HIKE PROGRAMME
July & August
2008
MEET: Burgh Quay
|
DEPART: Sundays 10.00 am
|
COST: Private bus. €12 (unless stated otherwise)
|
2nd pick-up
point: The bus picks up
walkers who are already at the designated point. It won’t be waiting and places
cannot be guaranteed as the bus may be full at Burgh Quay.
2nd drop-off
point: Where indicated
in the programme below, the bus will drop off hikers at the 2nd pick-up point
on the return journey, unless circumstances dictate otherwise. We regret that
this is not possible on all routes.
|
6 July
2008 ---Introductory
Hillwalker Hike: The Other
Sugarloaf to Hollywood Glen Leader: Joe Gilvarry 2nd
pick-up & drop-off point: Bus Stop near the pond at Seán Moore Park on Tallaght
By-Pass. Route: Snugborough Bridge * Sugarloaf *
Lobawn * Corriebracks * Church Mountain * Drumreagh. Distance: 17km Ascent: 620m Maps: OS 56, Harvey and Healy |
|
13 July
2008 ---Upper
Glenmalure Leader: Tom Kenny 2nd
pick-up and drop-off points: Bus Stops at Loughlinstown Roundabout. Route: Glenmalure * Art's Lough *
Clohernagh * Lug – Cannow * Ben Leagh Forest or Fraughan Rock Glen *
Barravore carpark Distance: 18km Ascent: 930m Maps: OS 56, Army Glen map, Healy and
Harvey. |
|
20 July 2008 ---North Wicklow Rambles Leader: Deirdre Muldowney 2nd pick-up point: Bus Stops at
Rathfarnham Castle. Route: Coillte CP Tonygarrow
(155 175) * Oldboleys * Lough Bray Lower * Kippure * Coronation Plantation *
Carrigvore * CP Military Road (O138 088). Distance: 19km Ascent: 825m Maps: OS 56 and Harvey |
|
27 July
2008 ---Little
and Large Leader: Brian Madden 2nd
pick-up & drop-off point: Bus Stops at Loughlinstown Roundabout Route: Little Sugarloaf * Great Sugarloaf *
Glencap South * Downs Hill * Kilpeddar. Distance: 16km Ascent: 650m Maps: OS 56. |
|
Please
note: NO
SUNDAY HIKES on 3, 10
and 17 August 2008 |
|
24 August
2008 ---Slieve
Blooms (with stop
for meal on return) Leader: Paul Carroll Meet: 9.30am Cost: €15 Distance: ca. 16km Maps: Maps OS 54 and Slieve Bloom Way Map
and Guide (with updates on www.eastwestmapping.ie) |
|
31 August
2008 ---Enniskerry
Area (local bus) Leader: Brendan Dempsey Meet: 10.30 am for 10.50 am bus to
Enniskerry (bus no. 44). |
|
7
September 2008 ---Introductory
Hillwalker Hike: Cleevaun Lough Leader: Steve Buckney 2nd
pick-up and drop-off points: Bus Stop near the pond at Seán Moore Park on Tallaght
By-Pass. Route: Forest Entrance Ballylow Bridge (GR
O061 129) * Ballydonnell South * Duff Hill * Mullaghcleevaun East * Cleevaun
Lough * tracks by Ballyhemushboy Brook * Ballynultagh * Ballynultagh Gap CP. Distance: 18km Ascent: 750m Maps: OS 56 and Harvey. |
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. Any participant on these hikes must be a member
of An Óige.
CO-ORDINATION If necessary, 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.
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.
EQUIPMENT It is essential to bring good rain gear (both jacket
and over trousers) and to leave cotton t-shirts and jeans at home!
Boots must be
sturdy with proper ankle support and a rigid non-slip sole such as Vibram.
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 AND RUCKSACKS Remember that walking sticks and
rucksacks cannot be brought onto the bus and must be stowed away in the boot
during the journey.
Any club member
interested in leading a hike, please contact:
Garry Byrne:
01-8388812
An Óige Ring of
Imaal
Marathon Walk
2008
This year’s
event was a great success and, once again, a good publicity exercise for the
Hillwalkers Club and the association of An Óige.
