HIKE PROGRAMME
September 2006
MEET: Burgh
Quay
|
DEPART: Sundays
10.00 am
|
COST: Private
bus. €10
|
|
17 September: Scarr Excursion Leader: Philip Hayden Route: Glenmacnass Waterfall –
Spot Height 668 – Mall Hill – ford (GR 134991) – Spot Height 418 – Scarr
– Kanturk – Brown Mt – GR 149031. Distance: 17km Ascent:
800m |
|
24 September: Return to the
Oasis Leader: Donal Finn Route: Oasis – Mullachleevaun –
Barnacullian Ridge – Stoney Top – Tonelegee – Wicklow Gap. Distance: 16km Ascent:
700m |
|
1 October: Introductory Hard
Hike Leader: Brian Madden Route: Kilpedder
Firing Range – Downs Hill – Calary – Ballyremon Commons – Long Hill – Djouce
Woods – Maulin – Crone Wood – Wicklow Way – Curtlestown Wood. Distance: 18km Ascent:
700m |
|
8 October: Slieve Blooms Leader: Mark Campion NB: 9.30am start Distance: ca. 18km |
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
August Bank Holiday 2006
WALKING IN THE ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT
A party of 14 set
off from Dun Laoghaire on 2nd August on the Stena HSS for a 6-day trip to the
Lake District.
It was almost a
full day's trip to Ambleside YH, where we were based. The rail journey from
Holyhead necessitated changes at Crewe and Lancaster with the final section
from Kendal to Windermere giving us a taste of the scenery to come. The YH
Shuttle bus met us at Windermere and brought us the few kilometres to
Ambleside. The location of the hostel at Lake Windermere's shore edge is
magical. Likewise, the small town of Ambleside is pretty and unspoiled.
It has delightful
shops, stone buildings and has curved and angled streets with many attractive
nooks and crannies. Not a crane to be seen; planning laws apply properly here.
Walk
Day 1: Fairfield Horseshoe
One of the
classics. It is on Ambleside's doorstep. We started at Rydal, just by William
Wordsworth's 19th Century residence. It was very humid at the start, so the
pull-up to Nab Scar was heavy going, but the day improved rapidly, coinciding
with less steep gradients. Passing Lord Crag and Heron Pike, there were fine
views west to Rydal Water and Grasmere.
A brief halt at
Great Rigg (767m) brought us sight of Grisedale Tarn and part of the
Coast-to-Coast Walk, which 4 of us had done in 2000. This connection became a
recurring theme over the following days. A simple push-up to the summit of the
day, Fairfield (873m), which had a commanding and uninterrupted view. To the
north were Helvellyn, Dollywaggon Pike, St. Sunday Crag and Ullswater, all of
future interest to us. The clock-wise return journey began on easy ground to
Hart Crag, Dove Crag and High Pike, before becoming rocky and steep descending
to Low Pike and thereafter. We emerged at Low Sweden Bridge only a short distance
from Ambleside.
Walk
Day 2: Langdale Pikes
Equally famous
among the cognoscenti! The shuttle bus brought us to Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel
(about 30 minutes’ drive) where we began the circular walk - anti-clockwise
this time.
A short flat
section initially did not lull the newcomers into believing this would be easy.
Close to New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel, we turned and headed straight up - or so it
seemed! Fortunately, it was all on stepped tracks which was a consolation.
Past Raven Crag
and across Dungeon Ghyll (a mountain stream), the gradient eased before
becoming steep again as we swung away from Harrison Stickle and emerged at a
point overlooking Stickle Tarn.
Disappointingly,
visibility was very poor and the mountain lake was not to be seen. Still, a good
excuse for a welcome break! Pavey Ark was forward above us to our left and we
climbed part of it before by-passing it to the west and entering on to easy
grassy country.
After that,
quickly past Thunacar Knott and a stroll up to High Raise (762m), our goal.
Like Lug, it is a grassy top, with an extensive area of flat ground all around.
After lunch, we retraced our steps for a short while before swinging off SW
over easy territory to the foot of Pike of Sickle, and from there to Stake
Pass, thus linking up with the Cumbria Way. A twisty track wound down by Stake
Gill to the valley floor of Mickleden, a most inviting prospect ahead of us as
we eased our way down. At the bottom, it was a simple flat track along
Mickleden and the Cumbrian Way, and eventually around a wide sweeping corner to
the hotel. Nice to finish at the hotel for a cool drink after all the exertions
before the shuttle bus arrived. The return bus journey was enlivened by
discussion of arrangements for Sunday Mass (next morning). Gary was apportioned
the role of priest as he had established the mass times etc, and Anna jokingly
suggested he should hear confessions. One can imagine how the conversation soon
developed (deteriorated?) along predictable and hilarious lines!
