Hillwalkers Club

March - April 2015

http://www.hillwalkersclub.com/

C é i l í

M ó r 2

8 Russell leads the club hike 18th January F In this edition e Hike programme: March – April 2015 2 HILLWALKER The pick-up points b 3 Club news and eventsr 7 Environmental news 10 MI Winter meet u 11 Walking in a Winter Wonderlanda 19 2014/15 membershipr application form 21 y

THE F u The Hillwalker ● March – May 2015 1 r t h e

HIKE PROGRAMME March 2015 – May 2015

MEET: Corner of Burgh Quay and Hawkins St DEPART: Sundays at 10.00 am (unless stated otherwise), or earlier if it is full. TRANSPORT: Private bus (unless stated otherwise) COST: €12.00 (unless stated otherwise)

2nd pick-up point: On the outward journey, the bus will stop briefly to collect walkers at the pick-up point. Should the bus be full on departure from Burgh Quay, this facility cannot be offered.

Return drop-off point: On the return journey, where indicated, the bus will stop near the outward pick-up point to drop off any hikers. We regret this is not possible on all hikes.

If you wish to avail of the 2nd pick-up point, it advisable to contact the hike leader or someone else who will definitely be on the hike, to let them know.

GENERAL HIKE NOTES

PARTICIPATION 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.

CO-ORDINATION If necessary, 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.

EQUIPMENT It is essential to bring good rain gear (both jacket and over-trousers) and to leave cotton t-shirts and jeans at home! Boots must be sturdy with proper ankle support and a rigid non-slip sole such as Vibram.

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.

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The pick-up points

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 Introductory hard hike 

The Hillwalkers Club offers an Introductory Hike, usually on one Sunday per month. Guests are welcome to join us on this hike, as long as they provide their name, address and contact details for our records, which will be taken on the day of the hike. Unless guests have their own personal hiking insurance, they are not insured. There is no need to book a place in advance, just turn up on the relevant Sunday morning. Guests can come on one hike without becoming a member of the club, but after that they must join the club.

Even though the name of these hikes is ‘Introductory Hike’, they should not be considered to be an introduction to hiking, but rather as an introduction to the Hillwalkers Club and its hillwalking activities. Therefore, participants need to have a good level of personal fitness and, ideally, have some prior experience of hillwalking.

All intending participants should be aware that hillwalking and mountaineering are activities with a danger of personal injury or even death. By walking with the club, they are aware of and shall accept these risks. Moreover, they acknowledge that they wish to participate in club activities in a voluntary capacity and that they shall be responsible for their own actions and involvement. Please note that as guests of the club, they do not enjoy personal accident insurance, which is otherwise offered to club members through Mountaineering . Further details are available from (www.mountaineering.ie/membersandclubs/Insurance/default.aspx)

For further enquiries contact 086 356 3843

For Sunday hike leaders, the contact people for Mullally’s Coaches are: - Austin O’Hagan, 086 466 4680 - James Mullally, 086 383 7495 - Micheál Martin, 085 102 2204

Sunday 29th March 2015 nd Sunday 22 March 2015 Leader: Shauna O’Hara Leader: Kevin McGinley 2nd pick-up & return drop-off point: Bus stop 2nd pick-up & return drop-off point: Bus stop before the roundabout at Loughlinstown before the roundabout at Loughlinstown Route: Baravore car park * Fraughan Rock Route: Laragh * Paddock Hill * * Glen * * Cannow mountain * Kanturks * Lough Dan * Oldbridge * * Table track * Baravore car Ballinafunshoge * Pier Gates park Distance: 18 km Ascent: 700 m Distance: 17 km Ascent: 920 m

Map: OS 56 , Harvey, East West Mapping Maps: OS 56, Harvey, East West Mapping

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Sunday 5th April 2015 Sunday 26th April 2015

No Sunday Hike - Leader: Patricia Ging Easter Trips to Kerry and 2nd pick-up Rathfarnham Castle (R115) Different return

