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The Summit
Monthly newsletter of MountainViews.ie for guestuser
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January 2013
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NEWS - INFORMATION - RECENT CONTRIBUTIONS - FEATURES - FORUMS
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Upcoming: MOUNTAINVIEWS - WALKERS ASSOCIATION - and MORE
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WALKERS ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND
2012 - 2013 Winter Talks Series: More talks announced.
Full details here: www.walkersassociation.ie
- Weds Jan 23rd, 2013, Hillwalkers Pub Quiz organised in conjunction with the Wayfarers Association This popular annual event is on again - last year it raised around 1000 Euro for Mountain Rescue. More information here
- Fri Feb 22nd, 2013, MountainViews Presentations and Awards Evening with Evelyn Cusack, weatherwoman. This is a popular annual event with presentations on various topics and awards for members achieving list completions. In 2013 it will feature Evelyn Cusack, Deputy Head of Forecasting for Met Eireann, topic not yet finalised. Start thinking about what questions you might like to ask Evelyn! 2013 will also see the MountainViews book of summit lists launched, the most comprehensive and accurate book of its kind.
- Weds Mar 20th 2013, John G O'Dwyer hillwalker and writer will speak on a topic yet to be finalised. Many of us will have seen his contributions to the Irish Times.
- Weds 17th April, 2013, John Cruise hillwalker will speak on the Camino Via de La Plata- the Roman route from Seville to Santiago, 1000km.
The word Plata ( silver in Spanish ) was believed to provide the origins of the name but it is more likely to be a version of the Arabic words " Balatta" or al- Balath meaning paved or wide.
These WAI events will be held in the Landsdowne Hotel, 27 Lansdowne Road, Dublin 4. Directions here http://www.lansdownehotel.ie Note: There is a fee for entry to the quiz and the MV/WAI evening, whilst other events are free with a voluntary collection.
The Walkers Association are interested in taking on new people for their committee to help run their successful events series.
More on Walkers Association here: www.walkersassociation.ie
For a full list of Challenge Walks, visit here.
WAI Photo Gallery - They would like you to upload some of your pictures (Ireland or abroad) to this?
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For more than 180 degrees there is a magnificent view from the north end of the Devilsmother in the Joyce Country. Below is a panorama, itself only part of what is on offer. Above a more detailed look at Killary Fjord, just part of the view.
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AWARDS, Noble and igNoble for 2012 Tracks
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What's this all about?
MountainViews launched its Track Sharing system in Feb last year. This is a not entirely serious look by member Peter Walker at some of the ways people are walking as revealed by their tracks! 461 tracks from 41 members so far by the way.
Awards
Hardest Track Award
Some fine challenges have been uploaded this year. mcrtchly submitted the classic Maum Turks walk, a piquant combination of bog, quartzite, tricky navigation and an amount of ascent and descent that could end the Mayan calendar. I'm in no doubt that he and kernowclimber are comfortably capable of covering the route in a day, but their unfortunate addiction to camping meant it stretched into a second. Longer in distance but lesser in terms of the torture attending each individual step was mulciber's Wicklow marathon...because absolutely everyone should end the Tonelagee/Mullaghcleevaun traverse with a lap of honour over Scarr.
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Mulciber on Sally Gap and Back
This is a long day, it covers a wide range of walking from b walk, Length:42.2km, Climb: 2050m, Area: Brockagh Mountain, Dublin/Wicklow (Ireland) Bro Click here
Easiest Track Award
simon3 and madfrankie's trip up Clogrennan Hill looks like it could be accomplished using the forward momentum generated by a semi-violent sneeze...but that might awaken the local bovine life, so slightly less noisy tactics might be in order.
simon3 on Quick, short route to Clogrennan
Start from the small road that comes off the L3896 as shown. walk, Length:1.0km, Climb: 18m, Area: Clogrennan Hill, South Midlands (Ireland) Clogrenn Click here
Gratuitous Airmiles Award
...goes to mcrtchly too. Australia and Lesotho...that's just showing off (or exploring a lot of underground excavations).