Walk
Day 3: Helvellyn - the big one
Bus to Patterdale
and Glenridding on Ullswater via the scenic Kirkstone Pass unfortunately
covered in mist. Glenridding, though, revelled in glorious sunshine as we set
off, a relatively easy beginning along Glenridding Beck. Soon after Greenside
Mine, the very good track started to rise beside Red Tarn Brook before reaching
Red Tarn itself. It is set dramatically under the bluffs and escarpment of
Helvellyn, and here there were some colourful tents at the lake edge, and even
some scuba drivers braving the cold waters. Now followed the difficult climb of
the day - up Swirral Edge, which is a scramble up to the plateau above. The
experienced members of the party (Frank, Jim and Gary) assured us that this was
nothing compared to the opposite ridge - Striding Edge – the most notoriously
difficult in the Lake District. Before commencing the scramble, walking sticks
were put away and the leader, Frank, arranged pairings, alternately an
experienced person with an inexperienced one. He paired off the genders very
neatly, which added a frisson to the climb, as the pairs became buddies, even
if only for that short time. The big bonus on reaching the plateau top was that
Helvellyn summit was a mere 50m away on the flat. At 950m (3118 ft), it is one
of only four Munros here - the others are Scafell Pike, Scafell and Skiddaw.
Cue for many photos of celebration; unfortunately, more mist so no panoramic
views.
A very gradual
descent past Nethermost Pike and Dollywaggon Pike and down to Grisedale Tarn.
After lunch, the group split up, some taking the direct and scenic track down
Grisedale along the Coast-to-Coast track to Patterdale, and the others the more
circuitous route, taking in the climb to St. Sunday Crag (what a strange name)
- 841m.
A stunning prospect
of Ullswater below accompanied the descent from the Crag. Both routes merged
just before Patterdale and come out at the very back of Patterdale Hotel - what
a neat arrangement!
Again, a perfect
excuse for more refreshment and stimulating post-mortems on the day's
adventures before the arrival of the bus.
Walk
Day 4: High Street
Some folk decided
to forego the walk and to go shopping, which seemed a missed opportunity. After
all, High Street is normally an attractive destination for keen shoppers!
Again, a drive
over Kirkstone Pass, this time in fine weather. We were dropped off at Low
Hartsop, where Pam gave a breath-taking exhibition of stretching. I haven't
seen such perfectly executed contortions outside a professional performance!
All were encouraged to follow suit; the results covered a wide spectrum (some
even declined to try - mea culpa!).
It turned out to
be a beautiful sunny day and also the gentlest walk of the four days. A long
uphill pull to Hayeswater (Reservoir) led to a short climb up to The Knott (the
last brief contact with the Coast-to Coast), and then a delightful and easy
walk to the highest point - High Street (828m). Here, horse-racing took place
in the old days, attended by over a thousand people. Clearly, a wide fairly
flat grassy area. A Roman road runs by here, adding further to its links with
the past. Very soon, we were at Thornthwaite Beacon, the last of the day's
peaks. From here, it was a long spectacular drop to Troutbeck hamlet,
punctuated by a lunch stop with more breath-taking views below. From Mortal Man
(!) Hotel, we took divergent routes back to Ambleside, one group on the lower
Robin Trail, and the other on the Nanny Trail and over Wansfell Pike.
Some great social
evenings at Wateredge Hotel, almost next door to the hostel; musical nights,
drink and chat, and an enjoyable introduction by Claire (Frank's wife) to the
card game of "15". Guess who won!
All in all, six
days of great walking and social activities enjoyed by everyone. All were
mightily impressed with the scale and ruggedness of the mountains.
Finally, a
sincere word of thanks and congratulations to Frank Rooney, who put so much
work into organising it - the huge research, the reconnaissance there and the
leadership and day-to-day organisation.
Let's have more of
it!
Pearse
Foley
INSIDE THE COMMITTEE
Social Co-ordinator
I joined the
Hillwalkers in August 1996, two months after arriving in Ireland (for the
second
time). Before this, I was with a similar group in Edmonton, Canada. I was with that group from 1981
until it sadly ceased operations about 10 years later. They managed to organise
a weekend trip to the Rocky Mountains every weekend for more than 20 years,
which is an amazing accomplishment now that I come to think about it.