Sunday 12th April 2015 Route: Sally Gap * Carrigvore * , * * East Top * Leader: John Costigan, 087 464 3576 Black Hill * Ballynultagh Gap

2nd pick-up & return drop-off point: : Bus stop Distance: 15 km Ascent: 830 m before the roundabout at Loughlinstown. Maps: OS 56, East West Mapping Route: T 099 981 (Lead Mines CP) * Brockagh * * Wicklow Gap * * * Car Park Sunday 3rd May 2015 Distance: 17.5 km Ascent: 820 m Leader: Michael Quinn Maps: OS 56, Harvey, East West Mapping 2nd pick-up Maldron Hotel, Tallaght Different return

Route: Fenton's * Camarahill (480 m) * Sunday 19th April 2015 Lugnaquilla (925 m) * Cloghernagh (800 m)

** Introductory Hard Hike ** * Clonkeen (348) * via the zigzags to valley * car park. Leader: Dave McCann Distance: 18 km Ascent: 90 m 2nd pick-up & return drop-off point: Bus stop before the roundabout at Loughlinstown. Maps: OS 56, East West Mapping

Route: Stump of the Castle * Cronybyrne * St. Patrick & St. Killian's Chapel of Ease * Claramore * Ballylug * Trooperstown Hill * Trooperstown Bridge * Laragh East * Paddock Hill * * Laragh

Distance: 16 - 17 km Ascent: 600 - 630 m

Maps: OS 56 & 62, East West Mapping

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Club news and events

Club membership

A current Hillwalkers Club membership card is now a requirement for participation in the Sunday hikes.

Membership cards will be checked before boarding the bus

Guests may sample only one hike before taking out membership

Membership forms will be available for lapsed members as they cannot hike with the club without renewing their membership

Members authorised to check membership cards include Garry Byrne, Bill Fine, Tom Hennessy, AnneMarie Keoghan, Søren Mandrup, Don Reilly and all members of the current committee

Club membership for 2014/15 has been open since October 2014. A membership form is included on page 21 of this Newsletter.

Membership can now also be taken out and renewed on the club website see

http://www.hillwalkersclub.com/membership-application-form.php

Trips Away in 2015

Russell Mills is bringing a small group to Snowdonia over St Patricks Weekend, Friday March 13th to Tuesday 17th . This trip is now full

Jim Barry is bringing a large group to Kerry over Easter. Please contact Jim at [email protected] or 087 273 7338. For trip details see Page 9

Mel O’Hara is bringing a group to Scotland over Easter. This trip is now full with a waiting list in operation.

Mark Campion is bringing a group to Italy in July This trip is now full with a waiting list in operation.

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Club news and events continued

ONLINE MEMBERSHIP FACILITY

Membership can now be taken out and renewed on the club

website see

http://www.hillwalkersclub.com/membership-application-form.php

Payments by members into Club Accounts The club will soon be introducing a method for making payments directly into club accounts via the club website In the meantime please contact Inés or Lourdes for the bank account details to be used when making payments directly into club accounts either over the internet or at bank counters. [email protected] or [email protected] It is extremely important that members use their names as the reference when making internet payments into club accounts. It is very difficult to identify and credit your payments otherwise. If paying at bank counter, please note number of lodgement docket and text or e-mail this number to Inés or Lourdes to ensure your transfer is correctly identified

WANTED

Good photos for inclusion on Hillwalkers Club Facebook Page and / or in Newsletter

Please send photos to Eugene [email protected] or Mel [email protected]

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Staying at An Óige Aghadoe House Youth Hostel, Killarney

PLEASE NOTE BUS ONLY TRIP Proposed Weekend Itinerary Mtn: from Breanlee (Hard Hike) Car park (G.R.772 872) & Leisleibane (Mod Hike) Path (G.R.830 892) Start points. Both Hikes to finish at Leisleibane

