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. £6.00 (unless otherwise stated)

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.

Jim has asked us to include his email for queries regarding the walking schedule including offers to lead and weekend away queries.

Saturday Hikes – 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

Crone Woods & Djouce Hike Saturday October 13^th

Knockree Weekend Away November 2^nd–4^th

For further details of all the above trips contact An Óige Head Office at 01-830455

Booking is nearly closed on our October to Clare, but you might get the last seat if you ring now!:

Where: Exploring the Burren region of Co. Clare, based in Doorus Y.H, Co. Galway.

When: Friday 26^th Monday 29^th October Bank Holiday Weekend

Who: Martin Fagan

Cost: £70 (for transport and accommodation)

Full details elsewhere in the newsletter.

That academic duo Joe Kellegher and Donal Finn are organising several events to improve our outdoor skills and knowledge. The Map & Compass and First Aid courses are detailed elsewhere in the newsletter; below are the details of the Weather course. Please note that October 26^th is the last date for registration for the First Aid course.

Commencing Tuesday, Feb 5, 2002 and running for 6 weeks, the Club will be organising a short course on Weather Interpretation and Undertanding which will be given by Mr Gerry McDonald, Meteorologist (retired, formerly of the Irish Meteorological Service). Further details in later programmes.

The following dates have been arranged for our regular slideshow venue at the Palace Bar:

October 16, November 13 and December 4 (all Tuesday nights).

Travels in Russia: St Petersburg and Moscow

October 16^th 8.30pm, Upstairs Lounge, Palace Bar

13^th November Slide Show as Nov 13th
Presenter to be confirmed

Meanwhile, if anyone would like to show their slides please contact Donal Finn (01-4530617).

The wonders of technology! Soon the web team will be offering you Virtual Hiking – No more mud or rain. Simply plug your visor and E-Boots into your PC and get that Almost-Real walking experience. Several of our brave test hamsters have suffered electrocution or gone mad, but the tests are continuing and you will be the first to enjoy the results. Meantime, starting with August 2001, back issues of the newsletter are available on-line, as well as the current issue and additional photos. Check it out at:

High Atlas Trek,

Morocco, Summer 2001

Saturday 12^th May will be a day to remember. It was a trip of a lifetime for me. At the airport I met up with the other four Irish people who were to travel to London and meet there with the other eleven people on our trip. I did not know what was ahead of me – I tired not to read the guide book in case this gave me a shock, so I went into this feet first. In London we had to wait for the next flight to the city of Marrakesh. This was our last chance to turn back but we all decided to go ahead. We landed in Marrakesh at 12 midnight. Everyone was tired and went to bed. Next morning we went on a good tour of the city, though the weather was hot. That evening we all got postcards and sent them to our family and friends, just in case we did not return.

On the next day, Monday, we left our hotel to go trekking in the High Atlas Mountains. The journey there was rough. Each morning we would rise at 5.00 am. We had breakfast at 5.30 am and moved on at 6.15 am. This was the routine for the next few days - walk, lunch and dinner. There was no lights so head torches would be brought to dinner. The rooms we stayed in were very basic but nice. The Atlas mountains themselves were a very peaceful place.

The highlight of the trip was going to Toubkal, which is 4165m high and is North Africa’s highest peak. For this walk we got up at 4.30am. This early start was needed as we had to get up and down the same day. Getting to the top of Toubkal was hard but when we reached the top it was brilliant. All the group made it – everyone was happy. Everyone had talked and dreamed of this moment and our dreams had come true. The rest of the days were easy as we were going down hill and everyone was in good health.

The only thing I missed was my walking sticks: they got lost in London and when I rang up about them, they said they sent them to Marrakesh. So my walking sticks are walking around Marrakesh.

Wardens wanted – An Óige is looking for volunteers to act as ‘weekend wardens’ for some of their hostels. If your interested in trying this out for a night, please contact Jim Barry for details.

Christmas Party – I know its too early to mention Yuletide festivities, but with the busy social calendars our members enjoy, we thought best to let you know in advance that our club party is booked in Glendalough for the 8^th December.

The Hillwalkers Club annual membership fee is £15.

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.

