HIKE PROGRAMME

December 2006 / January 2007

 

MEET:  Burgh Quay

DEPART:  Sundays 10.00 am

COST:  Private bus.  €12

 

Tuesday, 26 December 2006

- - - Christmas Hike

Leader: Frank Rooney

Route: Meet outside Howth Dart railway station at 11.00 o'clock for a walk around the Hill of Howth.

Public/Own Transport

 

Monday, 1 January 2007

- - - New Year Hike

Leader: Jim Barry

Route: Meet outside Fenton’s Public House, Glen of Imaal at 11.00 o’clock for the traditional New Year Hike up Lugnaquilla.

Own Transport

 

Sunday, 7 January 2007

- - - Introductory Hillwalkers Hike

Leader: Garry Byrne

Route: Scalp * Barrnaslingan * Ballycorus * Carrigollogan * Killegar * Knocksink * Enniskerry * Lover’s Leap * Enniskerry.

Public Transport: Dublin-Enniskerry bus number 44, leaves from Screen Cinema at 9.30am sharp, or pick up en route.

 

Sunday, 14 January 2007

- - - Circuit of Derrylossery

Leader: Tom Milligan

Route: Derrylossery Church * Ballinacorbeg * Avonmore River * Oldbridge * Scarr * Wicklow Way * Annamoe * Derrylossery Church.

Distance: 19km   Ascent: 760m

 

Sunday, 21 January 2007

- - - Ballinastoe to Oldbridge

Leader: Eoin Moroney

Route: Ballinastoe (GR 202 091) * White Hill * Wicklow Way * Cloghoge River * Inchavore River * Kanturk * Lough Dan * Oldbridge.

Distance: 18km   Ascent: 700m

 

Sunday, 28 January 2007

- - - Glenmacnass to Glendalough

Leader: Stephen James

Route: Glenmacnass Car Park * Lough Oular * Tonelagee * Wicklow Gap * St. Kevin’s Way * Glendalough.

Distance: 17km   Ascent: 500m

 

Sunday, 4 February 2007

- - - Introductory Hillwalkers Hike

Leader: Chris Byrne

Route: Forest Entrance Ballinatona (GR 055 138) * Forest Tracks * Sorrel Hill * Ballynultagh Gap * Forest Tracks * SH 541m * Billy Byrne’s Gap * Moanbane * Silsean * Ballyknockan Car Park.

Distance: 18km   Ascent: 780m

 

 

 

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.

 

EQUIPMENT   The leader has the right to refuse anyone who is not adequately equipped (e.g., without appropriate boots, rainwear, food, hat, gloves, etc). During the winter months, a torch plus spare batteries and bulb are essential.

 

LEADER 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.

 

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.

 

PROSPECTIVE HIKE LEADERS  Any club member interested in leading a hike, please contact Garry Byrne, Tel. 01-8388812

 

 

HILLWALKERS AWAY:

Derry Weekend 2006

 

THIRD TIME, LUCKY AGAIN!

 

The third successive trip to Derry and surrounds for the Hallowe’en weekend proved hugely popular again, being fully supported. There is always a gamble with the weather, but fortune favoured us, being remarkably mild and with very little rain. Frank Rooney and Brian Flynn organised a fine variety of walks with a choice of three each day.

 

Saturday, October 28

The “Hard” Walkers, led by Frank, tackled Urris Hills, Mamore etc. – quite a task, reminiscent of the Maamturks with so many steep ascents and descents. The Moderates, a large group of 34 under Brian Flynn’s guidance, took on Slieve Snaght (Inishowen) and its adjacent hills. Over 300m the cloud didn’t clear until quite late so it was a navigational feat for Brian and his aide, Philip Roche, with their compasses and GPS to plot their way through trackless terrain. The emergence of the sun near the end at Tullymore Hill was an unexpected bonus.

 

Sunday, October 29

The Hard Walkers, again under Frank, took on the bulk of the Joey Glover Walk, starting near Dunlewy and taking in Aghla More and Aghla Beg en route to Muckish Gap. Quite a number of lakes along the way and some punishing climbs, too. Muckish is a very steep mountain, resembling an upturned ship as one book has observed, the descent being particularly so.