mcrtchly on Mount Kosciuszko - the highest mountain on the Australian mainland
Mount Kosciuszko (2,228m) is the highest mountain on the mai walk, Length:21.1km, Climb: 637m, Area: Australia, New South Wales () Click here
mcrtchly on Thabana Ntlenyana, Lesotho
Thabana Ntlenyana mountain in Lesotho, which reaches an elev walk, Length:22.5km, Climb: 1222m, Area: Lesotho, Mokhotlong () Click here
Most Inventive Track Award
It could be argued that simon3's deranged wanderings in the Reeks don't so much constitute the most inventive track so much as they serve as a terrible warning that one should nab summits when you get the chance, lest you end up with a swathe of inconvenient outliers that your conscience demands you address. But still, the solution to his problem is almost as ingenious as it is completely and utterly knee destroying: the out-and-back to the Hag's Tooth will certainly be enjoyed by anyone with ligament trouble and/or sadomasochistic tendencies.
simon3 on Trip report for an odd bag of four in the Reeks.
Summiteering sometimes leaves you with odd challenges in try walk, Length:16.1km, Climb: 1246m, Area: Skregmore, MacGillycuddy's Reeks (Ireland) Skre Click here
My GPS Needs Fixing Award
- Oh, that I were fit enough to climb 14000ft in a day...fmck, can I borrow your GPS for a little walk in the Galtees please?
fmck on Galtymor & Galty beg
Nice route, tough in parts due to boggy ground and heather. walk, Length:14.6km, Climb: 4450m, Area: Galtybeg, Galty Mountains (Ireland) Galtybeg, G Click here
I Didn't Reset My GPS Award
- That single spurious logged point on a track can make you look like the sort of man who picks Dublin as the starting point for a walk in the Mournes...and loves swimming too. wicklore, we salute you.
wicklore on Near co ck Mountain, Mourne Mountains (Ireland)
walk, Length:261.3km, Climb: 2153m, Area: co ck Mountain, Mourne Mountains (Ireland) co ck Mountain, Wee Slievemoughan, Rocky Mountain, Gruggandoo, Kn Click here
M R James Award
- Any walk that locates 47m of ascent along the Suffolk coast is by definition a journey involving the paranormal and the unearthly...it's probably just as well that march-fixer resisted the temptation to blow on any ancient brass whistles he found lying around.
gerrym on Baby Bluestacks
A walk over 4 x 400m tops in the Reelan Valley. Starting poi walk, Length:11.3km, Climb: 547m, Area: Cruach Mhín an Neanta, Bluestack Mountains (Irela Click here
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Regions: MOUNTAIN COMMENTS - TRIP REPORTS - SUMMARIES
In short: Discovery
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NORTH: St Patricks playground
The distinctive mound of Slemish in the Antrim Hills offers the chance to walk in the footsteps of Ireland's patron saint, reports gerrym.
 gerrym on Slemish: St Patricks Playground
Slemish is very accessible, a drive steeply uphill through narrow lanes hemmed in by dry stone walls brings a carpark and visitor facilities at the height of 240m (217057).
There are a number of informative boards on the history of the mountain - notably its volcanic origin. Slemish is steep and rocky and stands apart from most of the other Antrim Hills in this respect, looking like it wo ... Click here
NORTH: A video from the summit
Captain Vertigo reports on a YouTube video of the views you might expect on a clear day from the summit of Knocklayd in the Antrim Hills.
 CaptainVertigo on Knocklayd: A Video from the Summit
Dick Glasgow (possibly a member of MV since he gives this site a mention) has uploaded a short movie on YouTube showing the views from the summit of Knocklayd. Gives you a notion of what you might see up there. I haven't gone up yet but I'm looking forward to it.
Dick Glasgow says:
Shot on the top of Knocklayd, Co. Antrim, on a beautiful balmy day in late October 2010, showing the lovely views o ... Click here
WEST: The lesser-known Lug
A first comment by member Geansai for Lugnabrick SW top in Partry/Joyce country, a top set amid the west's scenic splendour.
