This Year

Eventually after only one near accident we made it to the lay-by. Today there was to be 4 groups I led one along with Tom, Helen and Susie. While Martha, Alan (ohhh sorry),John and Susie lummpensamlered (or backmarked). The walks went well eventhough we got caught in bad weather and a feckin forest but not to worry.

We pulled out the gradeB songs on the way to Killarney deciding to save the best for later. The vintage was sweet but I don't think they were too happy to see us.There was some dire singing on the bus but I think fun was had by the participants. BIg up must go to the star for the platters of food which were served up and demolished in 20 seconds flat it was deacent. All in all it was a shit hot day. (thats being used in a good way so I think it passes Johns test)

In an act of sincere apology i must add in these things which also happened on this day, human pyramids,circus act from John and Martha and of cource the boulders we got to play on. I am so sorry I neglected to mention these things, I must go into the corner and punish myself I'm so very very sorry 

Hungry Hill has long acquired mythic status in the annals of the club – gale force winds, lashing rain, impenetrable fogs, daring rescues, and visits to casualty. In fact after last years trip (both to the mountain and Bantry general) there were vows to scrub it from the calendar and burn the maps.

But along comes a new college year, and memories fade, and suddenly you find yourself at gaol cross waiting for the bus once more – and wondering if you should warn the first years and foreign students.

But Hungry Hill, true to from, refused to be predictable and welcomed us with open arms. The day was bright and clear – even a pair of shorts on display. Despite the early start we filled 2 buses and 3 cars and barrelled down to refuel in Bantry. When we got to the hill we separated into 3 groups – Anto and Askea, capably backmarked by Susie, took a relaxing walk contouring up to onto the West/Southwest ridge and from there to the North summit. I was lured by Karen’s promise of rock (and backmarker Dave’s of some Farley’s rusks) onto her group. I kinda lost touch with most of the rest of our group until the top (except for Peter, Will, and Ashley) but everyone seemed happy. We ran straight up the aręte to the south summit meeting some nice bits of rock (on some of which I had the sense not to follow Peter).

On the way off, along, the western ridge towards Maulin, we encountered the Tom/JC group – who’d done a longer walk at a faster pace before detouring down to the northern lake for a play on the boulders. We joined up for one of the nice walk-offs I’ve had for ages – a gentle green road leading us back to the bus. Even better: all 3 groups arrived within 10 minutes – good co-ordination chaps. And then what? A further call to Bantry for caffeine or alcohol depending on your poison before the journey home. The large bus sang, the small bus snored and in my car we chatted around Bryan’s frequent cry of "I’ve had such a good day".

The sun shone as we strolled. The weather was so good we stopped for a good hour where I had a very comfartable nap it was here where we met JC and Jerry who had done a walk from Glengariff. They were unsurprisingly hungry so they were fed with hip-hob-nobs and jaffa cakes, all good. We headed along the ridge taking care to avoid hte psycho farmer who assaults hillwalkers. We didn't wat to have to take court procedings.

Once we got down we headed into the bar where some tasty but vastly overpriced toasted sandwiches. KIll Bill was discussed and pints consumed. It was a great day and a nice reintroduction for a while anyway and I was very happy to have made it out.

Thanks Mr Feeney

Once inside the mighty Ballintaggart we well I started Drinking,  bad idea. Liam had the idea to have the half hour of power something all who participated soon regreted, all I can say is bring on the straws for Lauragh. John and Gavin serenaded the room with mid 90's dance hits, humorous.

There was a rather drunken stroll in to Dingle and on Marthas recomendation of Martha we headed to McCarthys. After shouting at some people we eventually found the location of the pub. After pints we headed to the hillgrove far to early. I'm bored  with this I'll write more later. So here I am back again 2 months later. So this is the seen nobody in the hillgrove except the 20 or so of us and some crap music all was not looking good.

Thankfully things picked up and the requests started to flow, the crazy Circle dancing was done and the locals laughed at us. It tured out to be great craic for the night and there was actually some good music for once. Anyway the night ended and we all strolled soberly home. Once back we sat done ad talked well rubbish Someone tied uo all the doors and after a while I went to sleep.

