2012-02-12 23:54:53
 |
| Nice. (Expand pics) |
WHAT A CARRY ON IN THE MOURNES
I have aired my views on the goings-on in the Mourne Mountains on this site a few times. There hasn’t been any support really for my position, so after today, I suppose I shan’t be airing them again.Bearing in mind this is an all-Ireland site, interest in Northern mountains will in the main follow the population on the island. Add in that there are 2 main mountain ranges here, the Mournes and the Sperrins, statistically interest in the Mournes declines further. Finally, there can only be a handful of walkers who frequent the Mournes to the same level as myself. So ultimately my position is fairly lonely.
Just briefly to revisit the argument. A seemingly unaccountable body is building track and other structures in the Mournes.
Their position is that this is necessary. My position is that it is not.
They argue it is to do with safety and accessibility. I argue that it is not.
They also take the position that the effort is worthy. I take the position that it is not.
Using heavy machinery, they have carved a track up Slieve Binnian effecting an horrific scar on the beautiful landscape; they are also trying to do the same up the Bloody Bridge track including building a horrible bridge concreted into steel sleepers across the pretty Fofanny river and taking out big, natural boulders from the river. (see David Kirk’s view on this – a man with credentials on the Mournes the length of your arm). They are also now engaged in driving a track up the Glen River.
As far as I understand, none of the hillwalking fraternity has been consulted. When I suggested that it should have been, on this website they tried to make a mockery of that position.
If we are so irrelevant then I am happy to take my walking circle into the Sperrins or anywhere else and we can spend our money on accommodation, food, drink and entertainment there instead.
My mountainview is essentially this. I have no issue with fixing existing tracks where they have become dangerous. I do have an issue with building completely unnecessary and unnatural structures in an otherwise natural environment.
However my main complaint is with the time, energy and our money committed to an enterprise which is ultimately an indulgence. Not in my view, so good in the current climate.
Given there is no support for my position I shall take comfort that the thing is like a joke in a Carry On movie. Not that the joke is good but that the audacity in trying it is wonderful.
Lastly I have presented the argument to the National Trust here and at HQ. Neither has got back to me, which means either they think we don't matter or they don't think they are up to a serious debate on the subject.
Also, given this is the biggest and most popular website on mountains in Ireland, they or the perpetrators of the above work needn't say they haven't seen this. They have. So if they don't respond ..........