 Geansai on Lugnabrick SW Top: Lesser Known Lug
There's no cairn for the NE top. This is the SW top cairn looking north to Bunnacunneen and Bun Beg with the Maamtrasna plateau in the middle beyond Click here
WEST: Why does this hill not get more visitors?
So asks Trailtrekker of Carran Hill in the lesser-visited Arigna Mountains, especially as it offers great views and unique cliff formations.
 Trailtrekker on Carran Hill: Why does this hill not get more visitors?
As with most (I would guess) the reason for our visit to the Arigna area was to take the county top of Roscommon. Given that there are only three MV tops in the whole range, we decided to take in them all as part of a 22km hike on a fine Sunday at the end of April. There is no doubt, as three5four0 has already said, this is the finest in the range. Despite this, it is clear from the stats that onl ... Click here
EAST: Luggala set in Guinness
This circuit on the wonderful Guinness estate affords lovely views providing the weather allows. It is surprising that nkenealy did not summit Knocknacloghoge, but then, there is a fair amount of climb involved on this track and it is certainly unwise to push your luck depending on weather conditions and level of exhaustion. It is worth noting that, according to the estate management, dogs are allowed on this track, provided they are kept on a lead at all times. (It is mentioned that the start begins at 53.105° N 6.28344°, whereas those coordinates should read 53.0553° N 6.1505°. No use in making things more difficult by starting from Manor Kilbride.)
nkenealy on Luggala And Knocknacloghoge
At the Sally Gap crossroads, Take a soft left along the R759 walk, Length:10.8km, Climb: 703m, Area: Luggala, Dublin/Wicklow (Ireland) Luggala Click here
EAST: Pining for a Sunday Ramble
Nicely timed walk - not too early and back before dark. This Pine Valley Circuit provides a lovely day out with excellent views and varied terrain. While the nimble footed simon3 describes it as a 'relatively easy walk', it still manages to cover over 21km and there is a fair bit of climb. The start overlooks the lovely Glenasmole Valley before crossing Glendoo and heading down to cross over onto the nice Tibradden track. This leads you all the way to Two Rock Mountain. All along the way there are spectacular views. There is a long descent to the river before the main haul back up to the start.
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EAST: Divided Years
Accompanied by his now almost de rigeur splendid video ( http://youtu.be/02l2Fg5BVKw ), gerrym has submitted an excellent legstretcher over the southern section of the distinctive rank of hills that strives to shield Belfast from the incoming westerly weather. (Based on my daily walk to work they largely fail, but you have to love them for trying). The route not only takes in the highest top of Divis, but also the outlying (and not included in the MV tops list, morbidly obsessed Summiteers might care to know) eminences of Black Mountain and Black Hill. Sections are not hillwalking as the majority of MViewers will recognise it: in particular the strip of tarmac snaking up Divis is a resort of Sunday strollers, and even more than that a venue for those taking more serious exercise (or at least pretending to take it: on my numerous ascents I've always been amused by the folk one sees leaving the car park running like the clappers only to be found in a hyperventilating heap a couple of hundred yards further on). But with the sense of history both near (the army were in residence within the last ten years) and far (Belfast being arrayed in cartographer's detail below) allied to the compensatory 'off-road' sections which will see you get away from the crowds...there really isn't another Irish hill experience quite like it.
gerrym on Above Belfast
http://youtu.be/02l2Fg5BVKw
A great walk on the heights abo walk, Length:16.0km, Climb: 405m, Area: Divis, Belfast Hills (Ireland) Divis Click here
EAST: Newbie on Lug
In the first comment of 2013, Lizzie describes her trepidation at going up Lugnaquillia. And seriously she and all of us should take Lug on a bad day. There have been several rescues there in the last while, one notably of 5 experienced hillwalkers who walked into the impact zone of the artillery range to the NW of the summit.
Thanks for the comment Lizzie - the perspective of newcomers is important to this community.
 LizzieMurray on Lugnaquillia: brrrr that's a bit cold!
