HIKE PROGRAMME
May 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.
NEW
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.
|
11 May
2008 ---Glendalough
Ridgeway Rambles Leader: Don Reilly 2nd
pick-up & drop-off point: Bus Stops before the roundabout at Loughlinstown. Route: Upper Lake Glendalough * Pollanass *
Derrybawn Ridge * Mullacor * Lugduff (SH 637m) * Glenealo Valley * Lower Lake
Visitor’s Centre. Distance: 19km Ascent: 575m Maps: OS 56 and Harvey |
|
18 May
2008 ---J.B.
Malone Memorial Walk Visit the New
Knockree Hostel Leader: Garry Byrne 2nd
pick-up & drop-off point: Bus Stops before the roundabout at Loughlinstown. Route: Ballinastoe CP (195 078) and Wood *
J.B. Malone memorial * Wicklow Way to the new Knockree YH by Djouce and
Maulin. Afternoon tea
on the lawn, weather permitting, otherwise indoors. Distance: 16km Ascent: 620m Maps: OS 56 and Harvey |
|
25 May 2008 ---Sally Gap to Wicklow Gap Leader: Stephen James 2nd pick-up point: Bus Stop at Rathfarnham
Castle, before the Yellow House. Route: Sally Gap * Carrigvore
* Gravale * Duff Hill * Mullaghcleevaun East * Mullaughcleevaun * Barnacullian
* Stoney Top * Tonelagee Wicklow Gap CP (O005 075). Distance: 21km Ascent: 870m Maps: OS 56 and Harvey |
|
1 June
2008 ---Bank
Holiday Weekend NO SUNDAY
HIKE |
|
8 June
2008 ---Introductory
Hillwalker Hike – Upper Glendalough (see notice to Newcomers) Leader: Tom Milligan 2nd
pick-up & drop-off point: Bus Stops before the roundabout at Loughlinstown. Route: Wicklow Gap (T075 001) * Turlough
Hill * Lough Firrib * Three Lakes * Conavalla * Lugduff * Glenealo river *
Camaderry * Lead Mines. Distance: 17km Ascent: 700m Maps: OS 56, Harvey and Healy |
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
NOTICE
TO PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS
Guest hikers
who are interested in joining An Óige Hillwalkers Club are insured with the MCI
for a maximum of 2 to 3 hikes, but only if their name is recorded on the day of
the hike.
HIKING ABROAD
Tenerife Trekking
Rejoice my
fellow walkers! Following a protracted legal battle (Hillwalkers v. Lawless), I
have finally overturned the criminal restrictions on my writing for the club
newsletter. With only a few ridiculous legal restraining orders still in place
(regarding deference to the Committee, choice of language, not unjustly assailing
people's good names, et cetera), I am free once again to share my wondrous
tales with the club!
Tenerife
in February
My latest
adventures took place off the coast of Africa, on the sun-soaked island of
Tenerife. Inspired by a recent trip there by Joe Kavanagh & Stephen
Buckney, Trish and I arrived there in late February 2008 for a week of sun and
hiking - guess which of us did what?
The chief
attraction of walking in Tenerife is Teide National Park, centred on the
island’s massive volcano. This contains 35 official walking trails and some of
the most attractive scenery I have ever seen.
To plan the
feasibility of going there, I used the Cicerone guide 'Walking in the Canary
Islands 1', the Sunflower Tenerife guide and Sunflower La Gomera & Southern
Tenerife guide. However, once over there, the official walking routes were very
easy to follow and I bought the 1:25000 map Parques Nacionales No. 4 (Teide),
as it gave details of new official routes that were not in the guides. There is
also a free little map available at the Parador and El Portillo visitor centres
in Teide National Park. There are also a number of other official walking
trails and smaller national parks on the west coast and in the north-east. The
German Kompass 1:50000 map of Tenerife (No. 233) gives details of these, though
the edition I saw did not have the newly added walks around Teide.
The public bus
service on Tenerife was another key enabler of this expedition. The most
important bus is No. 342, as this takes you into the heart of Teide National
Park and accesses a large number of the walking routes. Unfortunately there is
only one bus in the morning and one returning from the mountains in the
afternoon. This forced me to be less ambitious in my walks than I would have
liked and the area is crying out for a later return bus service. If using the
bus then buy a Bono Card (in units of €12 or €30) as journeys paid by this card
are half-price. See the official
bus site www.titsa.com for routes and timetables.
Mount
Teide National Park
I arrived in
the park for my first walk giddy with excitement. Teide was magnificent,
covered in snow and looming over the wild landscape. The weather was hot, but
with a cool breeze that had me wearing my fleece. This disguised the
seriousness of the heat and I got sun burned on my hands on my first day. Other
days were less cool and required sensible efforts to avoid the ill-effects of
the sun (no naturalist walking on this trip!). However it was never too hot to
enjoy the hiking.
