MEET: Outside old Irish Press Offices, Burgh Quay, down from Spar shop.

DEPART Sundays 10.00 A.M. (or when the bus is full)

COST: Private bus. Cost €9.00.

NOTE: The leader has the right to refuse anyone who is not adequately equipped (i.e. without adequate rainwear, spare clothes, food, torch and hiking boots). The leader has the right to extend, curtail or alter the route from that described in the program. The leader sets the pace of the hike and walkers are expected to obey his/her instructions at all times.

Your club membership card MUST be carried and produced, if requested on all Sunday hikes. Numbered tickets will be given out on the quays by a committee member. People with a valid membership card and ticket will be given preference on the bus.

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. The Committee requests that anyone who is on medication or with a medical condition inform the leader before the start of the hike.

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 feet into the scruff where the ground is untrodden, walking parallel to but not on the track.

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.

In the interest of safety and comfort please keep the pointed end of your walking stick covered, especially when travelling on the bus.

The Club is organising the annual Circuit of Imaal walk on 22nd June. We would like to ask for your support to help make it a safe and successful event by volunteering to man checkpoints on the day. If your up for it, speak to Jim at jamesab@gofree.indigo.ie.

The Committee’s credit card having put a dent in our club finances, we are forced to announce a rise in the cost of the Sunday bus from €8 to €9. Needless to say, your Editor was the ‘Voice of the Common Hillwalker’ when this was debated and bitterly opposed the increase. I was only placated after been assured that any surplus generated will be spent on wine at the Christmas party. In truth, the increase is necessary because we did not get a full bus on a regular basis in the earlier months of this year and an increase now will prevent our club finances been eaten into by the fixed cost of the bus.

Things that go bump in the night.

A Burren Weekend.

On Saturday the hard hikers headed for Black Head, Gleninagh, and Cappanawalla, while the easy hike headed for Gleninagh. The easy hike was including as part of the hike, a flora study. People were soon dropping on there knees to inspect Spring Gentian and Mountain Avon. At times they looked like people at prayer. We heard the Cuckoo, and there were many impersonations of the sound from our avid bird watchers. Some went so far as to copy the the Cuckoo’s habit of disturbing other birds nests. People found their beds disturbed at night by these human cuckoos, as you will read about in due course. As the day proceeded walkers began to glow red with the sunshine, and sun block was in great demand.

That evening Jim offered a bus ride to mass in Kinvara. He was pleasantly surprised by the large crowd boarding the bus. But on reaching the town, ‘mass goers’ scattered and disappeared into the flesh pots of the town. God punished them the following morning as they arose from their beds. Dennis showed his interest in older women, and e-mail addresses were exchanged. (Mr. Editor, please follow up on this affair).

The following day was again sunny and both walks headed for Turlough Hill. The views across the sea to Conamara were magnificent, and the Burren shimmered in the heat. That evening the pleasure seekers returned to the Cuckoo fleadh being held in Kinvara. Gerry French tried out his new regulator on the girls to great effect. Some highly intelligent girls withstood this, only to be hypnotised by his NLP method. Some may be cynical of these methods, but this author saw many females succumb to his hypnothic tricks.

A certain Derry man having escaped from the war zone, continued with his old ways by building an arms dump, in someone’s bed. The decommissioning team has established that the dump consisted of chair parts, bottles, and wires. A cell of the Tasmanian Tigers, helped set up booby traps in the bedroom. One trap was sprung and a bottle fell on the target as he opened the bedroom door. He has reacted well to speech therapy and can already say, yes and no.

On Monday we stopped at Clonmacnoise monastery on our return journey to Dublin. Some of the group got very giddy and excited when the lights dimmed for the audio-visual show. Dennis swears that someone squeezed his leg and others got neck massages.

Later the hillwalkers searched desperately for mountains or hills to climb. All they could find were hillocks of esker. As these had never been climbed by the hillwalkers they were promptly claimed in the name of H.R.H El Warro. Gerry topped one and named it Frenchies Hill. Ron named another Carton’s Hump, while Dennis bagged Kenny’s Peak.

With everyone in a state of satisfaction, having had a great weekend we headed for Dublin. Once again it was matter of ‘happy to meet and sad to part’.

Author’s name in Editor’s safe.

(Ed note: After consulting with persons mentioned in this article, I learned that the author had neglected to include several stories relating to himself. The field is open to others if they wish to fill in the gaps ;-)

July 13^th Stepaside to Knockree

Meet at Messrs Maguire Bar, O’Connell Bridge, Dublin at 8.45 a.m.