95 eager souls
turned out at Donard National School on a wet and murky June morning to brave
the arduous 36 kilometres of road and hillside circling the infamous Glen of
Imaal. The wind and rain persisted throughout the day. The event went off
incident-free and all participants returned safely to base. The Mountain Rescue
Service was not required.
The day never
brightened up and participants and helpers were glad to get back to base where
refreshments were offered. The President of the Association, Brian Graham, was
on hand to sign and present certificates to the 79 joyous people who completed
the circuit.
The event could
not have been staged without the tremendous support of An Óige volunteers who
offered their services to take charge of the registration administration and
stewarding of the checkpoints. Their dedication and experience was invaluable
as always and the event would not have succeeded without them. Six radio ham
operator volunteers were on hand to provide a communications link between all
of the checkpoints and the Donard base. Two members of the Red Cross ambulance
service were on stand-by at base camp. In total, there were approximately 30
people assisting at various stages throughout the day.
The Association
is also grateful to the following organisations and state bodies for providing
assistance and granting access permission to An Óige:
• Department
of Defence Property Section at Mobhi Road, Dublin.
• The Irish
Army Ranger Service, Coolmooney Camp, Glen of Imaal
• Wicklow
Mountain National Park, Administration Unit
• The local
farmers and landowners who have granted us access through their properties
without fail down through the years.
• The Coillte
Administration at Carnew Enterprise Centre, Co. Wicklow.
• Donard
National School Board of Management
• Members of
the Mountain Rescue and Radio Ham Service
• Members of
An Garda Siochana and Ambulance Service
• An Óige
Head Office staff
I have received
many phone calls, texts and emails from well-wisher participants praising our
management of the event. Well done to everyone!
Jim
Barry
FURTHER AFIELD
Countdown to the
Olympics
Sojourn in the
Northern Capital
Okay, okay
– so it wasn’t exactly a walking holiday! Most walking was in fact done
through beautiful temple complexes, museums, imperial cities and on top of
ancient defensive walls including a reconstructed section of the famous Great
Wall of China. Instead of rucksacks and walking boots, we had brought
suitcases, sandals as well as umbrellas to protect us against the rain –
and the sun!
In August 2007,
we spent two weeks in Beijing, with excursions to Xi’an and Chengde. We had
booked return flights with KLM via Amsterdam and the first three nights’
accommodation in Beijing, planning to organise our travel itinerary locally.
This proved to be perfectly feasible.
Exploring Beijing
Touching down
in Beijing’s Capital Airport was an odd experience as the plane seemed to be
descending endlessly through thick brown fog when suddenly, the wheels of the
plane made contact with the runway, still enveloped in fog. This was our first taste
of Beijing’s air pollution!
We took the
air-conditioned Airport Express Bus into the centre to our pre-booked Novotel
Xin Qiao Beijing. This 4-star hotel is located close to metro station
Chongwenmen and several bus routes, approx. 800m from the main railway station
and about a 20-minute walk from Tiananmen Square. At €44 per night for a double
room without breakfast (internet booking rate) we had no complaints. Services
included cashing of travellers’ cheques, bike hire, travel arrangements and excursions.
And the giant countdown display in the hotel lobby showed that we had arrived
almost exactly one year before the opening of the Olympic Games.
The Great Wall at Badaling
Having spent
the first afternoon getting a general feel for the city and exploring Tiananmen
Square where preparations were underway for the official “Countdown-to-the
Olympics-Party”, we decided to book a day excursion to the Great Wall and Ming
Tombs, aware that we would probably be dragged into various factory show rooms
along the way. Our tour did indeed stop at a jade factory, but we found the
jewellery and intricate carvings in various greens and translucent whites
fascinating. Unfortunately, by the time we arrived at the Great Wall at
Badaling, 70km northwest of Beijing, it had started to rain heavily and we
agreed to take a slide car up the mountain, as recommended by our guide. But
first we stood in line together with hundreds of Chinese tourists from various
parts of the country and a few Westerners dotted in between, most decked-out in
the flimsy green, red or blue plastic ponchos sold by enterprising hawkers at
every corner.