Mangerton Mtn: from Gortacullane (G.R. 988 866) start/finish point for both Hard/Moderate Hikes

Purple/Toomeys Mtns: From Kate Kearney’s Cottage Car park, .(G.R. 881 888) Start/Finish point both hikes

Kerry Way Walk: From Galway’s Bridge (G.R.915 802) towards Killarney Town

Recommended Map(s): OS Discovery Series 78 (1:50,000) , Killarney (1:25,000) or Harvey’s (1:30,000)

Cost: €255 ( Includes Bednights, Meals, and Bus Transport)

Booking & Payment : Please post CHEQUE OR POSTAL ORDER ONLY (NO CASH) made out to the ‘Hillwalkers Club’ for €255 to Inés Lopez, c/o Algar, The Slopes, Knapton Road, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, including your full contact details OR pay €255 by internet or bank transfer into club account after contacting Inés, [email protected] for details of Hillwalkers bank account to be used. Please ensure you use your name as the reference if making an internet payment. If paying at bank counter, please note number of lodgement docket and text or e-mail this number to Inés to ensure your transfer is correctly identified. Please advise Inés when you have made the payment. Participants must be members of An Óige or the Hillwalkers Club

Bookings open from Monday 05 January 2015

Meals: Hostel Continental Breakfast, Dinner and Packed Lunch included Bring: Suitable Walking Boots, Rain Wear/Change of Warm Clothing/Towels/Toilet Gear/ Flask/Torch/ First Aid Kit/Camera/, Mobile Phone etc. Be prepared for winter conditions in the mountains

Meeting Time & Place – 1200hrs on THURSDAY 2nd at Luke Street (Side street off Georges Quay between Ulster Bank Bus Stops and Tara St. Dart Station) Return: Monday evening to arrive back in Dublin at 2000hrs.

Welcome Aboard

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Environmental notes

Hello Hillwalkers, Despite the official onset of Spring, the last few days have been particularly cold, with snow again in the hills and to the west. However, as I write, the sun is shining down from a blue sky and there is definitely a feeling of renewal in the air. One of the first signs of that renewal in Ireland is the spawning of frogs, which gather in large numbers in pools and ponds from February onwards to mate and lay their eggs, (spawn). Every year the Irish Peatlands Conservation Council (IPPC) run a survey to determine the distribution and health of the Irish frog population. If you have spotted frogspawn or tadpoles recently, and wish to take part, you can record your sighting and submit them through their website,

http://www.ipcc.ie/help-ipcc/hop-to-it-national-frog-survey-irelandcard/

You may have read last month that we are planning a birdwatching day in conjunction with Birdwatching Ireland. I was hoping to have more info for you in this newsletter but a meeting with BWI has been delayed until very recently. This will now go ahead in May, probably on a Saturday. If you are interested in finding out more about the birds that frequent the hills and valleys of the and are thinking of attending will you please let me know as I would like to get an idea of numbers to plan suitable transport. Watch out for more details in the next Newsletter.

Later in the year we are hoping to run a club day helping out Mountain Meitheal, who do great work repairing erosion damage to the paths and trails in the mountains. If you would like to give something back to the hills then join us for a day of path construction/repair and I’m sure a bit of fun too. More details to follow. If you can’t make it, Mountain Meitheal always welcome new volunteers to help with this important work, and Jim Barry has been sending out info about their upcoming work days. You can also get all the relevant information from their website: http://mountainmeitheal.ie/

See you out on the hills.