Bring: Packed lunch, wet weather gear and torch

Wear: Boots, tracksuit bottoms (no jeans), hat and gloves

Weekend Away

June 28^th to 30^th To be decided

July 19^th to 23^rd Keswick, Lake District

Ring An Óige office for details (01-8304555).

Please note the early departure time for both the June and August weekends away. These will depart at 4.00pm, as advertised. Among weekends away currently planned for this year are:

1. Westport, Co. Mayo, in June, to be led by Philip Hayden. My instincts tell me the full story of the scandalous events of this weekend shall be unveiled in the next newsletter.
2. Ben Lettery, Co. Galway and the Twelve Pins. August 2^nd to 6^th August. To be led by Tom Kenny, MSa. See end of newsletter for full details.

Chairperson: Donal Finn
Secretary: Frank Rooney
Treasurer Prionsias MacAnBheatha
Editor Warren Lawless
Sunday Hikes: Jim Barry
Membership Secretary: Gerry Walshe
Training Officer: Joe Kellegher
Young Hillwalkers: Dave Rooney

Distribution: Cyril McFeeney & Pearse Foley
Webmaster: Matt Geraghty

The Hillwalkers Club annual membership fee is €19.

The club intends giving preference to members for places on the Sunday bus, so please be sure to renew your membership now. An application form is enclosed and should be sent to the membership secretary at the following address: Mr. Ger Walsh, 15 Summerfield Avenue, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15.

Walking holiday articles and pictures must be in electronic form where possible or at least typed, and should be a maximum of 500 words. A stamped addressed envelope should accompany any photographs or printed articles to ensure their return. Rhubarb, rhubarb, does anyone read this section? I think not. Mary had a little lamb. Articles will generally be published in order of receipt. A prize will be awarded for the best article and best cover photo featured in the newsletter at the annual club Christmas party.

Current and back issues of the Hillwalker available at online at:

The investigative focus of this months issue turns to the harsh and much misunderstood problem of hill addiction. This disturbing phenomenon is taking its toll of our some of the fittest and brightest members of society. One victim I spoke with was ‘Gerry’. He sits unshaven amid a room strewn with the signs of his addiction: the smelly, wet, gear, half-eaten sandwiches and bottles of water to combat the dehydration that comes with his habit. As I sit there I notice how his gaze keeps shifting between his worn boots and the blue sky visible through the window. It is 9.00 AM and already he is thinking of his next fix.

"How did you get caught up in this?", I ask softly. "It started innocently, a few friends convinced me to try it when I was younger – you know how it is then, young, afraid of nothing, wanting to show off. I tried it and liked it. I thought I could handle more. I only did the easy trips at first, but then I found it wasn’t enough and took ‘Moderates’. Before long I was onto the ‘Hard’ trips. I thought I could stop anytime, but I just couldn’t. I needed to go out. My work suffered as I always felt tired afterwards, my hygiene got worse, my girl friend left me saying it was either her or the hills – I had to keep going, the need is indescribable…The summers are the worst time: the sun is shining, the days are long, a trip can last for hours". Gerry hangs his head, his hands shaking.

Gerry has been attending Hillwalkers Anonymous and with their help he has reduced his dependence to three walks a month; but it is doubtful if he will ever be free of the impulse to hill-walk. And there are many other less fortunate walkers, ones whose whole life revolves around their addiction. These hard-core victims can be seen hanging around in groups along the city quays on a Sunday morning, all edgy and restless for their next ‘trip’. As I watch, a bus cruises up alongside the group of addicts who eagerly board it. There are protests from those unable to get on – for them this may be their only chance to get their fix. The unlucky ones stomp off, in search of other dealers on the far side of the quays, while the bus and its unfortunate crew drive off in search of their trip.

The ‘trips’ are usually administered by ‘leaders’, who are themselves addicted and use the ordinary sufferers to fund their habit. But standing in the murky shadows behind the leaders are a sinister group known as ‘the Committee’. They are believed to be the chief suppliers of some of the most serious trips, and the money they have made from their activities is said to fund an extravagant lifestyle for its manipulative members. I approached one suspected member, Mr. J. Barry as he parked his flashy car and confronted him with the fruits of his diabolical dealings. He merely smiled and offered me the details of a trip to Galway; he even tried to recruit me as a trip leader.

The medical and justice bodies of our state are asleep to the dangers posed to its citizenry by hillwalking activities and until they act, hundreds of walkers will continue to live in the grip of the lure of wild wind-swept hills.

