and the general fun and crack.
Hopefully, some of this
year's course participants will feel encouraged to become hike leaders
themselves in the future. Additional practice sessions are available (see
below) and anyone interested in expanding their Mountain Skills further can
contact the Training Officer, Jimmy McCullagh, for information.
REMINDER OF FORTHCOMING
DATES:
Night Hike: December 11th, meet outside Coach House Pub,
Roundwood at 4.00pm
Consolidation Weekend: January 28th & 29th 2006, Rathgormack
Mountaineering Hostel, Comeragh Mtns., Co. Waterford. (Costs associated with
this weekend are NOT included in course cost.)
Club
News
Tom Kenny and
Mark Campion both recently passed their Mountain Leader Assessment.
CONGRATULATIONS FROM EVERYONE!
News
Item of Interest
According to
recent press reports, the Mourne Mountains are due to become Northern Ireland's
first national park. The Mourne Mountains were first designated as an Area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1966. In 1986, this designation was extended to
include the farmed foothills and the coastline between Newcastle and Rostrevor.
Unlike the rest of the UK, the intention in Northern Ireland is that most of
the land in the Mournes will remain in private ownership. More information on
the above and on heritage in Northern Ireland may be obtained from the
Environment and Heritage Service at www.ehsni.gov.uk.
On 9 November
2005, the Environment Minister, Mr. Dick Roche, T.D., launched the Ordnance
Survey of Ireland's first computer mapping programme OSi Trail Master. It
combines maps, aerial photography and 3D models. Two products were launched,
"Trail Master East" and "Trail Master South". "Trail
Master West" and "Trail Master North" are due for release later
this year or early 2006.
OSi Trail Master
is a DVD, PC compatible, interactive mapping tool for the outdoor enthusiast.
Trail Master allows people to plan itineraries from home. They can plan and
print routes using OSi's Discovery Series mapping and even export their planned
routes to a hand-held GPS device. Full details on the product, which costs €99
RRP, including sample 3D maps and photographs, can be found at www.osi.ie
Garry Byrne
Hillwalker’s
Website
You may have
noticed that the web address on the front cover of the newsletter has been
changed to: http://www.hillwalkersclub.com/
This is the new
link to the club website - go and check it out and let us know what you think!
We are interested in receiving your feedback.
Webmaster Matt
Geraghty included a brief WEBSITE SURVEY in the October newsletter. Many thanks
to everyone who has taken part in the survey so far!
If you haven't
already done so, you can email your comments to: hillwalkerclub@eircom.net.
It will only take
a moment!
1. How often do
you visit the website?
Once a week
Once a month
Just occasionally
Never
2. If you have
visited the website before, which of the following would you tend to look at?
List of Sunday
hikes
Club news
Travel articles
Photographs
3. Do you ever
look through the archived Hillwalker programmes?
Yes
No
4. Is the layout
of the website easy to use & to navigate around?
Yes
No
5. What kind of
connection do you have when using the internet?
Dial-up (i.e.
modem)
Broadband
6. What browser
do you use?
Internet Explorer
Mozilla Firefox
Netscape
Opera
Other
A summary of the
feedback and comments received will be published in the next newsletter!
Editor’s
Notes
We would like to hear
from you!
Whether you …
· wish to contribute an article …
· have read an interesting book you'd like to recommend to
club members …
· would like to share your favourite hikes …
· want to comment on any club matters …
Why not get in touch? Write
or email to:
Barbara Sudrow, 24 Glenmalure Park, S.C.R., Dublin 8, barbarasudrow@eircom.net
Out on
the Trails
Hiking the Pyrenees
Account
of a Ramble in the Eastern Pyrenees
Aug
3rd: Dublin 0015 hours
I
woke up 5 hours before my flight covered in beads of sweat and wishing I had
been granted a few more meg of memory by the man above. For I had a sudden
dawning that my passport was sitting in Kerry on my bedside table. Not just
sitting but laughing too!
Aug
3rd: Kerry 0016 hours
My
brother wakes to a sudden noise from an object on his bedside table. He should
have left his phone somewhere else; then he would not have had to drive my
passport 200 miles while I caught up on my sleep! I only rang him to ask him to
send it to me by Swiftpost the following morning! He was off the following day
and decided he would courier it up himself that night! He's a good chap is our
Declan.
Aug
5th: Just east of Andorra 1400 hours
I
set off on what was intended to be an 8-day expedition. The weather was
extremely hot and as I was dropped off at a col, I had a lot of uphill to do. 6
hours of slow-going got me to a lake where I set up camp. On the way I passed
an elderly English lad called Fred who was knackered. He had spent 6 weeks
walking from the Atlantic with 20 kilos on his back and wasn't stopping until
either he dropped dead or reached the Med. Respect!