Happy New Year 2013! What an awesome day to conquer the mountain I have feared most to date. Didnt sleep a wink last night for fear of the unimaginable happening.. Took this from The Artillery Office passing by Imaal Br and heading on up Camara Hill. Was a good trot up there to get us ready for the real slog that is the highest point in Leinster. Although this is generally classed as The Tourist r ... Click here
SOUTH: A windy day in the Ballyhouras
Member murphysw is blown away, quite literally, while ascending Seefin East Top in the Ballyhouras.
 murphysw on Seefin Mountain E Top: Windy trip
Climbed this on the way up to Seefin. It has this, what I presume to be, a shelter. Dont know if it has any mystical connections. On an otherwise decent day, the wind was unreal, actually knocked me over! So unfortunately all my pics came out shaky! Click here
SOUTH: Well, Knock me down with a feather!
There seems no shortage of planning and ingenuity on CaptainVertigo's part for this Knockmealdown track. As full a day's schedule as was possible within daylight hours allowed a full bag of summits even allowing for the odd few errors in judgement. One has to question whether it would not have been better to free-wheel another 1.5km further on and take the side road north and then east past Graigue to the bike hiding place. While adding a fair bit of extra distance it would have saved a fair bit of effort as well. This track has been well documented and makes for enjoyable reading and even execution! Others may need to see if the total ascent detailed is correct as it differs considerably with the automated calculation?
CaptainVertigo on Knockmealdowns East 7 Arderins
(Actual Ascent 1300m) (Actual Start "The Gap") The eastern K walk, Length:24.3km, Climb: 784m, Area: Knockmealdown Mountains (Ireland) Crohan West, K Click here
Another of our track reviewers was also taken by this route: A truly excellent round for the Summiteer is the traverse of the Eastern Knockmealdowns, seven tops being acquired from little more than a moderate day's hillwalking. CaptainVertigo's track utilises his usual level of two-wheeled ingenuity, his mountain bike (luckily his vertigo isn't so acute as to require the use of stabilisers) being used to minimise the amount of road slog at the route's end. All those undertaking this walk and returning to the starting point will become familiar with the long walk through the forest that commences or climaxes the day's efforts, and the slightly imperfect mapping of the roads therein on OSI Sheet 74 has led many astray: roughly translated that means that I've gone wrong on this section too, so the Captain has my sympathies. (One further navigational tip: all of the watercourses crossed by the East Munster Way are either very slight or have good bridges in-situ, so you shouldn't find yourself in my position of wading through a river in total darkness because your walking partner thought it really funny to keep quiet about the adjacent bridge that you hadn't noticed in the gloom). Outwith of the trees the going is generally very reasonable, although the path from Knockmealdown itself to The Vee is reported as becoming distressingly eroded.
Sorry if we didn't mention what you posted .. there's a list of all contributors for the month later.
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NEW WALKS SECTION
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A Mweelrea Circuit
Poetically written this is a decription of a circuit of the valley east of Mweelrea. For my money it would have worth including Teevnabinnia, at least on a good day, for the astonishing 180 degree view of Killary Fjord but even without it this is a magnificent walk.
CaptainVertigo on A Mweelrea Circuit
Overview Land, ocean, islands, fjord, forest and lakes kneel before the overlord of Connaught. Mweelrea, back to the sea, looking inland, two arms outstretched, one gently beckoning and gathering you in, the other hanging precariously, ready to drop you if you blink. Very highly rated. Stunning beyond words on a good day: potentially fatal on a bad one. This route takes you up the easier "arm ... Click here
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FURTHER NEWS
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Iconic mountains - current discussion
paulocon a regular contributor of superb photography to MV started this on-going discussion, which you might like to ponder and even add your contribution to. Please do feel free to range over all of Ireland and not restrict yourself to the sole Kingdom that one of our members Conor74, unrepentant Kerryman, chose.
paulocon on Iconic Mountains
Hi all,
Doing a few articles for a website that I run in my spare time about walking the Iconic Mountains of Ireland. Just wondering what people think makes an Iconic Mountain? To date, I've covered Errigal and Muckish in Donegal and Binnian in the Mournes. Obvious others I can think of are Croagh Patrick, Slemish, Great Sugarloaf, Carrauntoohil, Slieve League, The Paps, Lug.. Does anyone else ... Click here
Mountain Accidents and Rescue.