The slide car
turned out to be a daisy-chain of plastic bases to sit on with legs stretched
out in front. The slides were pulled up the hill on one side and then allowed
to descend on the other side by their own weight, guided by a central rail on
narrow tracks. Going up was not too bad although most of the short journey was
through an open area with no protection from the rain. After all this, walking
on the Great Wall was almost anti-climactic! It was misty, wet and at times,
difficult to navigate the steepest sections on the polished wet stones, trying
to avoid colliding with other tourists. Badaling is without doubt the most
popular part of the Great Wall, visited daily during the peak season by
thousands. Other accessible sections of the Great Wall are further away and
therefore less frequented. Some tour operators organise 1-day to 5-day hiking
excursions, at Jinshanling or Simatai. See www.greatwalladventure.com for
more information.
Back in
Beijing, we still had a number of important landmarks to visit: the Forbidden
City where we spent an entire day, the Gate of Heavenly Peace (Tiananmen), the
Great Hall of the People (Seat of the National People’s Congress), the Temple
of Heaven Park and the Natural History Museum. Many more sights were actually
closed for renovation, the Chairman Mao Mausoleum and several museums among
them.
Culinary Delights
We tried
various dishes on offer, mostly in the food courts in Beijing’s large modern
shopping centres on Wanfujing Street. Breakfast would typically consist of a
bowl of noodle soup, a rice dish or dumplings; for lunch or dinner we would
choose Japanese, Thai or spicy Szechuan dishes. Most restaurants display
pictures of their dishes on the menu, which was just as well! Western style
food is available from the bigger supermarkets, as well as bread rolls, cakes
and even sandwiches for sale in bakeries.
Beer was widely
available, inexpensive and of good quality, but we were surprised to discover
that tea was relatively expensive. We paid between €3 and €5 for a pot of tea,
while a simple meal for two with two beers cost no more than €5 or €6! And
there are so many varieties of tea! Whether you choose Oolong, Jasmine or
fragrant tea made by adding hot water to fresh flowers like chrysanthemums,
there is something for everyone, including the complementary green tea served
before you even order.
A visit to Beijing
would not be complete without trying the city’s signature dish, Peking Roast
Duck. We decided to check out the famous Quan Ju De Restaurant, established in
1864, a huge operation on four floors of an opulent building stretching almost
across an entire city block. It was incredibly busy and we had to wait 30
minutes before they could seat us. Despite the huge choice of dishes on the
menu we ordered Peking Roast Duck, just to see chefs in high white hats rolling
out our duck on a trolley and carving it up expertly in front of our eyes.
Ducks are bred
specially for the dish, slaughtered and seasoned before being roasted in a hung
oven. The duck meat and crispy skin is served with pancakes, spring onions, and
plum sauce. We were also presented with the neatly sliced tongue of the bird,
considered a delicacy, but decided to pass on it.
Xi’an, Shaanxi Province
For some
reason, train tickets in China can only be purchased at the departure station.
This means that you can only buy single tickets which, coupled with trains
booking up several days in advance during peak times, adds a degree of
uncertainty to your travel arrangements! On the other hand, there are always
long-distance buses and planes.
So for the trip
to Xi’an, home of the Terracotta Warriors, located at the end of the ancient
Silk Road approx. 930 km southwest of Beijing, we booked soft sleeper berths
for the 11 hour overnight train journey and a 1.5 hour plane trip back to
Beijing.
Xi’an turned
out to be a fascinating city with a rapidly growing commercial centre
supporting over 8 million people. Xi’an, known as Chang’an, was one of the most
important cities in Chinese history going back 3,000 years. The two Chinese
characters in the name Xi'an literally mean Western Peace. The old part of the
city is enclosed by a rectangular wall with imposing gates at all points of the
compass through which traffic passes in and out of the city. The centre of town
is defined by the enormous Bell Tower and its off-centre neighbour, the Drum
Tower, with an underground modern shopping arcade connecting the two, and four
lane traffic circling the Towers above ground.
