HIKE PROGRAMME
October 2006
MEET:
Burgh Quay
|
DEPART:
Sundays
|
COST:
Private bus. €10
|
|
15 October: Leader: Gerry Walsh Route: Distance: 19km Ascent:
750m |
|
22 October: Leader: David McCann Route: Distance: 16km Ascent:
500m |
|
29 October: No
Wicklow hike, long weekend to |
|
5 November: Leader: Brendan Magee Route: Distance: ca. 19km Ascent:
670m |
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 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.
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.
HIKE LEADERS Any club
member interested in leading a hike, please contact:
Garry Byrne
Mark Campion
OUT ON THE TRAILS:
SCOTLAND 2006
THE REARGUARD
VIEW
Flagged as a
conquering spree for Munroe baggers, this year’s
Day 1: Flight to
For ten of the
party the trip began with an early morning flight to
Late afternoon
saw the party regroup for a quick dash up Meall Chuaidh before a further dash to Aviemore
where John (group member 11) had collected room keys and steered everyone
towards showers and supper. Both came highly recommended, since Aviemore Bunkhouse is attached to a pub serving excellent
food. Not a bad arrangement particularly for those senior members of the party
with creaky joints! Total for day 1: 1 Corbet and
wonderful birdlife including a grouse family which we left to face sterner
hunters!
Day 2: The Cairngorms
Day 2 dawned
bright and sunny and stayed that way for the entire day. The Cairngorms may
have a reputation for stern greyness but the sun brought out wonderful heathery
colour and varying scenery. We summitted
both Ben Macdui (1309m/4294’) and Cairngorm
(1245m/4084’). Some hardy souls took a swim in Loch Etchachan
but most of us were happy to simply lie back in the sun and drink in the
scenery.
Day 3: A great ridge walk
Day 3 saw us
heading for Creag Meagaidh,
beginning from the SNH car park at Aberarder Farm by
Loch Laggan. We set off along the track to the farm,
continued up the right-hand side of the glen and through the birch woods of Coill à Choire.
We had a brief view of the impressive cliffs of Coire
Ardair before the day, which had started rather grey
and threatening deteriorated. Meagaidh herself hid
modestly in thick mist and driving rain forced us to reconsider our plans.
Mark’s shelter
came into its own at the top of the Window as we plotted our future. The
consensus was to leave Meagaidh to her own devices,
veer right and concentrate our efforts on Stob Poite Coire Ardair
(1054m/3458’) and Carn Liath
(1006m/3300’). This made a great ridge walk and the clouds parted long enough for
us to enjoy some truly stupendous views. We were glad to reach the cars for the
drive to
Day 4: Ring of Steall
Next day saw us
head for the Ring of Steall, possibly one of the most
spectacular circuits in
While all the
party enjoyed a truly challenging and enjoyable day only one man of steel,
Neville Ransome, managed to complete the entire
circuit, notching up all four Munroes including Sgurra Mham. The rest of us were
well content with having summitted Am Gearanach, Stob Coire and Am Bodach.
Day 5: Enjoying Glen Nevis
Day 5, our
designated rest day, saw many members of the party return to Glen Nevis to take
in the magnificence of the area – waterfall, river, and awe-inspiring mountains
at our leisure. Rest was needed given that Day 6 would see us attempt
Day 6: Carn Mor Dearg
Arête
Beginning from Aichintee we followed the tourist route as far as Lochan Meall an t-Suidhe before traversing below the north face of Ben Nevis
and up onto the Carn Dearg.
Meadhdhonach and thus onto the Carn
Mor Dearg
summit and then onto the famed arête. This provided, for me, the greatest
experience of the day as head hands and feet were fully engaged in route
finding. After the triumph of attaining the summit of
Day 6 dawned
misty and grey and found us head for Glencoe to meet the three Sisters who,
like Meagaidh spent much of the day shrouded in mist!
We summitted Bidean nan Bian
(1150m/3517’) with a select band claiming the additional Munroe of Stob Coire Sgreamhach
(1072m/3517’). Initial descent was precipitous followed by a levelling off as
we reached the
Day 7: Time to depart
Day 7 was pack up
time. The Highland Games provided some diversion as did the retail
possibilities of the
We all owe a
great debt of gratitude to Mark Campion for his
impeccable organisation and attention to detail. His sense of humour and endless
patience, though severely tested at times, never flagged. For all of us this
was a week, which whetted the appetite for
Deirdre McMahon
Scotland Group:
Mark Campion, Gerry Walsh, John Butler, Warren Lawless, Alan
Dolan, Jennifer Lee, Neville Ransome, Brian Murphy,
Vincent Foley, John Pearson, Deirdre McMahon
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
We would like to
hear from you!
Whether you …
• wish to contribute an article …
• would like to share your favourite
hikes …
• want to comment on any club matters …
Why not get in
touch? Write Contributions to: barbarasudrow@eircom.net
AGM 2006
The Annual
General Meeting of An Óige Hillwalkers
Club is scheduled to take place as follows:
Date:
Venue: Westmoreland Hotel (upstairs)
Time:
At the AGM, the
committee reports on the club’s activities during the past year and responds to
questions from the floor. As always, this is a good opportunity for club
members to have their voice heard, to meet the committee and to make their own
contribution to the running of the club.