Aug 6th: A little
further east of Andorra
Climbed Pic
Carlit (2921m) today. A very tough ascent whose difficulty was compounded by
the fact that Fred sneaked about 4 tonnes of his muesli into my backpack in the
middle of the night or at least that's what it felt like! Views were
magnificent from the summit and the walk down to Lake Bouillouses was superb.
Found another lake to camp at this night. Got caught in a violent thunderstorm
shortly after my dinner of pasta, tuna and Brie. This was my staple diet over
the week. I have yet to touch tuna or Brie since and have only eaten pasta out
of good manners. Anyway the thunderstorm was rather unnerving... I texted my
brother Philip as planned to let him know that I probably wouldn't get through
the night...he's the dramatic member of the family so I tend to feed his
appetite. You can imagine his consternation when I couldn't get a mobile signal
for 3 whole days afterwards and was unable to let him know that I had managed
not to be exterminated in my tent! He rang my sister in Kerry who rang my 5
other brothers who then rang for pizza probably. They were mighty relieved when
I finally made contact as I have yet to make out a will.
Aug 6th, 7th and
8th:
3 wonderful days
walking through valleys, along ridges and in natural forests. The weather was
primarily good although at times the winds were very high. The variety of flora
was typically Alpine in the pastures and glades... the ridges were quite
exposed and supported little vegetation. I was sticking in the main to the HRP
(Pyrenean Haute Route). The tracks were excellent and very easy to follow with
regular markings. A map was essential however for route planning and finding potential
places to camp. I met quite a few people en route but in general the peace I
sought was found. I didn't do much of the deep thinking I had planned though.
Most thought went into coming up with good excuses for cutting the trip 2 days
short and what I would eat when I finish.
Aug 9th:
This was one of
the best days I have ever spent on the hills. For a start it was the last day
of 6 tough days carrying about 15kg ... Secondly it was downhill, very hot and
through some of the finest Alpine pastures I have seen since I was last in
Kerry! I felt like St. Francis walking along with butterflies afluttering
hither and thither, bees abuzzing fore and aft, birds aswooping to catch the
sweat dribbling from my unshaven chin. The flowers and trees were up there with
the best.
All in all I love
the Pyrenees. They are much quieter than the Alps, are largely undeveloped and
have bears that are afraid of YOU!
On the negative
side there are Pyrenean Mountain Dogs which look like sheep when you are not
wearing your glasses ... however, on closer inspection they are about twice the
size of a sheep and twice as unlikely to enjoy a comradely cuddle!
Postscript: ...
went with 5 members of my family up onto Le Canigou (circa 2800 metres) the
following week. We had glorious weather during the ascent but by the end of the
descent we had experienced sleet, snow, hail, rain and bitter cold. Bear this
in mind when planning European walking trips!
Mark Campion
MCI News
The Future of Tiglin
Contrary to what
has been suggested in some quarters, the MCI is not trying to close Tiglin; we
see a clear role for the centre and its services. On 23rd November the MCI's
Executive Committee met with Mr. Jerry O'Dwyer (the consultant conducting the
current review of Tiglin on behalf of the Irish Sports Council - ISC) to
present our position. It's expected that Mr. O'Dwyer's report on Tiglin will be
submitted to the Irish Sports Council not later than 7th December and an early
decision is expected thereafter.
The MCI has a
voice in the running of Tiglin, but it does not own or control it. Tiglin - the
National Mountain and Whitewater Centre - is owned and run by the Irish
Adventure Sports Training Trust Ltd (IASTT) which is composed of one director
from each of the MCI, ICU, AFAS, and the City of Dublin VEC. On 16th November
IASTT decided to continue Tiglin's operations for 3 to 6 months into 2006. The
decision on whether or not the Tiglin building remains open for that period
will depend on the outcome of the ISC review. It was also decided that Tiglin's
Scottish winter courses should go ahead as planned.
For further
information see www.mountaineering.ie
Declan O'Keeffe
President
Forthcoming
Events
Lecture & Slide Show
Camels, Opium, Princes and Gold
Over the last five years, Dave Lucas has
developed numerous new climbing areas and established hundreds of new climbs in
a total of 22 different countries, and travelled extensively in a further 29
countries. Achieving over 43 months of expedition experience, Dave will give a
talk and short film show on his two most recent adventures. The first being in
search of unclimbed rock in The Sinai desert and the other in the highlands of
Ethiopia where in true Indiana Jones style the expedition went in search of a
lost peak first written about in the 17th century by James Bruce.
Date:
Wednesday, December 7
Venue:
Tara Hotel, Merrion Road, 8pm
Admission:
€10 (€7 with MCI Card)
The images, film and tales of adventure will
make this talk an inspirational listening that will have you packing your bags
and exploring the world for similar epics.