The majority of
Xi'an residents are Han Chinese, but the presence of the 50,000 Muslim Hui
minority is noticeable in Xi’an’s cuisine (baked beef and mutton, buns with
beef) and in the Muslim quarter with its lively market streets, food stalls and
the ancient Xi’an Great Mosque.
Xi’an is also
known for its artisan tradition in calligraphy with beautiful prints,
paintings, carvings, brushes and bales of exquisite rice paper available for
sale throughout the old part of town. The Forest of Steles Museum has an
extensive collection of stone tablets engraved with ancient classic tales and
historical records.
Terracotta Warriors
The main
attraction and what most tourists come for is, of course, a visit to the
excavation site of the 2000-year-old Terracotta Army.
And it is an
immensely impressive panorama: thousands of life-size clay soldiers lined up in
brick-built corridors, with fragments of paint still showing on their uniforms;
with individual facial expressions; with different hair styles denoting
military rank; with hands that once held weapons or the reins of a horse. Some
sections have not been fully excavated, so that you can see how the clay figures
were found: broken into a multitude of pieces, with several figures collapsed
on top of each other and covered with earth. These sections underscore the
immensity of the restoration task already completed and the mind-boggling power
of Emperor Qin Shi Huang who had this army built to be ready for battle in the
after-life.
There are two
further exhibition halls and a small museum which holds two bronze chariots
unearthed in 1980. The chariots are behind glass, half life-size and incredibly
beautiful, though difficult to appreciate fully on a very busy day.
We visited the
Terracotta Army as part of a guided tour booked through our hotel but the World
Heritage Site can also be reached by public bus from Xi’an.
Other
attractions around Xi’an include: the Shaanxi History Museum (in the city),
Banpo Neolithic Village (included in our tour) and for the adventurous, a hike
up to the 2,160m granite peaks of Hua Shan. Hua Shan is located 120km east of
Xi’an and is one of China’s sacred Taoist mountain areas.
The Imperial Mountain Resort
Our second
excursion brought us to a city less frequented by foreign tourists. Chengde
(population 3.6 million) is located 250km north of Beijing, accessible by a
4-hour train journey through remote country side. Its main attraction is the
cool clean air, which is why Chengde was chosen as the location for the Chinese
Emperor’s summer residence, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994.
We bought
one-way hard sleeper tickets on the morning train which arrived in Chengde at
midday. Hard sleeper means open compart-ments with six bunks each, with the top
bunks impossibly close to the ceiling and a narrow ladder to climb up into it.
One can sit semi-comfortably only on the bottom bunk and on the few fold-down
seats in the corridor. But still, this is much better than the cheap hard seats
in overcrowded carriages which are usually shared with market goods, livestock
and accompanied by a cacophony of coughing and spitting. So the first thing we
did on arrival in Chengde was to buy our return tickets to Beijing for the next
day as we didn’t want to stay more than one night, and we had already booked a
room in the Novotel Xin Qiao Beijing. In the station, ticket lines were long
with lots of people pushing to jump the queue and not a Western tourist in
sight. We half expected to find only hard seats left - or none at all - but
luckily got the last top bunks in the hard sleeper carriage.
With our return
journey secured, we proceeded into the city centre to find a room for the
night. We couldn’t quite work out the bus routes and decided to take a taxi to
one of the recommended hotels in the guide book, a Chinese business hotel.
Their cheaper rooms were apparently unavailable, but with the hotel location
close to the Mountain Resort and only one day to explore it, we decided not to
waste any time on trying to find a bargain.
We spent the
afternoon exploring the Mountain Resort which was built in the early 18th
century and features large parks with lakes, pagodas, and imperial summer palaces
ringed by a defensive wall not unlike the Great Wall.
Outside this
wall are the Eight Outer Temples. Since the seat of government followed the
Emperor, Chengde was a political centre of the Chinese Empire for a few short
months each summer, and the temples are said to have been built in different
architectural styles to make the visiting delegations from different regions
feel at home and welcome.