Russ Mills, Club environmental officer

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Mountaineering Ireland Winter Meet Feb 2015

Phil ascending Carn Mor Dearg

07.45, Sunday, 8th February and I was at the Inchree centre, near , near Forwilliam, Scotland. Although I was almost at sea level, it was several degrees below freezing and I was scraping a very thick layer of ice off a car windscreen. Nearby, despite the bitter cold, a songbird was singing loudly and cheerfully. The thought occurred to me that Ireland’s songbirds, living in their less extreme environment, have a much easier life than their Scottish cousins. The same comparison could be made between Irish and Scottish Hillwalkers ! I was at Inchree for the Mountaineering Ireland Winter Meet to gain experience and learn how to walk more safely in the harsh winter conditions that are so much more common in Scotland than in Ireland. My first experience of walking in Scotland’s mountains was 2 years ago on the club’s 2013 Easter trip which was organised and led by Mark Campion. On the first day of that trip we rambled around the hills west of Luss. I had my first view of the Scotland’s Highlands, including a view of Ben Lomand across Lough Lomand. It was love at first sight. On that 2013 trip I was introduced to bum-sliding on snow slopes, Arran Blondes (beer!) and The Drover’s Inn. Little wonder I returned home totally besotted with Scotland’s hills and mountains. Mark organised another great trip to Oban over the 2014 Easter weekend and, as well as enjoying some great hillwalking, I improved my bum sliding and bivvy bag racing skills. In September 2014 I had a memorable week on a Scottish Youth Hostelling Association Activity Holiday when I was guided superbly around the Skye by George Yeomans. Afterwards, I spent a few more days walking independently in the Highlands, in marvellous weather.

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So I’d had three very positive experiences of walking in Scotland before I heard, early last November, that Mountaineering Ireland (MI) were organising the Winter Meet to be held in Onich, near Fort William, from February 8th to 14th 2015. I didn’t hesitate. I immediately sent in my application form. Club members AnneMarie and Frank Keoghan had attended the MI winter meet in 2013 and they had really enjoyed the experience. There are a range of options available for Winter Meet participants. One can take courses in Winter Walking Skills, Winter Mountaineering skills or Winter Skills or you can simply do your own thing with other like-minded attendees. I had signed up for the Winter Walking and Winter Mountaineering courses while Russell Mills, our club environment officer, who also attended, was doing his own thing. Russell, who is working towards the Winter Mountain Leader qualification, was building up some quality winter mountain days as were some other participants. The Inchree Centre, where the course was based, is a marvellous facility. It is located close to Glencoe and Fort William so some of Scotland’s finest mountains are on its doorstep. The centre offers a range of self-catering accommodation choices and there is also a cosy bar / restaurant on site. The six people in my Winter Walking Skills group, Nicola, Conleth, Richard, John, Rory and myself converged on Chalet No 6 where we met with Alun Richardson who would be our tutor for the following three days. Alun has more than 30 years’ experience in climbing and mountaineering and the knowledge, experience and mountain craft gained while mountaineering all over the world simply oozes out of him. Alun is an IFMGA mountain guide – the highest qualification for worldwide mountaineering - and has written several books on mountaineering. For several years Alun was training officer with MI. Alun imparts his knowledge and experience very effectively in a clear and direct manner and encourages you to think about what you are doing and why you are doing it which reinforces the learning. We were also accompanied on the three days of the Walking Skills course by the current MI training officer, Jane Carney. With both Alun and Jane sharing their knowledge and experience with us, we had an exceptional learning opportunity.

Buachaille Eitive Beag from

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After some preliminary instruction, we set off for Glencoe and . We had a very enjoyable and worthwhile day learning, among other things, avalanche awareness, route choice, how to walk properly in crampons and how to carry and use an ice axe. We practiced ice axe arrests and winter navigation. Time management, hydration and nutrition were among other topics also discussed. We did all this while walking to and from the summit of Stub Dubh, which is 958m above sea level and is on the list. Throughout the day Alun and Jane dispensed helpful hints and tips with such frequency that one couldn’t help but absorb them, almost as if by osmosis. The following day we ascended to Am Bodach, 943m, then across to Srón Garbh, 873m. While returning to our starting point we had a very interesting traverse on a snow slope above Allt Ruigh under the careful and watchful stewardship of Alun and Jane. On Tuesday, the third day of the course, Alun ensured we consolidated the learnings of the previous two days by getting the course participants to plan and lead the walk. We chose the walk proposed by Conleth and Richard and ascended Buachaille Etive Mór from Lagangarbh. While on the summit of Stob Dearg, 1022m, the sun came out briefly due to a temperature inversion and we saw the Brocken Spectre. This was my first sighting of this rare phenomenon. There were also glimpses of an ice rainbow on the clouds below. Seeing the Brocken Spectre really crowned three marvellous days in the mountains for me.