My position in
our club is that of social co-ordinator. I was informed that I had volunteered
for this position 2 years ago. For the first year, things went from strength to
strength, with large numbers attending. The most successful events included the
pub crawl, dog racing, and music nights. It is becoming increasingly
challenging to keep coming up with events, while trying to keep the prices
manageable for everyone. As well, certain activity events do not get a great
response. Basically, people want to eat and drink, and if something else can be
added in, so much the better. We are about to embark upon a season of recycling
some of the more successful previous events.
Back to myself, I
am originally from Tasmania, Australia, and have worked for the last 10 years
at St. Lukes Hospital in Rathgar. I think people as far away as Mars already
know those two things. I manage to get out hillwalking about twice each month,
and make most of the weekend trips away. I am also interested in travel to just
about anywhere, music of most kinds and the metaphysical world.
Being a member of
the hillwalkers has given me the opportunity to meet and become friends with
people from all over this and other countries and to see and experience all
sorts of places in an easy, affordable and most importantly, enjoyable way.
Steven
Buckney
Membership 2006-2007
The new
membership year runs from October 1st 2006 to September 30th 2007.
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, Mountjoy Street. In
addition, there will be two weekend training sessions and one night navigation
session, all based in Wicklow. Accommodation for the two Wicklow weekends will
be provided in Glendalough YH.
A separate
consolidation weekend will be organised in the Comeragh Mountains,
Co. Waterford, at
the end of January 2007.
Evening Sessions:
(1) Tuesday,
October 31st
(2) Tuesday,
November 7th
(3) Tuesday,
November 14th
Time: 7.15 pm for 7.30pm start.
Venue: An Óige Headquarters, 61 Mountjoy
Street, Dublin 7, Room 102.
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, Wicklow Mountains.
Meet outside
Lynham's Pub, Laragh at 9.45am.
Saturday overnight
in Glendalough YH is included in the course fee.
Second Weekend:
November 18th
& 19th, Wicklow Mountains.
Meet outside
Lynham's Pub, Laragh at 9.45am.
Saturday
overnight in Glendalough YH is included in the course fee.
Night Hike: Sat, November 25th, meet outside Coach
House Pub, Roundwood, at 4.00pm.
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, Comeragh Mtns., Co. Waterford.
Cost associated with this weekend is not included in the course fee.
Further
enquiries: Jimmy McCullagh
Mountaineering Council of Ireland
Summer Meet 2006
THE
ECRINS JULY 2006
This year’s MCI
meet took place in July, the venue was the Ecrins - part of the French Alps to
the south-east of Grenoble. After a flight to Paris, I took a night train to
the small town of Argentiere Les Ecrins and from there a mini-bus the remaining
15km, up the Vallee de La Vallouise to the beautiful hamlet of Ailefroide at an
altitude of 1,500 metres.
The MCI reserved
an area of the local campsite and after a couple of days a tented Irish village
had sprung up. I had booked a place on an Alpine mountaineering course (Euro500
for 5 days with 4 participants to 1 instructor). The instructors used by the
MCI were British, after an initial meeting and gear check I was allocated to a
group being instructed by Eric Pirie from Scotland. We discussed our objectives
for the course and it was decided that, to make best use of our time, we would
spend the 5 days up on the Glacier Blanc, using the Refuge du Glacier Blanc and
Refuge des Ecrins for meals and accommodation.
Next morning we
left the campsite in Eric's van, he drove up the valley to the end of the road
at the Refuge Cezanne. From there, a track zig-zagged up to the Refuge du
Glacier Blanc at 2542m. On the way we detoured from the track onto the tail of
the Glacier for a refresher on techniques of walking in crampons and something
which was new to me - frontpointing into and along the wall of a small
crevasse.
Alpine days start
early to get as much climbing done before the sun gets high. Being out late in
the day increases the risk of being caught in an avalanche or being hit by
rocks and stones, also movement in softer snow can be slow and energy sapping.
So it was that I found myself sitting down to breakfast at 3am and at 4:30am we
left the Glacier Blanc Refuge for our first objective, Mont Agneaux. It was
surprisingly mild as we walked in the light of our head torches along scree and
snow patches.
After an hour or
so we reached continuous snow/ice slopes and we roped up. By 7:30am we arrived
at the base of a couloir which ran up to the summit ridge. A French group were
already ascending the gully and knocking down stones. On safety grounds, Eric
took the decision to retreat down the couloir, so we front-pointed our way down
the steep snow slope and around a buttress. Having being in the lead, Eric was
now on the back end of the rope. As he left the bottom of the couloir a rock
the size of a small television tumbled down! Good decision, Eric, and a
valuable lesson.