The best-known
of these is the Putuo Zongcheng Temple, built to resemble the Potala Palace in
Lhasa, Tibet. Nearby Puning Temple, built in 1755, houses Guanyin, the Buddhist
Goddess of Mercy. This gilded wooden statue is 22m tall and has 42 arms; each
hand holds instruments, skulls, lotuses and other Buddhist symbols.
We managed to
visit both temples by using taxis to cover the distances between them and then
back to the hotel and finally the railway station for the 1pm train to Beijing.
Visiting the
temples was hugely enjoyable; mostly because we were the only Western tourists
there and therefore felt we were experiencing a genuine side of Chinese life.
Devotion of the deities was expressed in interesting ways. In one temple, the
railings of the staircase to an upper sanctuary were decorated with thousands
of small padlocks for good luck. And the monks certainly had a thriving
business going selling the padlocks!
There was the
pervasive but pleasant smell of burning incense everywhere, which together with
the glorious weather – sunny but not too hot - greatly added to the
general festival atmosphere.
Apart from the
Mountain Resort and the Eight Outer Temples, the city of Chengde didn’t offer
much to the visitor. The downtown district seemed quite run-down by comparison
with Beijing and Xi’An. At the same time, there were recent developments such
as a large public exercise area beside the river and a landscaped park with
water features in the Main Square.
History, culture and language
Our two week
sojourn in Beijing, Xi’an and Chengde was a very interesting introduction to
China, a huge country steeped in ancient history and culture and developing at
an amazing rate.
We found that
independent travel is possible from and to bigger cities and main tourist
attractions, but less so in smaller places where one of the first difficulties
to contend with is the absence of Pinyin (Romanization of Chinese characters).
Chinese people we met were very helpful and there often were a few students
around willing to practise their English on foreign tourists.
It can also be
nice to learn a few words in the language of the country you’re planning to
visit; the Confucius Institute in UCD offers 10-week taster courses several
times per year. Visit their website www.confuciusinstitute.ie
for details.
Text
and photos: Barbara Sudrow
See
Photos from Barbara’s trip by selecting the New Photos button on the
left.
IRISH CHALLENGE
WALKS
Hillwalkers
interested in group participation in the long-distance walks below, please
contact Mark Campion at campion@ireland.com or call Garry Byrne, 01-8388812.
Comeragh
Crossing
Date: Saturday, 5th July 2008
Distance: 35km
Ascent: 1,150m
Beautiful
scenery on a good day but can be a difficult walk on an inclement day. The
average time to cover the full route is approx. 10 hours. There are 3 stages to
the walk and it is possible to join the walk at the start of Stage 2 or Stage
3. Entrants can join a group led by experienced leaders. Experience is needed
to complete the entire 3 stages.
Organised by
Dungarvan Hillwalking Club http://www.dungarvanhillwalking.org
The
Joyce Country Challenge
Date: Saturday, 19th July 2008
Challenge: For the experienced fit and self
sufficient walker. 30km, 1,936m Ascent. Finny, Maumtrasna, Devils Mother, Ail
Dubh (road) Bunacunneen, Ben Beg, returning to Finny via the Southern Ridge.
There are two
alternative, led walks for the less experienced hiker in the same area,
following the shore line of Lough Nafooey.
The Lake
District Hill-Walking Club in Galway/Mayo runs this challenge walk.
http://walkersassociation.ie/node/151
Hart
Walk
Date: Friday, 1st August 2008
Distance: 111 km (Road 75km, Mountain 36km).
Total Ascent: 3,000m.
The Hart Walk
commemorates the first completion of this challenge by H.C. Hart (1847-1908) in
1886. The starting place is the
site of the old Terenure tram station, opposite the RC church on Terenure Rd.,
East, Dublin, where Hart commenced his trek. We leave at 8pm. Finishing times will be in the region of 20
- 24 hours.
Further
information: Tom Milligan at 086-0826857 or 01-2883312.