The trouble about accidents in the hills is that even for an experienced hillwalker, not a mountain rescuer, you probably won't see one more often than once every five or more years. It can be hard to remember the risks.
As with so many serious things in the hills, there's two ways of keeping yourself engaged. Share personal experience, or look at figures.
So for immediacy this, a short account of a potentially serious incident for one newcomer.
Conor74 on Yesterday, I saw someone fall...
...and it was a shocking sight.
What was as scary as the sight was the location. Was descending the lower reaches of Hungry Hill, on a grassy rocky gently sloping field, no cliffs, no obvious drop. And one of the party lost her footing. But instead of simply falling over, she started to slide on the wet grass, and gathered speed until she was bouncing into the air, spinning and screaming an ... Click here
By chance, the next item in the General Forum was this more formal but very interesting account from Glen of Imall MRT. Surprisingly they say that the number of incidents declined in 2012 ...
simon3 on Glen of Imaal Red Cross MRT
Some interesting trends in this year summary including apparent decreases. In their PRO's words:
"For the Glen of Imaal Mountain Rescue Team, 2012 has been one of our more exciting with the official opening of the Mountain Rescue Base in Trooperstown Woods near Laragh, Co Wicklow. It was something of a relief to the team, then, during all the preparations and planning to find that numbers of ... Click here
You might also like to read about or listen to an account of the astonishing rescue of Cormac Nolan who fell 300 metres on Slieve League.
 CaptainVertigo on Astounding Nolan Fall
The Donegal Mountain Rescue Facebook page includes a slightly blurred photo of Slieve League showing the spot where Cormac Nolan (28) ended up after his fall. I have taken the liberty of reproducing the data on a Peter Walker photo. Based on the DMR report I think that this was one of the most extraordinary escapes in the history of Irish hillwalking. How did Cormac fall such a distance without s ... Click here
One off topic niggle. The cliffs on Slieve League are often described as either the highest sea cliffs in Europe, or the highest in Ireland. My question for people who say this is are a. have you ever been to Norway, b. Achill?
Defining sport by representation or activity.
flanagandave takes issue with march-fixer over comments about MI. He says MI defines Mountaineering as "including hill walking, rock climbing, rambling, bouldering and alpinism." and reckons they get bigger clout by saying this. He also reckons anyone who defines things differently is "incorrect".
Leaving the pejoratives out of it, yes, no doubt about it, government north and south in Ireland dearly loves a straightforward proposition to fund, particularly an organisation such as MI so well tuned to the political and funding realities. However you have to ask how exactly are sports defined in general and how do definitions help improve the sport?
First of all I think that instead of defining the organisation of sport in terms of what makes good funding sense, it would be better to define it in terms of the nature of the activity and numbers participating.
Perhaps an analogy would help. There are many runners, swimmers and cyclists in this country. Their sports have been developed over the years by interested national or provincial organisations. Each of these sports has developed multiple disciplines. However you wouldn't confuse a difference between disciplines such as long-distance running and sprinting with a difference between different sports.
There are also people who participate in more than one of these activities as a group. These would be triathletes, heptathletes etc. It doesn't follow however that someone who is a runner is automatically a triathlete because some runners are.
The constituent sports of mountaineering are also pretty different. Climbing wall activity has very little in common with hillwalking and is probably more a gym adventure activity or for some a competition. Even climbing outdoors involves different terrain, a different regime of activity, a very different risk profile from hillwalking. There isn't that much in common with hillwalking. Occasionally the venues overlap.
A different definition of mountaineering is activity based. Mountaineers actively participate in both the sports of climbing and hillwalking. Mountaineers are engaged in something like a sort of duathlon or triathlon of different sports. There is a minority of perhaps 2000-2500 who like to mix climbing and hillwalking and often greater ranges climbing expeditions. Mountaineering iron men and women. Good for them. But that doesn't make "mountaineers" out of another 100,000 or so participants in hillwalking any more than all runners should be called "triathletes".