We spent the next
few hours on a sheltered snow slope practising making snow belays before
returning to the Refuge du Glacier Blanc, where we did a session on the rope
work required for crevasse rescue.
Next day our
objective was the Pic de Neige Cordier. A 4am start with a longer walk-in along
the Glacier. Having had little or no sleep on the train, in the tent and in the
Refuge, I was suffering, so with Eric's permission I unroped and made a
traverse down to the Refuge des Ecrins at 3175 metres. Later I rejoined the
others for the return to the Glacier Blanc Refuge. That night we slept in a
less crowded attic room and, joy of joys, I got a decent night’s sleep.
We used the next
day for practical instruction on the Glacier, concentrating on roped movement
on wet and dry Glacier and taking turns to abseil into a crevasse to be
"rescued" by one of our rope mates and to be the rescuer. That
evening we relocated to the Refuge des Ecrins.
On our last
instruction day on the Glacier we set out at 4:30am, our objective - Roche
Faurio (3730m) At 8am we reached the top and by 10am we were back on the
Glacier. The weather, which had been good, now threatened thunder storms so we
made haste to get down the length of the Glacier and below to the valley.
I found the
course challenging but rewarding and above all great fun. Our instructor Eric
Pirie was excellent. The Alpine Course is ideal for people who want to get
above the snowline in mountain areas. Having completed a Scottish winter course
would be an advantage though not essential. Apart from the course, the week is
about meeting new people and making connections. On the last night of the
course all the people at the meet descended on a pub in Ailefroide for a
session of craic agus ceol.
On the practical
side, the MCI advertised an "Introduction to Alpine Walking Course"
but this was dropped due to lack of interest. If a group signed up for this
next year it would proceed. Having said that, the areas chosen for the meets
always have great walking routes nearby, for example the GR54 runs near the
campsite in Ailefroide. So if you fancy getting into the Alps, keep next year’s
MCI Summer Meet in mind.
Philip
Roche
For further
details contact:
Mountaineering
Council of Ireland,
Sport HQ,
13 Joyce Way,
Parkwest Business
Park,
Dublin 12.
Tel
+353-1-6251115
Fax +353-1-6251116
Email:
mci@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? Contributions to:
SOCIAL CORNER
INDIAN FOOD NIGHT
Following the
success of the Indian Food Night last March, our Social Co-ordinator has
proposed a repeat of the experience for October.
Location: Shan Restaurant, Crowe Street, City
Centre
Date: Friday, October 6th
Time: Evening
Contact Steve
Buckney for details and to book a place
CLUB NEWS
Christmas Party 2006:
Date for your
diary:16th December
Further details
will be published in the October edition of THE HILLWALKER.
Booking will open
on Monday, 16th October through An Óige Head Office.
AGM 2006:
The Annual
General Meeting of An Óige Hillwalkers Club is scheduled to take place as
follows:
Date: Thursday, Oct 19th 2006
Venue: Westmoreland Hotel (upstairs)
Time: 8 pm.
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 is being
distributed with the September edition of THE HILLWALKER.
We look forward
to seeing you there!
BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND
An Óige
Hillwalkers Club
October Weekend
2006
Friday 27th
October – Monday 30th October
Visit the Beautiful
Innisowen Peninsula, The Highlands of
Donegal, and the Sperrin
Mountains and walk the walls of Derry City
4 Star Tower
Hotel, located within the historic walls of Derry
Moderate, Hard
and Easy Walkers Welcome
Two grades of
walk on Saturday, Sunday & Monday
Leaders: Frank
Rooney & Brian Flynn
Bus Trip Only
Weekend Walking Itinerary to include:
· Urris
Hills: Raghtin More and Memore Hill.
· Slieve
Snacht (Innisowen Peninsula): Slieve Main and Bulbin
· Muckish
Mountain
· Sperrin
Mountains (Monday)
Ordnance Survey Maps 1:50000 Discovery Sheet Nos.1, 2
and 5
Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland. The Sperrins
Sheet No. 13
Notes
Hotel accommodation: Tower Hotel,
Butcher Street, Derry City, Northern Ireland.
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, Dublin to Derry
and to and from all walks
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: Sterling Currency,
Suitable Walking Boots, Rain Wear/Change of Warm Clothing/Towels/Toilet Gear/
Flask/Torch/ First Aid Kit/Camera/Binoculars etc.
Meeting Place/Time: Georges Quay
(Beside Tara Street. Dart Station) at 3.45pm.
Come
along and enjoy the weekend!