2013-05-20 15:11:13
whats that about sex
Welcome back Bleck Craw, this forum has'nt been the same without you. While we sometimes differed on certain subjects( which I wont mention), your contributions were always entertaining if sometimes a bit strange (like your latest) but I nevertheless have to say I enjoy reading your pieces.2013-05-19 20:59:25
Hill Runner
Walking along the Wicklow Way today at the section that leads down to the Dargle River, steep enough section. I met a hill runner running up this part and at the same time he was having a conversation on his mobile. I hate show off's.2013-05-17 12:10:46
Good Sun coming. Bluestacks anyone?
Anyone interested in walking in the Bluestacks (Ardnageers and nearby) on Sun or early Mon? Contact group@mountainviews.ie2013-05-15 23:05:47
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SEX ROCKS AND ROLLS
"It's like sex," she said.We looked at her.
"Hillwalking. It's like sex."
Her big scrubbed North Antrim face - and I imagined she didn't know much about either - not her fault mind, given the lack of attractive hills or much else attractive in North Antrim - but that is maybe where she saw the similarity: things she didn't know much about but quite enjoyed - sometimes - a bit.
Anyway hillwalking and sex - and let this be a lesson to budding wordsmiths because in every passing throw-away remark there be a truth.
........ an enthusiastic launch into the lower reaches, followed by some aimless tramping around, getting lost a couple of times, a desperate bid for the summit denied by various false tops, an exhausted descent and lastly, very noisy sleeping.
Zzzzzzzzzzzz - sorry, excuse me - I must have nodded off .....
2013-05-13 22:28:21
Nenagh walking festival
Just to add to Roberto's comments re above I was on the A walk on Saturday and thoroughly enjoyed myself. A well led walk, lovely pace and super hospitality afterwards. Most impressive.2013-05-13 17:25:22
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| Lava activity (Expand pics) |
Forces of Nature
It only becomes evident when you stand close to volcanic activity, just how enormous are the forces at work. The photo taken on the slopes of Tongariro NZ, shows a lava flow channel that has become exposed after ash and unstable debris has fallen away.The sheer size is hard to gauge as the photo is taken from another ridge! I would not like to have been around when this was in full flow.
2013-05-13 17:12:01
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| Tongariro landscape (Expand pics) |
Volcanic Regions
For those who like volcanic regions and do not want to take too much of a risk, there are excellent walks in New Zealand around the Turangi region of the North Island. Having taken considerable risks in Hawaii, I was not interested in pushing my luck any further!In this area, Mount Ngauruhoe is still active, as is the area around Emerald Lakes. The views are stunning and it is relatively easy to trek into the area. The panaroma photo shows the view east from the slopes of Tonragiro and around south over Mount Ngauruhoe. As you will see there are wisps of smoke still emanating from around the sides of the Emerald lakes.
2013-05-13 13:24:55
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| Stromboli from 400m up the mountain (Expand pics) |
Aeolian Islands, Sicily - Stromboli
A view of Stromboli village at dusk from 400 metres up the mountain - another 500 metres plus to reach the top2013-05-13 13:21:55
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| Lava bomb on Stromboli (Expand pics) |
Aeolian Islands, Sicily - Stromboli
For anybody going hiking in the Aeolian Islands, the ultimate target is Stromboli – one of the most active volcanoes in the world and which has given its name to the geological term strombolian – when molten fountains of magma are spurted out of the crater at regular intervals.Unlike the other volcanic destinations in the archipelago which involve easy climbs, Stromboli is a serious 924 metre climb up the cone directly from sea level any anybody doing the climb will need some of the gear they use in Ireland – even gaiters (more on gaiters later!), as well as being able to hike at steady Grade 2 pace.
You also have to bear in mind that you can’t just climb Stromboli, you have to go with a registered guide as part of a group – this is for safety reasons as this is a very active volcanoe and anybody wandering off the main tracks could be in real danger. Guided hikes usually start off around 5pm from Stromboli village with the aim of reaching the crater rim around 7.00-7.30pm for the natural firework show. Helmets, head torches etc and other gear are provided by the guiding companies if you haven’t got them yourself.
