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General

Whatever you want to say that doesn't fit under the comments about places or another forum.

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Post details

Post (Contract pics)

Thank you for your.. by Derry259 (Show all posts)

Derry259 - We made.. by paulocon (Show all posts)

My friend and I ar.. by Derry259 (Show all posts)

Perhaps this line .. by wicklore (Show all posts)

OK Paul, your fasc.. by Bleck Cra (Show all posts)

And just in case y.. by pdtempan (Show all posts)

The Irish forms of.. by pdtempan (Show all posts)

Salve vulpes. Cnoc.. by Bleck Cra (Show all posts)

Bleck Cra
2010-01-24 20:34:52

"New gear for the hills" from Bleck Cra Contract pics

Picture: New gear for the hills (Contract pics)

ON TO THE SADDLE

There are no words (except perhaps in a Glaswegian dictionary) that express my loathing for anything on the hill not propelled by limbs. Dogs, cats, birds, giraffes, lizards, frogs, people - all good. Scramblers, quads, British Army helicopters, mountain bikes - all very bad. Especially mountain bikes. It is forever like the troll and big Billy Goat gruff when we meet. So it is a prize-winning humble pie, served up on a spade, that now I must eat. Captain Vertigo, if you are still around, I beg your mercy. Today was a dour, difficult Northern slog. On one side of 2000', sun that split the stones; the other, cloaked in a sadistic northerly with pocketsful of freezing rain. A slip-sliding descent off Donard and a southeasterly bearing on to rough Rocky were to set up a bee-line for Binnian and Lamagan, but the conditions were just unpleasant and a quick recce with commonsense sent the Cra on a route back home. Tee-ed off, I sulked refractory on to the Saddle - and half way down to the Glen River, the pop and purr of small motorbikes and the narcotic smell of 2 stroke combustion. Beneath me at about 1200' and unbelievably in terrain that an Ibex could find contrary, emerged two stalwarts on whisper-thin trail bikes, picking a track up through the mirk. "Excuse me", "sorry" and other implausible things were coming out of their mouths and I could hear myself shouting out loud "Good on you boys." Please Captain, I tried to stick the words back in, but the pride being in these worthies' company had swollen them and they simply wouldn't fit. Here, amongst the florid-faced fatbums fighting for their fifteen minutes, were real heroes. The only entertainment in the Mournes today and by far the best for years.

An island accessib.. by csd (Show all posts)

RECENT CONTRIBUTIONS ..

Summit Comment
Carrigroe: Twin tops

Colin Murphy a week ago.
A view of Carrigalachan and Carrigroe taken from the southern slopes of Blackstairs mountain.

Track
Kilbrony Park Ramble

Onzy 5 days ago.
Walk from Kilbrony Park loosely based on their Fallow Looped Trail.... walk, Len: 18.1km, Climb: 798m, Area: Slievemartin, Mourne Mountains (Ireland) ...

Track
Letterettrin - a perspective on the N Connemara peaks

glencree 2 days ago.
Park at L81005 61429, where there was space for 2 cars. The road leads in to Killary Harbour where there is a lar... walk, Len: 9.2km, Climb: 325m, Area: Leitir Eitreann, Twelve Bens (Ireland) L||

Summit Summary
Bunnanimma: Summit position recently revised.

Collaborative entry Last edit by: simon3 a week ago.
The position of the highest point of this general area was reassessed in Nov 2014 and replaced by Bunnanimma. The former summit was called Carrickatee in MV with position H72704 14804. The ne...

Track
Knocknakilton & Cummeen, Dingle Penninsula

Deise-Man 6 days ago.
walk, Len: 9.1km, Climb: 477m, Area: Knocknakilton, Central Dingle (Ireland) Kn...

Summit Comment
Leean Mountain: Ireland's Best Small Hill?

Geo 2 weeks ago.
The title of this comment says it all about my experience. I won't labour the practicalities of how to get to it, it's well laid out by others, and straightforward to follow. Getting back to ...

Summit Comment
Scarr North-West Top: Popular spot in the heart of the mountains

hibby 2 weeks ago.
A gloriously sunny April morning with clear blue skies made this area a surprisingly popular spot with walkers and cyclists. The short relatively steep climb up from the car park brings you t...

Track
Croaghnageer and Croghanirwore

Peter Walker 6 days ago.
An underrated component of the hillwalker's skillset is resilience. You can be navigationally competent (after... walk, Len: 13.4km, Climb: 660m, Area: Croaghnageer East Top, Bluestack Mountai|...

User profile
ryanguinness10

ryanguinness10 2 weeks ago.
One foot in front of the other.

Summit Summary
Blackstairs Mountain: Good access and a great viewpoint above a patchwork quilt

Collaborative entry Last edit by: Colin Murphy a week ago.
Just S of Mt. Leinster, Blackstairs Mt. is a prominent hill on the main ridge separating Carlow & Wexford. Views are good in all directions, mostly over flatlands, but dominated by the peak o...

Forum: General
Silvermines Hydro Project

Bunsen7 a month ago.
https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2025/0307/1500751-650m-silvermines-hydro-project-before-an-bord-pleanala/

Summit Comment
Kanturk: Granite - mica schist boundary

hibby 2 weeks ago.
Bright sunshine, blue skies, mainly dry underfoot - not typical conditions for a Sunday morning in April. We were surprised to find the Glenmacnass car park already full at 10 a.m. and someth...

RECENT CONTRIBUTIONS ..