The lectures in Dublin are organised by the MCI
in association with The Great Outdoors.
Walking in Peru
Alma Hobson, a long-standing member of An Óige,
is due to give a slideshow of her recent walking trip to Peru.
The slideshow will be held in An Óige's Youth
Hostel in Mountjoy Street, Dublin 7 in January, at a date to be decided.
Details should be available shortly and will be given in the moderate and easy
hikes programme for January.
Social
Corner
The
first social event of the New Year will take place on Tuesday, January 24th.
This
is an "Orienteering by night" event in St. Anne's Park in Raheny,
followed by a few pints in a local shebeen.
The
format is as follows:
· Register in the park from 6.30 to
7.30 pm (the cost will be small).
· Get into groups of 2 or 3 including
at least one person who knows what a compass looks like.
· There will be 2 courses on the night,
one easy and one hard. Most groups should take between 60 and 90 minutes.
· Bring a head torch.
The
recovery drinking venue will be announced at the event - it will be some pub in
Fairview - any recommendations?
Get
your names to Mark Campion before January 15th: Email campion@ireland.com.
Try
to organise your own teams; but if there are any individuals who don't have
teams we can organise some on the night.
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The
Folk Night has been postponed to some time in February, mainly due to the
search for a suitable venue. As soon as date, time and venue have been decided,
we'll let you know.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Suggestions
welcome! Please contact our Social Organiser Steve Buckney with proposals for
future social outings - don't keep those brilliant ideas all to yourself!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
CLUB GOSSIP WANTED!
We'd like to get a gossip
column going: back chat, witty comments, a few interesting pieces of gossip
from the Christmas Party, for example …
SEND IN YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS!
Inside
the Committee
Membership Secretary
My name is Anne Russell. I
have been a member of An Óige Hillwalkers for eight years and volunteered to
act as membership secretary last year. The job involves processing the
application forms which come to me by post or email and I send out receipts for
the membership fee received and a membership card for the current year. The
membership list is kept on a computer list and updated when needed. I also
answer enquiries from prospective members which are addressed to me, mostly by
email by people who find the Hillwalkers website address.
I also liaise with the MCI
and post out the MCI cards to the An Óige Hillwalkers members when they are
received by me.
I attend committee meetings
which are held about every 4 weeks where the needs of the club are discussed.
Membership
2005 - 2006
As in previous years, the December/January
programme is the last newsletter we send to club members who have not renewed
their membership for Oct 1st 2005 to Sept 30th 2006.
If you wish to receive the February newsletter,
either electronically, by post or both, please complete the membership form (at
the end of the newsletter) and return with payment to Anne Russell, Membership
Secretary. THANKS!
Easter
Weekend 2006
An Óige Hillwalkers Club
Easter Weekend 2006
Thursday 13th – Monday 17th
April 2006
Visit
to the Wild and Scenic Snowdonia National Park, North Wales
Llanberis Youth
Hostel, Llanberis, Brecon, Caemarfon, Gwynedd
Moderate/Hard
and Easy Walkers Welcome!
Two grades of organised
hikes Daily including Monday plus numerous short walk options for easy walkers
Leader:
Jim Barry
Boat & Bus Trip Only
Weekend Walking Itinerary to include:
Mt.
Snowdon
Moel
Siabod from Pont Cyfyng near Capel Curig (G.R. 735572)
Nantlle
Ridge from Rhyd Ddu near Snowdon Ranger Y.H.
Cadair
Idris from Minffordd, Mid Wales (G.R. 731116)
Low
Level walking facilitated at each of the above locations
Social
Events
British
Ordnance Survey Maps: 1:50.000 Landranger Series Sheet 115&124
Booking: EUR
310 (approx.) NON REFUNDABLE deposit to An Óige Head Office by credit card or
cash deposit (8304555). Balance EUR 150 to be paid before Friday 17th
Mar 06, as hostel has to be paid in full at this time. Booking facilities
available from 4th Jan 2006.
Meals: available at hostel (included in the price of the weekend)
Food: as above - stopping at local
shops for extras (STERLING CURRENCY REQUIRED).
Bring: Suitable Walking Boots, Winter
Rainwear & Clothing/Towels/Toilet Gear/ Flask/Torch/ First Aid
Kit/Camera/Binoculars/ Valid An Óige Membership Card.
Meeting Place/Time: Stena Line Departure Terminal, Dunlaoghaire at 10.15am
Departure: Holy Thursday from Dunlaoghaire at 11am sharp on HSS Stena Line Ferry
to Holyhead. Then onward by bus to Llanberis Youth Hostel.
Return: Monday evening from Holyhead on 6.30pm Ferry after bus journey from
Llanberis to arrive back in Dunlaoghaire at 8.20pm approx.
Welcome Aboard