We arose bright and early and played some rugby in the field Tom and Daves team lost if your interested. At about 12 Myself, Beag, Kari and Dave headed for the general Clohane region with the intention of doing Brandon via the faha ridge. We had a great day but we didn't really do the Faha ridge the hard way just bypassed the dodgy bits. Meanwhile the bus people went to the beach and played some more rugger and they had much fun by all accounts.

After some drivig ad stuff the Opel Coprsa managed to pass out the bus and we headed to the Star where as usual we talked about what a great weekend we had. Even though I was only there for less than a day it was brilliant and the photos I have seen of the walk on Suday are unreal. Great weekend it seems to have been.

Thanks Mr Feeney

Anyway in clear weather the views from purple are amazing especially towards the Reeks and that is exactly how it was today. We strolled along and I was really havig a great day. It got quite cold and socks became gloves and gloves became gloves. Anyway we got a bit of snow annd it was quite nice. We met up with the other group where we proceeded to try and beat the life out of each other and some people won some people lost only the weapons industry were the winner. We got to the top of Purple and the snow was bucketing down we threw snowballs, made a kickass snowman (3ft. tall) and destroyed a bivvy bag.

The way down was interesting to say the least but eventually (it was dark) we made it back to Kate Kearneys where food was eaten and such like. Back on the bus I'm sure songs were murdered as per usual. Another perfect day as usual.

Anyway we flaked aroud really quickly ad were back at the bus aroud Half three. We headed into Killarney where we played cards and had a pint poured over me. There was then some dreadful bad songs sung. After a bad start this actually tured into one of the really good days of the year and one which I really enjoyed.

Thanks Mr Feeney

We hit the road towards Mahon falls abd were greated with the strange site of mountains with a light dusting of snow in spots. After a winding journey up the road on Dave Alanche we made it to the parking spot. Everyone got kitted up and there was a disturbing amount of powerstretch floating around. There were 3 different groups Tom leading, Dave backmarking, Susie and Jerry and Helen with Martha?

I went in Toms group and it was really good craic with much snow beig flung around, we took a detour to look into Coomshingaun and it was very impressive I hope that some photos will apppear just let anyone in the committee kow and we'll throw them up. Due to a detour we got caught in a lovely blizzard and we had a very snowy walk down the hill but an enjoyable one.

We were last to the bus so we quickly but slowly got changed after ramming our way through the cars we drove off thowards Youghal where we stopped in Moby Dicks for a pint. We had a great sing-sog on the bus home, after that a few of us headed into the Star for another pint to fiish of what could be called a perfect day ( the leonnox's for dinner also helped hehehe). See everyone next week, if ye had fun.  

It's mazing the way people can't spell the name of the mountain that they are supposed to be climbing. Of we went to the supposed Kockmealdowns (the amount of puns about this was quite minimal however). I was in Tom's group where we discovered that due to the large amounts of snow that hadn't fallen, we were going to go out of our way to find the little that had. And much snow fighting ensued. We also dicovered the fun of sliding down head first along a snow patch, and I practised my survival skills by making a snow-hole, which seemed suspiciously cooffin-shaped when I had finished.

After a number of lectures on howice forms in mountain streams from me, and how Antler Moss only grows in the purest air from Tom, we were all set for more snow fights, during which Alan truly got rather viciously hit in the Unmentionables by a stray snowball aimed at his head....... Sorry Alan!

After these shenanigans we went on to wonder where Askea's group were, as we were supposed to bump into them around the top of the mountain. They seemed to have gotten lost however. On the up side of things, our group made very good time after Major Tom's announcement that he didn't want any trainers on the people in his group, so we got a goo group of strong fast walkers (except for Beag and Majella, who decided to romantically take it very very easy ----- Bless! )

Interestingly enough, we bumped into a group of Backpackers from Cork, which didn't exactly please SOME particular people who seem to have a disdain for Lowe Alpine wearers......who knows. A good day had by all I think though, with lots of Americans : a shodow of things to come.......