Brocken Spectre from Buachaille Etive Mór On Tuesday night we attended a lecture given by a David “Heavy” Whalley on safety in the mountains. Mr Whalley has spent 36 years with RAF mountain rescue. He has also completed 8 rounds of the Munros while his dog has completed two rounds! He gave an interesting lecture and outlined various scenarios, rescues and, sadly, tragedies that he had been involved in. He gave valuable advice on how adopting some simple strategies reduced the risks involved in walking in the mountains. Informing a responsible person of your planned route, carrying and using a whistle for signalling your location – keep blowing the darn thing! and registering your mobile phone with 999 or 112 can be of crucial importance to rescue teams searching for a casualty.

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Sgorr Dhearh from Sgorr Dhonuill

The following day, Wednesday, saw Nicola, Richard and Conleth return to Ireland while father and son team John and Rory put their learning into practice by ascending , 1344m. I had a very enjoyable day ascending Sgorr Dhearg, 1024m, from near schoolhouse. On Thursday morning I began the Winter Mountaineering course. Clive Hebblethwaite was our instructor and my companions on this course were Phil, Joe and Brian. Clive is a very experienced mountaineer with an impressive list of qualifications. His brother, Howard, has co-written the guide to Quarry. On the first day of the course we went back to Glencoe where Clive brought us through Lairig Eilde to some interesting ground quite close to Stob Coire Sgreamhach. As well as expanding our knowledge of several general winter mountaineering topics such as lapse rate, Clive introduced us to rope aided winter . As with Alun and Jane, mountain craft just flows out of Clive and he gave us numerous valuable hints and tips throughout the day’s activities e.g. when scrambling, put your walking poles INSIDE your rucksack. On Thursday night Alun gave an interesting presentation outlining his activities over a 12 month period. Alun is a very accomplished photographer and the images he captured while mountaineering in remote areas, from Asia to Greenland, were simply stunning On Friday, we put the skills gained the previous day to good use by using the rope to safely and confidently ascend one of the Three Sisters of Glencoe, Gearr Aonach. I was particularly pleased with this aspect of the course as the rope skills learned and practiced are totally transferrable to summer scrambling. We also did some work on ice axe belays and practiced more winter navigation. On Saturday, the final day of the course, we finished off a great week by ascending Ben Nevis via the Carn Mór Dearg Aréte with Clive. The summits of Carn Mór Dearg and Ben Nevis were shrouded in low cloud (or clag as it is called in Scotland) but we had some wonderful views before we entered the clag. It was a long day but a very rewarding one.

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Ben Nevis from Carn Mor Dearg ascent