My first walk
was Route 15 up to Guajara (2713m), the second highest point on the island. A
pleasant walk brought a steep climb at the end and my first experience of thin
air due to altitude. Some heavy breathing later I was standing in ice above the
clouds in blazing sunshine...and watching my watch wondering how I could make
it back in time for the bus! Time constraints dictated the use of an unofficial
trail to get down that was a bit precarious because of the ice and snow. A few
slips and scrapes later though and I managed to make it down in time for a cool
beer at the Parador.
Other
walks in Teide NP
Next day I
choose the Boce Tauce trail (Route 18), a short walk taking you between a rock
face and lava flows. The scenery again was beautiful and had me humming Ennio
Morricone's wild-west music. The guide-books give an optional circuit of
Montana del Cedro but I had spent so long bird-watching, taking pictures and
marvelling at the landscape that unfortunately time did not allow for me to try
this.
On the third
day, Trish joined me for a walk near Adeje, in the ravine Barranco del
Infierno. This is a straight-forward walk with Eden-like vegetation and
wildlife. We saw ravens, kestrels, buzzards, mountain goats, lizards, canaries,
warblers, partridges and various other insect and bird species. It is a very
popular route and it is strongly recommended to book an entry time-slot the day
before. Numbers are strictly controlled and it is time consuming to book on the
day. However these controls add to the enjoyment of the walk and wildlife, as
it is not totally over-run like some other popular walking routes I have been
on. There are several other walks in this area, two of which also start at
entrance, if you are unable to get a time-slot that suits you on the day (see
the notice board at the entrance or the Kompass map).
My next walk
had me wondering if I was walking on Mars or Tatooine! Beginning at the main
visitor centre at El Portillo, Routes 6 & 27 take you on a lovely,
desert-like walk toward Teide, before cutting back down to a bus-stop on the
road. The trail was good, the climbing gradual (2000m to 2400m) and the pace
was easy. I even had time for siesta before the bus came.
Relaxing
on Tenerife
After four
days, and for the sake of my relationship, I took a rest-day and vegged-out by
the pool (ok, I had to do a quick little dash up a hill in Los Cristianos to
stretch the legs) but found this slumming business quite pleasant and
invigorating!
The final walk
was a circular trek with Trish along Route 16 & 19 from the Parador along a
fairly level trail. A short climb up Montana Majua at the mid-way point gave
powerful views back across the lava beds we had crossed. The heat was fairly
energy-soaking but we received a welcome breeze when we faced south for the
return journey and were treated to some wonderful sightings of a pair of
kestrels before reaching the Parador.
I would highly
recommend Tenerife as a walking destination, particularly off-season. Teide
itself (3718m) has several very inviting and challenging walks (Routes 7, 23
& 28) which I would love to try another time.
Warren
Lawless
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
DATES FOR YOUR
DIARY
Friday,
23rd May
Please keep
your diary free for an important event in the Teacher's Club, Parnell Square,
Dublin 1, from 7.30pm.
~~~~~
June Bank Holiday Weekend
Fri, 30th May – Mon, 2nd June 2008
Walking in Galway & Mayo
REMINDER!
Balance of €130 due now!
Phone An Óige Head Office, 01-8304555.
GLEN OF IMAAL
NOTICE
Date: Saturday, 21st June
Distance: 35 km
Total Ascent: 1,800m.
Registration: 7:00am to 8:15am only
Entry Fee: €20.00
Closing date: All entry forms and payment to be
received by Friday June 13th.
The event,
which can take from 8 to 11 hours to complete, is for experienced and fit
walkers only. Participants will be expected to have reached Table Track by no
later than 5:00pm.
Details: http://www.anoige.ie/news/205
**
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED **
Please contact:
Jim Barry, mobile: 085-1744186 or 01-4556455 (evenings only) or call An Óige
Head Office on 01-8304555.
CLUB PROMOTION
A note from
Deirdre Muldowney, Committee Member responsible for Club Promotion:
As
some of you will know I been trying to promote the club over the last few
months by doing a little advertising in some outdoor magazines and leaving
flyers for distribution into some of the outdoor shops - all in the aim of increasing
the numbers on the weekly hikes. If anyone has any other bright ideas on
reasonably cheap but interesting ways to promote the club, I'd be delighted to
hear them. You can find me out hiking on a reasonably regular basis or indeed
feel free to pass any ideas to any of the other committee members that you meet
out on a Sunday.
Thanks,
Deirdre
Muldowney
HIKE PHOTOS
WANTED
We have recently
increased storage space on our website. This means we now have the capacity to
include snap shots from Sunday hikes, social outings, trips away etc. on a
regular basis. You can send your photos directly to info@hillwalkersclub.com bearing in
mind the following:
• Please
resize your photos to about 1000 pixels in width before emailing them; no point
in sending huge files by email.
• Don’t
expect your photos to appear on the website the next day; we will update the
website once a month only.
