Where is the moss?

16/3/2011, followed directions as advised by wicklore, was anticipating seeing the unusual green hue of the mossy forest floor at top of mountain, but was treated to a scene of devastation. All trees surrounding the summit have been felled and the final slopes to the top are rutted with heavy machinery tracks, this made the last 100mts to the top very difficult to ascend. See photograph Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/630/comment/6279/

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colin Murphy on Ballyteige

Started at a forest track entrance at C (T074 840) believing it would be a brief jaunt of just over a kilometre to the summit. However as Wicklore has pointed out the forest tracks on the OS map are somewhat inaccurate and the track indicated that cuts directly north to the top at D (T065 839) simply doesn't exist. It was then necessary to continue along the track west and then swing back north east (adding two kilometres to the trip) until the forest thinned sufficiently to allow me to make the final 500m or so tramp to the top. While quite tricky underfoot, this mature wood proved fascinating, the lower branches of the trees dripping with moss, the floor of the wood carpeted with lush green moss and fungi. In parts it reminded me of the planet Yoda lives on in Star Wars! The 'summit' was equally interesting, an ancient cairn coated green entirely surrounded by trees, some fallen, and everything about cloaked in lush green growth. Interesting top, an hour and a half up and down, the hardest bit the occasional struggle through prickly branches, but definitely worth a look. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/630/comment/3936/

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simon3 on Ballyteige

As others have reported, not so hard to get to the top. What a remarkable place. Other wooded summit areas have lots of moss however because the trees (Sitka Spruce) have been thinned so much here a lot of light reaches the carpet floor which then becomes bright green. Other members have mentioned the damage to the area which has been cut by tracked vehicles with huge gouges, half a metre deep and wide. However these gouges now mostly have a mixture of grass or sphagnum moss growing in them which makes them easier on the eye and underfoot.
Catch it while you can - I bet someone's project plan has marked this out for felling in the next few years. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/630/comment/4277/

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wicklore on Ballyteige

Just like csd I also used the forest tracks to reach a point just a couple of hundred metres south of the summit. I started at the point where the Wicklow Way leaves the road on the map at A (T071 836). The tracks on the map are not entirely accurate but using simple navigation it was possible to reach a point on the map at approximately B (T064 841). I did not find the track on the map that heads to the summit area. The trees are widely spaced and I left the track and headed uphill through them. The ground underfoot though was rough and churned up in places, by the Forest Machine Construction Derby referred to by csd. It was quite wet and the combination of buried trees, soft ground and pools of water meant more than a little care was required. Even in the trees I found the summit easy to find as I just followed my nose to the highest point. This is marked by an old summit cairn. My photo shows the cairn covered in moss and looking very old-I wonder how long since it was built and people could see out from the summit? As it is, the summit is now buried in the forest with no views. However I liked this summit-there was a lovely green hue all around caused by the abundant moss in the rain. There were plenty of pheasants and deer on the forests tracks and overall it was a very enjoyable walk. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/630/comment/3398/

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csd on Ballyteige

Parking at E (T074 839), I used the forest tracks to get near enough to the summit, heading into the trees at F (T05988 84081). The area near the summit looks like it has been used for Forest Machinery Destruction Derby, such is the amount of tracks evident. The summit itself is a small clearing, but as Val Jones says, no views to be had. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/630/comment/2994/

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