Mourne
Seven Sevens
Date: Saturday, 9th August 2008
Distance: 28km
Ascent: 2,530m
Start: Donard Park, Newcastle, Co. Down from
7-9am
Route: To climb the seven summits above 700m
by any route desired by participants. This is one of the more extreme walks.
Entry fee: £10.00 Sterling.
Organising
Club: Spartan Red Sox
Walking Club. Contact: Sharon Stuart (028)92683878 (prefix 048 not 028 from
Republic).
The
Western Way
Date: Saturday, 9th August 2008
Distance: 26 miles
Registration
fee: €25.00
Registration
from 7.00 am at the Community Centre, Maum Bridge, Co. Galway.
Walkers will be
transported by bus departing at 8.00am sharp to the starting point approx. 6
miles west of Leenane, Co. Galway at Our Lady of the Wayside Church.
Organising
Club: Galway Walking
Club
http://walkersassociation.ie/node/248
Burren
Walk
Date: Saturday, 23rd August 2008
Distance: 14km, 25km, 27km
Registration is
at the recreation area beside the entrance to Fanore Beach, Co. Clare
(GR M 142 082)
from 09:00 to 12:00hrs.
Cost: €10.
Where possible
the route of the walks traverse green roads and limestone paving. Certificate
of completion will be presented at the finish.
For any further
information contact Steve Wright @ 087-2451218 or e-mail burrenwalk@eircom.net
SPECIAL NOTICE
The Committee of
An Óige Hillwalkers Club
would like, on behalf of its members,
to convey their deepest sympathy
to Ali Mc Sorley
on the recent death of her sister Fiona.
Our thoughts are with Ali,
her family and friends.
AOHW Website
Survey
Please continue
to send interesting photos of club hikes or social outings directly to info@hillwalkersclub.com:
• Resize your
photos to about 1000 pixels in width before emailing them.
• Club
webmaster Matt Geraghty will upload photos once a month, so please be patient.
We are also
planning a revamp of the website www.hillwalkersclub.com
later in the year and would welcome suggestions from club members. Please
structure your comments:
I like …
I don’t like …
I suggest …
Please
send your comments to barbarasudrow@eircom.net
by Friday, August 29th 2008 to be in with a chance to win a €30 voucher for
outdoor gear!
DATES FOR YOUR
DIARY
Pre-Announcement
AGM 2008
The AGM 2008
will be held at An Óige International Youth Hostel in Mountjoy Street.
Date: 9th October 2008
Time: 8 pm
Venue: An Óige, Mountjoy Street, Room 102
Details will be
published closer to the time.
Map & Compass
2008
The Club will
be organising its annual Map & Compass Course once again this November.
Course
organisers are Donal Finn and Tom Kenny with support from Mark Campion, Joe
Kellegher, Ita O’Hanlon, Philip Roche and Jimmy McCullagh.
This is an
excellent opportunity for An Oige members and Hillwalkers to increase their
personal mountain skills in map reading, navigation and self-reliance on the
hills.
The course will
consist of 4 evening sessions (Tuesdays) and two weekends of active training,
based in the Glendalough area. Accommodation in Glendalough YHA Hostel is
included in the cost of the course.
Details as
follows:
Course Organisers: Donal Finn & Tom Kenny
Trainers: Mark Campion, Joe Kellegher,
Ita O’Hanlon, Philip Roche and Jimmy McCullagh
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue,
4h Nov 2008 Venue: 7.30 pm,
Room 102, An Óige Hostel, Mountjoy St., D7.
Topics: Mountain
Skills I: Map,
Scales, Legend, Grid References, Personal Equipment
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue,
11h Nov 2008 Venue: 7.30 pm,
Room 102, An Óige Hostel, Mountjoy St, D7.
Topics: Mountain
Skills II: Contours,
Features, Mountain Hazards.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WEEKEND 1 - MOUNTAIN
SKIILS 1
Dates: 15th
& 16st Nov 2008 Meet: Sat, 10.00 am,
Laragh, Co. Wicklow.
Activity: Practical
exercise in the Glendalough area, navigation by map only.