Hillwalking has a number of disciplines, though not as sharply defined as they would be in a competitive sport. It is possible to define at least the following: club walking, individual and small group walking, challenge walking, summiteering, holiday walking. There are very definite common elements in terms of gear, terrain and training but often a very different mentality is needed to be successful in different disciplines. Each of these disciplines needs some national organisation and each deserves attention.
A difficulty with MI in lumping disparate sports together is that doesn't attend to the different disciplines of by far its largest constituency, the hillwalkers. The board structure is too high level no matter what proportion of its members are hillwalkers. MI simply has no effective internal voluntary structure to develop hillwalking disciplines or coordinate with those that are doing so. In fact you will meet many who will even question why this is needed while supporting the endless worthy guidelines and documentation MI is prone to. And, while there are useful initiatives such as the commemorative book of routes for the 600m mountains these are done infrequently and as a result of individual effort rather than system.
What is needed for hill-sports in Ireland is national organisation for each of the sports with proper attention for each discipline. MI should state that it is multi-sport, not mélange, and structure itself to actively cater for each sport properly.
Read march-fixer's original point here:
march-fixer on Why? - Answers on a postcard(s) please!
Question: You are a walker, or even a hill-walker. What do you know about mountaineering? Come on ... surely you have an opinion? (Well, on mature reflection - why should you?)
Question: You are browsing the magazine racks. Would you pick a mountaineering magazine as reading material? (Why not?)
Question: You are amongst a group of mountaineers. They try to inspire and inform you about wal ... Click here
and the dissident opinion here:
flanagandave on Reply to March-fixer
MI defines Mountaineering "including hill walking, rock climbing, rambling, bouldering and alpinism."
So walking and climbing are a sub set of mountaineering. You are, of course, free to (incorrectly) define it otherwise.
Representing a wide range of mountaineering activites gives MI more clout and there is a lot of common ground between them.
You seem to imply that ML is ignoring submi ... Click here
-- Opinion by Simon Stewart, not necessarily the views of the committee and definitely not the views of some of the community!
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SITE NEWS
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MountainViews 2.0 area presentation will soon be the main way that summits tracks and areas will be displayed
Shortly a major component of MV 2 will become the main way users get data. The new map presentation system which presents tracks and summits together with additional information at a click. This has taken months to put together and is a response to the member questionnaire where members repeatedly asked for a better user interface. So for the new interface, see the announcement and quick tutorial here
simon3 on Trial of part of MountainViews 2.0
You need to be logged in for this.
Click on Summits | Areas, Features, Routes.
If you do this in a separate tab you can keep these comments available.
Now, you should see the new interface. It has two maps: Overview and Detail
Each map can be expanded using the gripper bar in the bottom right.
Overview is to help you find areas in general. As you move the cursor over the blue shapes o ... Click here
A number of remaining bugs or weaknesses were dealt with during the month including the speed of refreshing the features on maps and to the photo gallery system, which exploits the larger photo sizes we now accept.
See here simon3 on Improvements to new, combined feature page.
Regular users will know we are preparing to replace the summit page with a new combined page that also shows GPS tracks. You can see it at Summits | Areas, Summits, Routes. It features an overview map and a detail map. Clicking on features on either brings up detail or options. The overview map was slow to refresh (>5 secs) and this has been improved to around 120ms which is way, way better. ... Click here
Software developers
MountainViews has one or two helpers who have kindly volunteered technical help on the website. But we could use more! Get in touch via admin@mountainviews.ie
While thinking about volunteering, you might try this little programmer puzzle. Why do geeks get Halloween and Christmas confused?
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GEAR REVIEWS
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Gear reviews.
Last month Tom discussed the purpose and types of base layers. This year he discusses what he calls "mid-layers".