ETHIOPIAN
CHALLENGE
A note from
club member Paul Carroll:
Simien
Challenge November 2008
The Skerries
Sodo (Ethiopia) Group are organising a fundraiser for Self Help Africa. It will
take place in November 2008 and will involve the following over 11 days:
• Trek in the
Simien Mountains
• Trip to
Lalibela (11th century rock-hewn churches)
• Trip to
Sodo Project Area
Preparations to
include fundraising and 2 weekends hillwalking in Ireland.
If interested,
please contact Paul Carroll 086-1523926 or paulcarroll@eircom.net
IRISH CHALLENGE
WALKS
It’s this time
of year again: long-distance walks galore! The information comes from the
website of the Walkers Association.
Blackstairs
Date: Saturday, 24th May 2008
Distance: 26km
Ascent: 1525m
The Blackstairs
Walk is organised by the Wayfarers Association. The walk begins at Killanure
(Grid Ref S 890 537) off the R746 from Bunclody to Kiltealy. The walk ends at
Byrne’s Pub in Glynn (Grid Ref S 745 395). A certificate is awarded to all who
participate in and/or complete the walk.
http://walkersassociation.ie/node/40
Clare
Burren Marathon Challenge
Date: Saturday, 24th May 2008
26.2 miles; 13.1
miles; 6 miles.
The Ballyvaughan
Fanore Walking Club are currently organising a walking/hiking marathon
challenge in the Burren, North Clare.
www.clareburrenmarathonchallenge.com
Twelve
Bens Mountain Challenge
Date: Sunday, 1st June 2008
Distance: 28km
Ascent: 2,530m
The most extreme
of the challenges in the Republic, with 2,700m of climbing in Co. Galway.
Contact: Michael Gibbons, t: 095-21379;
http://walkersassociation.ie/node/42
Galtee
Walk
Date: Saturday, 7th June 2008
Distance: 21.5km
Ascent: 1,300m
A long-distance
walk for experienced walkers, there is less climbing involved than with some of
the other walks.
Organising Club:
Tyndall MC/Tullow MC
Contact: Liam Rice, t: 056-7755640;
http://walkersassociation.ie/node/124
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
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
AN OIGE EVENTS
National Spring
Clean
Judging by the
photographs sent by Philip Hayden, the Clean-up along the Glencree River on
19th April was a full success. Well done to all volunteers!
~~~~~
Young Hillwalkers
Club
Frank Dempsey,
Co-ordinator for the Young Hill Walkers Group, is looking for Walk Leaders and
Assistants for back markers.
Anyone
interested in getting involved, please contact Frank for further details.
Call 01-8822560
or 087-2446027 or email yhwgroup@gmail.com
~~~~~
Knockree Hostel
The newly
opened Knockree Hostel offers 5-star hostel accommodation with 84 beds. Most of
these rooms are en-suite. Knockree Hostel also boasts family rooms, conference
facilities, a restaurant and of course self catering facilities and much more.
On top of these usual hostel features, Knockree also boasts a deluxe double
room. There is an area outside the hostel with a double-sided fire place, which
will be suitable for BBQs!
Take part in
the J.B. Malone Memorial Walk on Sunday,
18th May and enjoy après-hike refreshments at the new hostel!
MOUNTAIN MEITHEAL
The statistics
to-date are really impressive. 138 volunteers have given 2,272 volunteer hours
to this project including building the magnificent bridge across the
Carrawaystick River. Mountain Meitheal is very proud of the achievement and is
grateful to every volunteer who got involved.
This is an
invitation to everyone to say you are more than welcome to come out and join us
for our last visit to the site.
Please come
prepared for a day in the hills, bring mountain weather gear, boots, a packed
lunch and a hot drink. A dry change of clothes will make the homeward journey
more comfortable. Mountain Meitheal will provide work gloves and tools. It
would be helpful if you can arrange to car pool as parking is limited and it is
kinder to the environment.
MEETING POINT:
GLENMALURE LODGE HOTEL CAR PARK
DATE: SUNDAY
11TH MAY 2008
TIME: 10.30 AM
LEADER: FRANK
LEETCH
PHONE: 087 678
1818
Again, many
thanks to everyone involved for all your hard work since 11th November 2006
when this project began.
For more
information about Mountain Meitheal go to: www.pathsavers.org
Shay Walsh
Chairman,
Mountain Meitheal
2008 SUMMER
BARBEQUE
Welcome to this year’s
An Óige Hillwalkers Club
BBQ WEEKEND
Date: Sat,
14th June - Sun, 15th June
Venue: Ballinclea
Hostel
Depart: Sat,
10 am from Burgh Quay
Cost: €
50.00
Cost of weekend includes:
· One overnight in Ballinclea
Hostel
· Transport by bus from and to
Dublin
· Evening Meal
· Hikes on Saturday &
Sunday;
moderate and hard hikers welcome
Not included:
· Breakfast & lunches
· Drinks
Volunteers: Anyone
willing to give a helping hand with preparations and/or clean up, please
contact
Don Reilly @ 087-9706310
Booking opens Monday, 14th
April
Please contact An
Óige Head Office, 01-8304555