 

Brian brought the Mods up Muckish from the north side, across the plateau to the cross and descended north-east, finishing at Creeslough. Jim Barry led the third group up from the Gap, across the entire plateau and back down to the Gap again. A most satisfactory day, as everyone managed to conquer this difficult mountain.

 

Monday, October 30

The leaders found a new set of hills for us in the Sperrins near Plumbridge in Co. Tyrone for the half-day walk on the return journey to Dublin. Some wag described it as “Mullagh” country; it is true that the name of each of the five hills began with “Mullagh…”! The gradients were not too serious so all walkers enjoyed the 3 to 4 hours on the rolling hills. Some fun developed at the end of the Mods walk, finding ourselves at Glenroan Bridge, some 4 km from the bus (near Cranagh). Efforts to contact the bus to pick us up were unavailing as all the mobile phones proved ineffective. Carina used her feminine charms to flag down an ambulance for a lift, only to find it was on call to collect a patient! Eventually she cajoled a lorry driver to stop and bring us to Cranagh – so, a happy ending!

 

The Derry location caters for every taste. Non-walkers can enjoy the shops and do guided tours, particularly on the historic city walls. The night-life is lively; Derry is famous for its music. The cooked breakfasts and fine choice at the evening dinners added to the comforts of the hotel itself: central heating, showers, bath etc. and the luxury of just two sharing each room.

Finally, congrats to Frank and Brian for organising everything so successfully, not forgetting their extra weekend away doing the many reccies. We are in their debt once again.

 

Pearse Foley

 

 

NAVIGATION TRAINING

Map & Compass Course 2006/2007

 

The annual Map and Compass Course commenced on 31st October 2006 with 16 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 these emails from two of the participants:

 

Many thanks to the Hillwalkers and its leaders and instructors for a great course.  It was such fun as well as informative, and hopefully will inspire me to be a bit more adventurous in my walking. Looking forward to the Comeraghs. C.B.

 

… just a note to say many thanks for the most enjoyable 3 weeks I really felt I learnt something useful and look forward to putting it into practice. Many thanks also to all the leaders (Jimmy, Donal, Ita, Joe, Mark, Phillip and Tom for their patience and good nature it can't have been easy at times. Hope that you have a great Christmas and New Year. Looking forward to Waterford at the end of January. Once again many thanks. D.O’N.

 

 

Training Weekend in the Comeraghs/Knockmealdowns

 

OPEN TO HILLWALKER MEMBERS

 

Background: Would you like to renew or strengthen your Mountain Skills?  Then the Comeragh and Knockmealdown Consolidation Weekend might be for you!  There will be a small number of spaces available on the weekend for existing Hillwalker members who want to refresh their navigation skills.  The weekend is designed to meet the requirements of members who have taken a Map and Compass course in previous years and who wish to revise skills learned previously or to strengthen existing skills.  

 

Dates: Fri, Jan 26th to Sun 28th 2007 (travel down Friday evening).

 

Accommodation: Rathgormack Mountaineering Hostel, Rathgormack, Co. Waterford.  The accommodation consists of bunk beds similar to Glendalough Hostel in two 12 bed dorms.  Bed clothes are provided but a sheet bag or a sleeping bag might be useful.

Transport: To be arranged by participants. If pooled, transport cost should be shared among car occupants.  Take the Dungarvan road (R676) from Carrick-on-Suir.  Anyone without transport should contact Jimmy McCullagh for assistance with car pooling.

 

Cost: Training and accommodation is €85 per person, payable to An Óige HQ (Tel: 8304555). Booking opens Mon 15 January 2007.

 

Map: Laminated sheet 75, Silva 4 compass.

 

Food: No meals are provided at hostel.  Bring breakfasts and packed lunches for Saturday & Sunday.  The hostel is about a 15-min. drive from Carrick-on-Suir/Clonmel/Dungarvan where there are a number of recommended restaurants (traditional destination on Saturday evening). Otherwise bring your own food for Saturday evening.

