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.

During winter months it is essential to bring a (head) torch on all Sunday hikes and weekends away. Don’t forget to check your batteries and bulb.

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 holding its annual Christmas Party on Saturday December 7^th and once again we are staying in Glendalough Hostel and eating in the lovely Wicklow Heather. You know the drill: its get there, walk, rest or drink and then eat and party. You can avail of bus transport (55 Euro option, or make your own way down by car and St. Kevin’s Bus (45 Euro option).

Saturday morning

Bus at Burgh Quay @ 9.30 am.
Arrive at hostel (c.10.30am).
Walk in Glendalough
Soup in hostel after end of hike
Christmas dinner in the ‘Wicklow Heather’, Laragh.
Raffle and presentations.
P A R T Y !!!

Sunday morning
Walk (or relax or suffer)
Bus home after walk.

Cost: Euro 55, Bus, Hostel Overnight, & Party Dinner (Burgh Quay at 9.30am).
Euro 45, Hostel Overnight & Party Dinner (make your own way). Book via An Óige Head Office (ph 8304555). Don’t forget your tinsel & tinnies!

The hike co-ordinator has asked that we take note of the following points of safety for the late Autumn & Winter walks, especially hike leaders:

All hike participants should carry suitable waterproof torches, reflective armbands or strips and adequate winter attire from the end of October until the end of the winter period. Leaders should insist that all participants are suitably attired and using torches when required. Leaders should plan to finish all hikes between 1700 and 1730hrs (earlier if severe adverse weather conditions prevail). Every effort should be made (without dragging or hurrying the group) to reach a recognised safe track or road way before the onset of darkness. Leaders should slow the pace down when encountering any type of awkward or difficult terrain, steep or slippery inclines etc. Extra vigilance should be exercised during the periods of dusk, darkness, dense fog or mist, snow and icy conditions etc. Walks should be altered or shortened  to take account of adverse weather conditions e.g. possible flooding or icy roads.

Naples and Sicily: From Phoenicians to Bourbons
(to include slides from Pompeii, Herculaneum, Syracuse and Etna)

Presented by Barbara Sudrow

Tuesday, November 12th 8.30pm, Upstairs Lounge, Palace Bar

Walking in Northern Italy: Club Trip Sept 2001
Dolomites and Lake Garda

Presented by Tony Crean

Tuesday, Dec 3rd 8.30pm, Upstairs Lounge, Palace Bar

Meanwhile, if anyone would like to present a slide show, please contact Donal Finn.

Inspired by recent government measures, and ever anxious to improve your club, the Committee has announced a new penalty point system to be enforced on the hills. Any hillwalker who incurs 12 points in a year will be disqualified from walking for a month. Similarly, hike-leaders will be disqualified from leading.

1pp Staring over leader’s shoulder telling him where to go.
2pp Running ahead of the leader.
3pp Having inadequate equipment.
4pp Not keeping pace with the group.
1pp Wearing ill-matching colours on the hills.
2pp Having a drink at the end of the walk.
1pp Leaving rubbish on Jim’s bus.
2pp Losing windows on Jim’s bus.
3pp Letting the air out of Jim’s tyres whilst parked near a pub.
4pp Making fun of the Committee.
1pp Causing club scandal.
2pp Not telling others about club scandal.
0 pp Embezzling club funds.
12pp Snoring in hostel.
7pp Giving a speech on the bus for more than 10 minutes.
-1 pp Bribing a Committee member.
1pp Robbing someone’s seat in the Palace.
2pp Throwing popcorn and heckling during a slideshow.

Your suggestions for improving these regulations are of course welcomed by the Editor.

Napoleon surveyed the field with the calculating eye of a born strategist: He carefully manoeuvred into an advantageous position near to his target and began his advance: "So Goldilocks, I like the wig. Tell us, do you wear it on the hills?". The Corsican general a.k.a Gerry Walsh, was one of several guests haunting the Editorial Headquarters till the early hours this Halloween.

Among the other guests was the super-hero Danger Boy, Dr. C. Looney the Sex Consultant, Bob the Builder, a Priestess, a Ninja, an Egyptian, Jamaican Dudes, a Witch and her entourage of Cats, Mad-Hatters, several She–Devils, and the Count & Countess Dracula (luckily we had the Vampire Slayers Buffy & Faith on hand to deal with them).

Alas, there was no sign of the beautiful Stephanie this year, which is just as well, as the memory of Stephen bare-legged in a tutu was enough to make grown men cringe. This year’s popular choice of ‘Best Dressed’ was hotly contested but in the end has to go to the armed and robed fanatic Sandra ‘Al-Queda’ Brady. Philip Hayden was disqualified from the contest for trying to dress as everyone, "Its just an identify crisis I’m going through" said the multi-faced biker/devil/superhero/builder.

Even after all the guests had been kicked out, a low, eerie wailing was heard throughout the apartment. The mystery was solved when we found Brian O’Grainne unconscious on the floor. We let sleeping beasts lie and thankfully, this ghost was exorcised by mid-morning.

Saturday Hike – 9^th November – Circuit of Howth.

Saturday Hike – 7^th December – Bray Head & Christmas Party.

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

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

Distribution: Cyril McFeeney & Pearse Foley
Webmaster: Matt Geraghty

Note: Donal is currently handling membership applications for Ger.

The Hillwalkers Club membership fee for 2003 is €17.
In order to align our membership administration with the Mountaineering Council of Ireland (MCI), the 2003 membership year will be from January 1st to September 30th. In 2004, it will run from October 1st 2003 to Setpember 30th 2004.

Throughout 2003, only club members will be allowed to participate on Sunday hikes. However, non-club members can sample our hike programme by taking part on the special "Introductory Hikes" which are held once a month. Please note that An Oige membership is required for participation on the introductory hikes.

To spread the administrative burden, please renew your membership as soon as possible by sending your completed application form to the Acting Membership Secretary, Donal Finn, 24 Glenmalure Park, South Circular Road, Dublin 8.

Queries regarding change of address or non-receipt the Hillwalker Newsletter should be directed to the Acting Membership Secretary.

Walking holiday articles 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. 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:

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.