This year, the
committee hopes to present the findings from the members’ survey which was
distributed with the September edition of THE HILLWALKER.
We look forward
to seeing you!
Committee 2005/2006
Chairman Frank
Rooney
Secretary Garry
Byrne
Treasurer Jim
Barry
Membership Anne
Russell
Sunday Hikes Mark Campion
Garry Byrne
Training Jimmy
McCullagh
Social Events Steve Buckney
Weekends Eoin Moroney
Newsletter Barbara
Sudrow
CLUB NEWS
Membership 2006-2007:
The new
membership year runs from
Our membership
fee includes MCI insurance, subscription to quarterly Mountain Log magazine and
receipt of ten editions of THE HILLWALKER newsletter (by post or email).
In view of
increased costs, the membership fee for 2006/2007 will be € 35.
Map & Compass Course 2006/2007
The Club will be
running its annual Map and Compass course commencing in November 2006. The
course will include three Tuesday evening introductory sessions, each of
duration of two hours, to be held in An Óige
Headquarters,
A separate
consolidation weekend will be organised in the
Co. Waterford, at
the end of January 2007.
Evening Sessions:
(1) Tuesday,
October 31st
(2) Tuesday,
November 7th
(3) Tuesday,
November 14th
Time:
Venue: An Óige
Headquarters,
Requirements:
(1) Ordnance
Survey Map, Sheet 56 - Wicklow (Scale 1:50,000) Laminated version is
recommended (approx. €15)
(2) Compass,
Silva Expedition 4 graduated into 360 degrees (approx. €40)
First Weekend:
November
4th & 5th,
Meet outside Lynham's Pub, Laragh at
Saturday
overnight in Glendalough YH is included in the course
fee.
Second Weekend:
November
18th & 19th,
Meet outside Lynham's Pub, Laragh at
Saturday
overnight in Glendalough YH is included in the course
fee.
Night Hike: Sat, November 25th, meet outside Coach House Pub, Roundwood, at
Course Fee: €120
Cost includes
instruction and 2 overnights in Glendalough YH. Cost excludes
transport to/from Wicklow for both weekends/nighthike
and the consolidation weekend in the Comeraghs.
Booking through An Óige Head Office,
Tel (01) 830
4555, is open now.
Consolidation Weekend:
Last
weekend of January 2007, Rathgormack Mountaineering
Hostel,
Christmas Party 2006
Cost: €65 (making your
own way) or €75 (using private bus from Burgh Quay)
Saturday, 16 December
9.30 am Depart
from Burgh Quay,
11.00 am Arrive at Glendalough Youth Hostel
11.30 am Depart
Hostel for Hikes in Glendalough Area
Hard Hike: Tom Kenny
Moderate
Hike: Jim Barry
4.30 pm Welcome
Back Hikers’ Soup
at Glendalough Hostel
6.45 pm Depart
Hostel for Lynam’s Pub
in Laragh (club bus)
8.30 pm
11.30 pm Depart
Wicklow Heather (club bus),
return to Glendalough Hostel
12.00 am Christmas Raffle
Music &
Party till late
Sunday, 17 December
10.30 am Depart
Hostel for Hike in Glendalough Area
Hike Leader: Garry
Byrne
3.30 pm Depart
Hostel, return to
Any changes to advertised leaders
or times will be
announced on the day.
All queries and payments to An Óige
Head Office (01-8304555)
Booking opens
BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND
An Óige Hillwalkers Club
October Weekend
2006
Friday 27th
October – Monday 30th October
Visit the Beautiful
Donegal, and the Sperrin Mountains and walk the walls of Derry City
4 Star Tower
Hotel, located within the historic Walls of
Moderate, Hard and
Easy Walkers Welcome
Two grades of
walk on Saturday, Sunday & Monday
Leaders: Frank
Rooney and Brian Flynn
Bus Trip Only
Weekend Walking Itinerary to include:
• Urris Hills: Raghtin More and Memore
Hill.
• Slieve Snacht (
• Muckish Mountain
•
Ordnance Survey Maps 1:50000
Discovery Sheet Nos.1, 2 and 5
Ordnance Survey of
Notes
Hotel accommodation: Tower Hotel,
Accommodation is 26 twin rooms
All bedrooms are ensuite with multichannel T.V,
ISDN lines, direct dial telephone, tea/ coffee tray, hairdryer and trouser
press. Hotel also provides a Fitness suite and sauna.
Cost includes Bed
and Breakfast on the 28th, 29th and 30th, two evening dinners on the 28th and 29th and three packed
lunches.
Transport
cost included,
Cost: EUR 270. Booking: EUR 180 NON REFUNDABLE deposit to
An Óige Head Office by credit card or cash deposit
(01-8304555).
Balance EUR 90
to be paid before Monday 16th October.
Food: as above - stopping at local shops for extras
etc.
Bring:
Meeting Place/Time: Georges Quay (Beside
Come Along and Enjoy the Weekend!