As reported last month, hillwalking clubs in Ireland have been hit by industrial action following the formation of F.O.O.L – The Federation Of Outdoor Leaders. This malaise struck our own club in dramatic fashion when pickets were mounted on Burgh Quay by regular hike leaders Tom ‘Red’ Kenny and Pat ‘The Picket’ Drew, whose service in Dublin Bus has provided the novice union with much needed experience in urban-guerrilla tactics and strike warfare. Several very conscientious walkers respected the picket (and snuck off over to the Mods), but most hill-hungry walkers strode pass and onto the bus. However a shock was in store for them when hike-leader John-Barry Lowe produced his union card on Stoney Top, announced he was on strike and abandoned his charges in the mist.

Such tactics have provoked a response and we can announce the formation of a new members union: S.H.E.E.P – the Society of Hillwalking and Environmentally Enraged People. A spokesperson for the union has spoken of their members sense of been led around like dumb animals and made a serious criticism of hike leaders who have joined F.O.O.L.. "It is our rights they should be thinking of, not themselves. S.H.E.E.P members will be vigorously campaigning for more breaks, longer lunches, drier paths, better weather and obligatory pub stops at the end of walks." When confronted with these demands, the F.O.O.L spokesperson would only say "Bah".

There has been a successful response to the appeal for volunteers to act as wardens for Glenmalure hostel at weekends. If you are available to help out one Saturday night in the coming months, please contact Head Office with your details at 830 4555 or An Óige General Manager David Owens at 8822569. A similar scheme is also operating for Trá na Rosann hostel, Co. Donegal.

While on the subject of hostels, the Editor cannot help highlighting the excellent visit he recently enjoyed to An Óige’s Mountain Lodge hostel at the foot of the Galty Mountains. Bus Eireann will stop near the tree-lined path that leads to the hostel, an ex-hunting lodge, which nestles in a wood beside the Burncourt River, surrounded by the Galty Mountain range. And if you catch the early No. 8 bus to Cahir/Cork, you will arrive in time to do a good hike that day.

Since its founding in 1993, the Hillwalker's Club has organised a popular Map and Compass programme each year. The course aims to provide a comprehensive grounding in Mountain Skills and it typically involves three indoor evening sessions followed by three outdoor training weekends. The syllabus covered in the course is similar to the Mountain Skills courses (MS1 and MS2) prescribed by Bord Oiliunt Sleibhe - Irish Mountain Training Board and offered by the various Irish outdoor adventure centres (eg, Tiglin, Delphi, etc).

In order to further promote and develop mountain skills amongst club members, financial support in the form of bursaries will be made available to members who successfully complete a Mountain Skills Assessment in 2002.

The Mountain Skills Assessment (MSA) is based on a skills evaluation programme and is held over a weekend. It involves a number of stages as follows:

1. A written (multiple choice type) assessment on general navigation issues.
2. Practical assessment of day navigation skills.
3. Practical assessment of night navigation skills.
4. Near and far feature recognition.
5. Steep ground awareness.

To undertake the Mountain Skills Assessment (MSA), it is necessary to fulfil the following requirements:

1. to have completed at least 30 hill walks in Ireland or Britain over a period of 24 months,
2. to present a Mountain Skills log book detailing the above walks,
3. to hold a valid Rescue and Emergency Care (REC2) certificate or its equivalent (Basic First Aid Certificate).

The National Adventure Centre at Tiglin, Wicklow (www.tiglin.com) amongst others, organises the MSA at a current cost of €170.

In 2002, the Hillwalker's Club plans to make available at least five bursaries each of €150 to members of at least 24 months standing who successfully complete the MSA.

The financial resources to support these bursaries will be made available from the surplus associated with the Club's annual Map and Compass training programme. Support in future years is contingent on sufficient funds being available from this source.

Further enquiries from Donal Finn or Joseph Kellegher.

Hostel accommodation: limited to 50 persons

Booking: EUR 50 NON REFUNDABLE deposit to An Óige Head Office by credit card or cash deposit (8304555). Booking facilities available from 27^th May 2002.

Cost: EUR 90 (includes 3 bednights & Transport costs)

Meals: available locally (Cliften)

Food: bring sufficient amount for at least one breakfast.

Bring: Winter rain wear/change of warm clothing/ sheet bag/towels/toilet gear/ flask/torch/ first aid kit/camera/binoculars/ valid An Óige membership card.

Departure: Friday evening from Custom House Quay at 4pm/ 1600hrs sharp.

Return: Monday evening /arriving Dublin City centre at 8pm (2000hrs) approx.

Please note that the walking programme may be altered or curtailed at the discretion of the leader to take account of adverse weather conditions and walkers capabilities.