We started from the North Face car park at 08.15 and returned there at 16.30 having walked more than 17 kms and ascended more than 1500 metres. We were back in Inchree just in time for the Ireland – France rugby game. ( Ireland 18 France 11 ) The following day most people were heading away but I still had two days left to practice some of the skills learned through the week. On Sunday I parked near the new pier at Kentallen and headed up towards Sgorr Dhonuill on a bearing of 158o . I had certainly taken Alun and Clive’s advice about the value of an early start as I began my walk before 08.00. I had to smile to myself when I was a little way up the mountain and I heard a cock crowing in Kentallen! When I reached the summit of Sgorr Dhonuill, 1001m, it was very windy, too windy to attempt a traverse to Sgorr Dhearg where I had been on Wednesday. So I returned to the start, practising ice axe arrests and controlled bum sliding as I went. My early start was rewarded because I was back down in time to see the Scotland - Wales game. (Scotland 23 Wales 26) . I wasn’t flying back to Ireland until Monday evening so I had an opportunity to enjoy a short walk before making my way to the airport. I returned to Glencoe and Buachaille Etive Beag. I headed up Stob Coire Raineach, at 925m, the same height as Lugnaquillia. It was snowing from around the 700 metres so there were few views but it was still a lovely way to spend a few hours. So I drove back to Glasgow airport in very good humour after thoroughly enjoying another great trip to Scotland. I’d had a brilliant time thanks to course instructors Alun and Clive, Jane and Rozanne from MI who organised the meet, the staff at Inchree, my companions on the training courses and all the participants at the Winter Meet. Would I recommend the Mountaineering Ireland Winter Meet to friends and family? Certainly, without any hesitation, I can unequivocally recommend it. The Hillwalker ● March – May 2015 15

Clive carefully inspects and evaluates some avalanche debris

On the Carn Mór Dearg Aréte. Photo Joe Byrne The Hillwalker ● March – May 2015 16

On the Carn Mór Dearg Aréte. Photo Joe Byrne

Buachaille Etive Mór descent. Photo Russ Mills

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Screenshot of typical forecast issued by the Scottish Avalanche Information Service - SAIS

Some useful links

http://www.sais.gov.uk/

http://www.mwis.org.uk/

http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/news/walkers-urged-to-register-for-999-text- service/002852/

http://www.112.ie/

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Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Philip - Club Hike 18th January

Club Hike 18th January

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Hike 1st Feb led by Peter O’Toole – Photo Shauna O’Hara

Galtybeg and from Cush

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Membership Application Form The Hillwalkers Club 2014-2015 The 2014-2015 membership year runs from 01 October 2014 to 30 September 2015.

Name (Applicants must be over 18)

Address

Were you a member before?  Yes, last year  Yes, some time ago  No New members: How did you hear about the club? …………………………………………..……………………

An Óige Membership Number (Applicants must be a member of An Óige) [Further information at http://www.anoige.ie/membership]

Contact Telephone Numbers (If possible, please give a mobile number, which may be used for notification of programme changes) Mobile ...... Evening ...... Daytime ......

Email Address (required) ……………………………………………………………………....………………….…. The club issues a regular newsletter by email. The newsletter is also available through the Club webpage [www.hillwalkersclub.com].

Please read and sign the following PERSONAL DECLARATION

PERSONAL DECLARATION I am over 18 years of age and wish to apply for membership of the Hillwalkers Club. (*) (*) Please note that personal accident insurance is only available to members between 18 and 75 years of age. I accept that mountaineering is an activity with a danger of personal injury or even death. I am aware of and shall accept these risks and wish to participate in these activities voluntarily and shall be responsible for my own actions and involvement. I accept that the Hillwalkers Club establishes the bounds on its activities through the constitution and rules of the club [available at www.hillwalkersclub.com/constitution.htm] and I agree to abide by these. Members should not undertake any club hiking activities if: (i) they have any known medical ailment which may impair their ability to participate in club activities, or, (ii) they are taking any form of medication that will put their health or safety of others at risk. If a member is in any doubt on these matters, a doctor should be consulted prior to undertaking any club hiking activity. If you agree and accept the terms of the PERSONAL DECLARATION, please sign and date here.

Signature ...... ……………………...... Date ...... ………......

The 2014/15 Membership Fee is €35.00 Please use ordinary post to send completed form to Jim Barry, 156 Comeragh Road, Drimnagh, Dublin 12. Cheques or postal orders, payable to the Hillwalkers Club, but NO CASH, can be included with the application form. Please allow 2 weeks for your application to be processed. Please contact Inés or Lourdes for details of the bank account to be used when making membership payments directly into the club account either over the internet or at bank counter. [email protected] or [email protected] The Hillwalker ● March – May 2015 21