Mid-layers
While waterproof jackets get a lot of attention, and base-layers are emphasised as important for staying comfortable, what you wear between these is often ignored. This layer provides the warmth and is equally important in staying dry and comfortable. The choice of the correct mid-layer helps the system of wicking sweat from your skin (by your base-layer), transferring it through the middle and out through your expensive breathable waterproof jacket. Equally, these mid-layers may be used to provide warmth under a softshell or as an outer layer on warm summer evenings.
The term 'mid-layer' can mean different things. Essentially it can be anything worn over a base-layer and under a shell to provide warmth. This can include down and synthetic insulation in pull-ons, jackets or vests. For active wear these are too warm for hillwalking in Ireland except for the few coldest days of year. Therefore, we're considering the most practical mid-layers for hillwalking in Ireland - light fleeces and Powerstretch fabrics.
Most mid-layers are made from either light fleece or a stretchy fleece fabric (Powerstrech being the most common brand). The light fleeces provide good warmth but poor wind resistance. Powerstretch has a smooth face on the outside and provides slightly better wind resistance and more durability and a little less warmth.
In terms of styles there are jackets with zips and multiple pockets to half-zip pull-ons with no pockets. The full jackets are heavier and more bulky and you are unlikely to use the full zip or pockets if they are hidden away beneath another layer. The most practical is a deep half-zip (for cooling down) and perhaps a single chest pocket.
Patagonia R1 Pullover
€110
An outstanding piece of equipment. Used for hillwalking, climbing and skiing for 6 years and still looking as good as new. Great fit and good warmth — not too heavy, not too light.
Powerstretch Tops
€70 (Rab)
I used a Lowe Alpine Powerstrech top for close to 10 years. It was replaced by the Patagonia R1, but it is almost as good. As Lowe Alpine are not currently making clothing then you'll need to look at other brands. Most tops seem quite similar but the Rab Powerstrech top is quite minimal with a very deep zip.
I'll also briefly mention two other Rab items I regularly use. The Vapour-Rise Stretch Top is a light soft-shell but also performs okay as a mid-layer. The Boulder Pull-On is a warm high-pile fleece. However, I think it is too warm for use while actually walking and the fit is relaxed — more one for colder conditions when you don't plan on being too active.
-- Tom Sweeney (MV Member)
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SUMMITEERS CORNER
A place for those interested in Summiteering, Bagging or Highpointing.
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Navigational error by GPS?
Nothing new about that but I thought this reason for an error in Britain was quite amusing.
"We were supposed to walking around a reservoir, but both realised that the path and the map did not agree. The clue was that we couldn't see a reservoir. So I had a look at the smartphone. It said we were in the middle of the reservoir that we were supposed to be walking around. (Oldbury Reservoir SP 307 952) Odd! We had a clear view of the sky, and were seeing lots of satellites.
...
The phone turned out to be accurate. It was the reservoir that had moved. No
I didn't believe it for a while, but there has been quarrying in the area,
so goodness knows what happened. I have confirmed since we got home that the
reservoir is no more. "
Originally from Lyndon in newsgroup uk.rec.walking.
Rocks on top.
Looking at photos on the site I note that Crockglass in the Derryveaghs also seems to be one of those with a freestanding rock plonked on top. Would anyone who has been there confirm that?
 group on An Cnoc Glas: A place to just sit and enjoy.
For a direct climb of this hill go left off the R251 at B908 205 and find a suitable parking place off road. Walk down the road and cross the bridge between Dunlewy Lough and Lough Nacung Upper. Follow the road S and then SW to cross over the Stuhannameel (stream) B902 189. Leave the road and ascend up the hillside SW to Pt. 352, B896 179. Continue up S, passing around tiny L. Croreagh and on up t ... Click here
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This month.
Kudos to our contributors.