Overnight
in the Glendalough Hostel (self-catering), included in cost.
1. Map Setting 2.
Feature Recognition
3. Self-location 4.
Route Choice
5. Distance Estimation 6.
Handrail Features
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue,
18th Nov 2008 Venue: 7.30 pm, Room
102, An Óige Hostel, Mountjoy St, D7.
Topics: Mountain
Skills III: Distance,
Altitude, Timing, Emergency Procedures.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue,
25th Nov 2007 Venue: 7.30 pm, Room
102, An Óige Hostel, Mountjoy St, D7.
Talk: Mountain
Skills IV: Compass,
Bearings, Route card.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WEEKEND 2 MOUNTAIN SKILLS 2 & NIGHT NAVIGATION
Dates: 29th
& 30th Nov 2008 Meet:
Sat, 10.00 am, Laragh, Co. Wicklow.
Activity: Practical
exercise in the Glendalough area, navigation by map & compass.
Overnight in
Glendalough Hostel (self-catering), included in cost.
1. Revision
of 1st weekend 2. Walking
on a Bearing
3.
Back-bearing 4.
Sight-bearing
5. Pacing 6.
Steep Ground Work
Night Navigation -
Wicklow Mountains
Date: Sunday,
30th Nov 2008
Sunday
activities on Weekend 2 to continue until approx. 8pm to include night
navigation.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COST
€170
per person
€150
with valid proof of current An Oige membership
Booking opens 1st September
2008 through An Oige Head Office 01-830 4555.
Laminated maps (Sheet 56-Wicklow) (approx €20) and compasses
(Silva Type 4) (approx €35)
will be available for sale to participants on the 1st night of the
course.
Enquiries to Donal Finn: please email finndonal@eircom.net
NOTE FROM THE
EDITOR
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
COMMITTEE 2007 -
2008
Committee
2007 - 2008:
Chairman Frank
Rooney
Secretary/Sunday
Hikes Garry
Byrne
Treasurer Jim
Barry
Membership/Training Donal
Finn
Weekends Mark
Campion
Promotion Deirdre
Muldowney
Newsletter Barbara
Sudrow
Special
thanks to:
Webmaster Matt
Geraghty
Distribution Pearse
Foley & Cyril McFeeney
OCTOBER WEEKEND
AWAY
An Óige Hillwalkers Club
Galtees, Comeraghs &
Knockmealdowns
Fri 24th October –
Mon 27th October
3 Mountain Ranges in 3 Days
Walks at all grades: Hillwalker,
Moderate and Easy
Weekend Leaders: Donal Finn
DAY 1: Galtee
Mtns
Gus Tobin
Challenge Hike, Hillwalker Hike, Moderate Hike, Suir River Walk
All hikes to
finish at the Foot Pub.
DAY 2: Comeragh
Mtns
3 hike grades
(Hillwalker, Moderate, Easy) from the Nire Valley
DAY 3:
Knockmealdown Mtns
3 hike grades
(Hillwalker, Moderate, East Munster Way) to finish at the Vee.
Details of
route, distance, ascent, etc. will be made available on the evening before the
hikes.
Hike Leaders:
Mark Campion,
Donal Finn, Tom Kenny, Brendan Magee, Deirdre Muldowney, Barbara Sudrow
Notes
Cost: €290
Accommodation:
Standard twin rooms in the well-appointed «««« Hotel Minella,
Coleville Road, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary,
situated on the banks of the River Suir.
Meals: Full breakfast & lunch sandwich*
(Sat, Sun, Mon) and 4-course dinner (Sat, Sun) included.
Booking: €160 NON-REFUNDABLE to An Óige Head
Office, t: 01-8304555.
Booking opens on Mon, August 25th;
BALANCE of €130 to be paid by Fri, October 10th.
Departure: Friday, 24th October, George’s Quay
(Tara Street) at 6.30 pm. Stop en-route in Carlow.
Return: Monday, 27th October, arriving in
Dublin City Centre at 9 pm approx. Stop in Carlow.