 

Queries? Email Jimmy Mccullagh or Donal Finn

 

 

Committee 2006/2007

 

Chairman                   Frank Rooney

Secretary                   Garry Byrne

Treasurer                   Jim Barry

Membership              Donal Finn

Sunday Hikes            Garry Byrne

Social Events            Steve Buckney

Weekends                 Mark Campion

Officer-at-large          Eoin Moroney

Newsletter                  Barbara Sudrow

 

Special thanks to: 

Webmaster                Matt Geraghty

Distribution                Pearse Foley & Cyril McFeeney

 

 

Art O’Neill Walk 2007

 

The Art O'Neill Walk will take place at midnight on Friday, 5 January, 2007, outside Dublin Castle,                               beside City Hall. The year 2007 will mark (exactly) the four hundred and fifteenth anniversary of the scape of Red Hugh O'Donnell and Henry and Art O'Neill from that fortress. This walk, which usually happens in the first week of January each year, does not have an organiser as yet, but some individuals will be heading out at midnight from Dublin Castle to commemorate the event. This year the walk will be extended by 11k from the former finishing place at Baravore in Glenmalure to Greenane, just below Ballinacor, where the Irish chieftain Fiach Mac Hugh O'Byrne had his fortress. 

 

Contact: Tom Milligan

 

 

STOCKING FILLERS

 

Calendar for 2007: Irish Nepalese Education Trust (INET) and teachers from Alexandra College Dublin have produced a beautiful calendar for 2007 to raise funds to build a primary school in Phuleli to educate the children of poor, illiterate, subsistence farmers who live in a remote region 50 kilometres south of Mount Everest. The calendars are A3 in size, printed on glossy paper with lovely photographs of Nepal and the children of Phuleli. Each calendar costs 10 euro. Contact: Maurice Burris, 70 Woodlawn Park, Churchtown, Dublin 14, or Margaret Wynne

 

All proceeds go to Nepal. The sale of 100 calendars will pay a teacher's salary for a year!

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

Mountain Meitheal Guide to trail design and construction in Ireland

This book, the first to be published in Ireland, is packed full of information on trail design and construction techniques with valuable guidelines on how to set up a volunteer group. The book has original line drawings and photos which illustrate the many techniques from turn pike construction to building a footbridge.

 

Available from Mountain Meitheal at €10.00 + P+P (€15) or 10 or more P+P free.

 

 

CHRISTMAS CROSSWORD PUZZLE

 

We would like to thank all contributors to the newsletter over the past 12 months, in

particular those who sent in articles and photos for the reading pleasure of all club

members: Betty Kehoe, Brian Madden, Deirdre McMahon, Eamonn Coyle, Garry Byrne,

Jim Barry, Mark Campion, Pearse Foley, and Philip Roche.

 

To acknowledge their contributions, the clues for the Christmas Crossword Puzzle below

are based on their hillwalking reports; a good excuse to read those interesting articles again!

 

 

Across:

1.         Carlit (2921m) and Canigou (2782m) are peaks in this Mountain Range “east of Andorra”. [8]

7.         Ten Hillwalkers and one friend went to Scotland to experience Ben Nevis, Glencoe and

these famous Mountains near Aviemore. [10]

10.       This National School in Co. Wicklow is the starting point for a well-known Marathon Walk. [6]

 

Down:

2.         The Water of Leith flows from the Pentland Hills through this Scottish City to the sea. [9]

3.         Cryb Goch, Y Garn and Nantlle Ridge are all located in this National Park, a favourite

destination of the Hillwalkers Club. [9]

4.         These Hot Springs are located in America’s best known National Park and are famous for

their colourful calcite terraces. [7]

5.         The MCI Summer Meet 2006 took place at this Location in the French Alps. [6]

6.         These Falls are the secret haunt of Irish canoeists and the site of an adventurous

Sunday Hike earlier this year. [8]

8.         Namche Bazaar is a traditional town in this roof-top Country. [5]

9.         Wet weather and unseasonal snow put an early end to a walking holiday in

this Valley in the Austrian Alps. [6]

 

 

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10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This competition is open to all current paid-up members of An Óige Hillwalkers Club.

To enter, please send the completed crossword grid, together with your name and address to:

Barbara Sudrow, 24 Glenmalure Park, South Circular Road, Dublin 8.

Closing date: Monday, 22 January 2007

 

Name: ......................................................................................................................................

 

Address: ...................................................................................................................................