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We welcome the following new members who enrolled this month.
alanthorpe, alexcronin, boomer, BrianTrainor, Brofe, Caminotom, cgrif, davidlalor, ddinneen, derekburgoyne, eek, exhort, frack, galwaybucko, gerrygp, gm8707, gtkelly, harishkm, hgibbs8129, Hilldweller, jonnycrutchley, kieranmof, kingkong, Knochbein, lepracalvin, liamryan, LucyPye, Luna, maixo, Marcin_B, mckiernp, mickpfarrell, neelix_tdog, noelie, nshanahan, rathulf, rob72, robertodwyer, Rogeire, scaredcat, sgannon, stan08, Sticks, tralee, Twinny1, vincentanthony, wapaic, Warnecke (48)
Our contributors to all threads this month:
Astrofizz01 (1), CaptainVertigo (8), Conor74 (4), Dessie1 (2), Geansai (2), Pazapas (1), Peter Walker (2), Trailtrekker (1), aidand (1), brenno (1), cgrif (1), des carroll (1), flanagandave (4), gerrym (2), Communal summary entries (7), hivisibility (1), lennyantonelli (1), madfrankie (1), march-fixer (2), murphysw (1), neelix_tdog (1), nkenealy (2), riverlaune (1), scannerman (4), simon3 (10)
For a fuller list view Community | Recent Contributors
There were comments on the following summits
Bunnacunneen SE Top, Carran Hill, Knocklayd, Knockmealdown, Luggala, Lugnabrick SW Top, Moylussa, Seefin Mountain E Top, Slemish, The Paps West
and these tracks Arderin, Slieve Bloom Ireland, Caherbarnagh NW Top, Paps/Derrynasaggart Ireland, Divis, Belfast Hills Ireland, Glendoo Mountain, Dublin/Wicklow Ireland, Knockmealdown Mountains Ireland, Luggala, Dublin/Wicklow Ireland, Musheramore, Boggeragh Mountains Ireland, Tibradden Mountain, Dublin/Wicklow Ireland tracks and these walks were created A Mweelrea Circuit
Thanks to all 1041 who have ever contributed summits or routes info and forums.
For a full list view Community | Contributors Hall of Fame
Summary.
MountainViews now has 6015 comments about 1025 different hills & mountains out of the total in our current full list (1057). We need more comments, better comments and more balance for every summit as our rate for "data completion" now that the 150m summits have been added is currently around 49% There's plenty (32) of opportunities for you to be the first to comment on a summit. Listing summits in "Lists & Logs" (tick MV completion information) allows you to see what information we need to get more even coverage.
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NOTICES
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Notices
- If you are contributing, please be careful to respect the interests of landowners.
Suggest access routes well away from houses, gardens or that could conceivably impact farming activities. When walking, keep away from gardens or farm buildings. Use stiles or gates wherever possible. Never do anything that could allow animals to roam where the farmer did not intend. Ask permission where appropriate.
- If you hear of a problem area or route, write it up in MountainViews
which does everyone a service.
Report rubbish tipping in the Dublin/ Wicklow area - ring PURE 1850 365 121
Report quads in national park area (in which they are banned). For Wicklow please phone the Duty Ranger: 087-9803899 or the office during office hours Telephone: +353-404-45800. Put these numbers in your phone, take regs etc. Let MV know of contact numbers for other areas.
- If you have climbed some of the less well known places, we would appreciate a summit rating.We could use your help in making ratings for the unrated mountains which you have climbed, such as: Bunmore, Knocknascollop NW Top, Lettertrask, An Bheann Mhór, Cró Bheithe, Cnoc na Deirce Bige, Cashlaundrumlahan, Brickany, Maumakeogh, Cruach Léithín and some 1 others. and also GPS readings for summits.
- If we can, let's make MV have more than one route up a summit so as to reduce the tendency for paths to appear. Your grid refs in comments for different starting points show up on MountainViews maps.
- MountainViews are on Twitter as MountainViewsIE. Follow us and we will follow you back. Any queries to secretary@mountainviews.ie
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This newsletter
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| This newsletter |
Editor: Simon Stewart, Homepage:
www.simonstewart.ie
Assistant editor: Colin Murphy
Track reviews: Tom Condon, Peter Walker
General Forum Digest: Mark Brennan
Gear reviews: Tom Sweeney
Book reviews: Conor Murphy, Aidan Dillon, Peter Walker
Graphics design advice: madfrankie
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Annual 2025