The trek up the mountain is at a steady Grade 2 pace, as the guided groups leave at specific time intervals to try and ensure that everybody will get at least 20 minutes at the top for the fireworks. You can walk unguided up 400 metres – through the macchia (macquis) to a viewing point overlooking the Sciara del Fuoco, where most the molten rock is discharged into and which slopes steeply down to the sea.
Beyond 500 metres and you are on the open cone of the mountain and it’s a steady zig-zag trek up to the high point of the crater rim at 924 metres. Our guide told us that you really have to be unlucky if Stromboli goes through one of its rare sleepy periods and certainly when we were up there we saw a series of amazing eruptions. The lava bomb in the picture is about 20 metres wide and was just one of half a dozen we saw.
For the descent gaiters are absolutely essential and not for the reasons we use them in Ireland, as the descent is very steep through very fine and deep volcanic sand which will soon fill your boots without gaiters. Even with gaiters, you’re going to need to empty your boots at the bottom of the mountain. One note of warning, people with respiratory ailments are recommended not to do this trek, the sand on the descent is so fine that face masks are only so much use!
2013-05-13 11:15:05
The “longest, hardest high level walk"
...in Ireland was how Paddy Dillon described a proposed walk across the tops of a number of the summits in his “The Mountains of Ireland”, stretching from the east end of the Mangertons and across the Dunkerrons and the heart of South Kerry. As I live between the two ranges and have spent many great days around both, I decided I would give it a go and see if I could maybe “open up” a new walk for those who like the tough ones, albeit with some of the most spectacular scenery in the country. I should point out that I did not try this on consecutive days, but over the past 5 weekends, most of the outings were in the 8-9 hour bracket so if anyone can do it day after day (as I know Dillon really meant in his challenge!) I doff my cap to them. I did however, of course, pick up the route at the point where I had left it, usually in cols but over the last couple of walks that meant getting back to the top of a summit reached in the previous outing, these are noted in brackets. I also did it east to west, he suggests west to east. His route has Coomcallee and An Bheann Mhor at one end, whereas I decided to complete the range with one further outing from there south west to the end of the Iveragh Peninsula. I didn’t encounter any access issues, but I am aware of some around Derrygarriff where one must stay to the south and east of the fence that leads down from the summit to the road, so would suggest that anyone trying it go to the individual entries on Mountainviews for any news. Incidentally, the route is largely covered by Discovery Series 78 and 83 though afair the area around Crohane may require 79 too. Each stage was a 2 car outing, relied on family to ferry me around both Mangerton stages, had a (very fast!) friend on the 4 treks across the Dunkerrons. I might give further details, distance, ascent, exact routes etc. in a breakdown in the walks section in due course, but for those who are interested here are the 52 mountains summitted along the way.Day 1 - Loo Bridge to Kenmare – Carrigawaddra, Crohane, Crohane SW Top, Bennaunmore, Stoompa East Top, Stoompa, Mangerton, Dromderalough NE Top, Dromderalough, Knockbrack
Day 2 – Kenmare to Barfinnihy Lake – Knockanaguish, Peakeen, Peakeen W Top, Derrygarriff
Day 3 – Barfinnihy Lake to Ballaghbeama Gap – Boughil, Cnoc na gCapall, Bascadh, Knocklomena, Stumpa Duloigh SE Top, Stumpa Duloigh, Stumpa Duloigh SW Top, Knockaunanattin, Knockaunanattin W Top
Day 4 – The Cloon Horseshoe – Mullaghanattin, Beann NE Top, Beann, Beann South Top, Beann SW Top, Beann Far SW Top, Sallagh, Finnararagh, Coomnacronia, Knocknagantee, Teermoyle, Coomura
Day 5 – Knocknagantee to Dromid – (Knocknagantee), Cnoc Breasail, An Bhinn Láir, Coomcathcun, Coomnahorna, Coomcallee, Beann na Stiocairi, An Bheann Mhor, Glanbeg
Day 6 – Coomcallee to the Atlantic Ocean – (Coomcallee), Esknaloughoge N Top, Esknaloughoge, Staigue NE Top, Staigue Top, Eagles Hill, Mullaghbeg, Beenrour, Cahernageeha, Farraniaragh