Chairperson: Donal Finn

Secretary: Frank Rooney

Treasurer Prionsias MacAnBheatha

Editor: Warren Lawless

Sunday Hikes: Jim Barry

Weekends/Holidays: Martin Fagan

Membership Secretary: Gerry Walshe

Training Officer: Joe Kellegher

Distribution: Cyril McFeeney & Pearse Foley

A certain P. Hayden was been conspicuous by his absence on September’s Hillwalker outings. My spies inform me he has become quite enamoured of the Moderate Walk (or rather, members thereof). Sensing a good story I have taken it upon myself to conduct a thorough under-the-covers investigation. My findings will be posted in due coarse...

We wish to extend a fond bon voyage to two of our members. Maria-Luisa Mullins has departed our shores for a year and is pleasantly located by Lake Constance, Switzerland. Hmmm, walking country… Going far further afield, to warmer climes, is Shane Branigan and family, who are moving to Oz. Good luck to you both. And don’t let the dust settle on your boots!

As I rummage through my inbox, I find the habitual pile of litigation and death threats, but NO walking holiday articles. Yet so many of you were away in beautiful walking landscapes over the Summer. Surely your holiday experience was not so scandalous that I, of all people, could not publish it? What is more, you have but two issues left to be in with a chance for the Christmas Party prizes for Best Article and Best Photo.

"But how (you cry) can we hope to surpass the wit and eloquence of the editor’s articles or match the photogenic qualities of his legs, which graced last month’s edition???" Fear not! By some ancient bye-law the editor is excluded from winning his own prizes - a travesty of justice I know, but that’s the rules and its means your in with a chance, especially if your late entry is accompanied by a promise of drink on the night of the awards…

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. Articles will generally be published in order of receipt.

Last month I made a mocking reference to Hillwalkers in relationships having difficulties escaping to the hills. Since then I have received strong representation from a newly-formed group of spouses and partners, called C.L.A.W.S (Concerned Loved-ones Against Walkers Straying). After several hours of a sauce pan being gently applied to his head, the editor saw the errors of his ways and now agrees to comply fully with the admirable aims of this group.

Forthwith, the following system will apply. All club members acknowledged as being in a relationship (and we all know who you are) must present the following form to the hike leader before boarding the bus for the hills.

We all know that its for the best. Remember hike leaders, any one spotted without the proper documentation should be reported to their loved one at once. Accept no excuses. You are liable to hear "I forgot my form but s\he is glad to get me out of the house" or "S\he does not mind me mixing with you lot", or the extremely dubious "I am free to do what I like". But have none of it.

& - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Application To Go Out (on the Hills)

Hillwalker’s Name _______________________________

The above name has been granted permission to go out with their club on a hill walk. But furthermore they (please circle the appropriate option):

They may/may not converse with members of the opposite sex whilst out.

They may/may not go to the Palace Bar afterwards.

If allowed attend the pub, please record the number of drinks allowed to be consumed and latest time of departure:

Drinks Allowed (0-2): ___ Time to Leave By (up to 9 PM): ___ . ___ PM

Approving Partners Signature: _____________________ Date: ___ /____/2001

Phone Number (in case of misdemeanour or need of clarification): _____________

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 £125.

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 details of MSA, including dates in 2002 and application procedures will be available in the next programme.

Further enquiries from Donal Finn or Joseph Kellegher.

The Club in conjunction with the Irish Red Cross Society (IRCS) is organising a basic first aid course with emphasis on hillwalking-related injuries (Ed: Broken heads and broken hearts?). The course will be given by IRCS personnel and will be of interest to members who want to increase their knowledge and skills in this area. Participants who successfully complete the course and assessment will be awarded a Basic First Aid Certificate.

Members who are interested in undertaking the Mountain Skills Assessment programme (see elsewhere in the Newsletter) should note that the Basic First Aid Certificate fulfils the Bord Oiliunt Sleibhe - Irish Mountain Training Board requirement in first aid.

The Club is organising its annual Map and Compass course (Mountain Skills) commencing in October 2001. The course will include three Tuesday evening introductory sessions, each of duration 2 hours, to be held in the An Óige International Youth Hostel, Mountjoy Street. In addition, there will be two weekend training sessions as well as one night navigation session, all based in Wicklow. Accommodation for the two Wicklow weekends will be provided in the Glendalough International Hostel. An additional training session will be organised in the Commeragh Mountains, Co. Waterford, on the weekend of the 2^nd & 3^rd of February, 2002.