Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more

Outdoor Activities => Northern Ireland Hiking, Walking, Running, Orienteering and Geocaching => Topic started by: MG1 on April 19, 2010

Title: Seven Sevens
Post by: MG1 on April 19, 2010
Since all the ache s and pains of the Mourne wall have gone. How about another easy one. :D

Does anyone fancy taking on the seven highest hills in the Mournes all above 700m?
Title: Re: Seven Sevens
Post by: suspectmonkey on April 19, 2010
Is it a single day or an overnighter?  I've had my eye on the 7/7's so would be rather tempted :)
Title: Re: Seven Sevens
Post by: MG1 on April 19, 2010
Prob overnite. It could be done in a day. But we could knock off another summit bivvy.
Title: Re: Seven Sevens
Post by: chris on April 19, 2010
Yeah I'm in. Give someone else a chance to start a topic next time though ;)
Title: Re: Seven Sevens
Post by: RedLeader on April 19, 2010
I'm in. What's the distance / route / ascent?
Title: Re: Seven Sevens
Post by: chris on April 19, 2010
Objective: To climb all seven peaks in the Mourne Mountains that are 700m+ above sea level.

Distance.......18 miles (29km)

Ascent/Descent.......8,100 feet (2,495m)

Typical Duration.......10-12 hours

Slieve Donard............850m

Slieve Commedagh....765m

Slieve Lamagan.........704m

Slieve Binnian............747m

Slieve Meelmore........704m

Slieve Bearnagh........727m

Slieve Meelbeg..........708m
Title: Re: Seven Sevens
Post by: RedLeader on April 19, 2010
Bloody hell, the Mourne Wall was 22miles / 2700meters so the 7s wouldn't be that much less at 18 / 2,495.

Objective: To climb all seven peaks in the Mourne Mountains that are 700m+ above sea level.

Distance.......18 miles (29km)

Ascent/Descent.......8,100 feet (2,495m)

Typical Duration.......10-12 hours

Slieve Donard............850m

Slieve Commedagh....765m

Slieve Lamagan.........704m

Slieve Binnian............747m

Slieve Meelmore........704m

Slieve Bearnagh........727m

Slieve Meelbeg..........708m
Title: Re: Seven Sevens
Post by: MikeD on April 19, 2010
I'm up for it.....

Whilst the mourne wall was hard at the time, i find my memory of it is fading (can't seem to remember the bad parts - except Bernagh), I'm actually thinking, of trying to do the wall in 1 day, just with a day sack.  But yeah, 7/7's im in.
Title: Re: Seven Sevens
Post by: andy1984 on April 19, 2010
what would the route be?

Where would you start / finish?
Title: Re: Seven Sevens
Post by: RedLeader on April 19, 2010
By my calculations the sevens isn't much less than the wall. Nearly the same ascent with 3 miles less distance but more off track stuff.

Common route seems to be:
Glen River, Donard, Commedagh, drop to Brandy Pad, Hares Gap, Bearnagh, Meelmore, Meelbeg, Drop to Ben Crom, Up Binnian, retrace back down Binnian ( ::)), Lamagan, Cove, Beg, Glen River, hospital.
Title: Re: Seven Sevens
Post by: andy1984 on April 19, 2010
it does sound very tough.... as hard if not harder than the wall with more off track stuff!

Title: Re: Seven Sevens
Post by: 666_pack on April 19, 2010
im in.
Title: Re: Seven Sevens
Post by: suspectmonkey on April 19, 2010
Common route seems to be:  Glen River, Donard, Commedagh, drop to Brandy Pad, Hares Gap, Bearnagh, Meelmore, Meelbeg, Drop to Ben Crom, Up Binnian, retrace back down Binnian ( ::)), Lamagan, Cove, Beg, Glen River, hospital.

Would it be better to do the Bog of Donard route up Donard and over Commedagh similar to what we did on Saturday?  If you go from the Glen River you would have to go up Donard and then retrace your steps back down to go up Commedagh?  Not that I'm trying to avoid doing the hateful walk up the Glen River or anything ;)  Does going from the Bloody Bridge add much mileage?  That said, its back to the thing about where do you leave you cars overnight.
Title: Re: Seven Sevens
Post by: RedLeader on April 19, 2010
Quite possibly. Think I just nicked a route from the official race which starts at Donard Car Park area.

Common route seems to be:  Glen River, Donard, Commedagh, drop to Brandy Pad, Hares Gap, Bearnagh, Meelmore, Meelbeg, Drop to Ben Crom, Up Binnian, retrace back down Binnian ( ::)), Lamagan, Cove, Beg, Glen River, hospital.

Would it be better to do the Bog of Donard route up Donard and over Commedagh similar to what we did on Saturday?  If you go from the Glen River you would have to go up Donard and then retrace your steps back down to go up Commedagh?  Not that I'm trying to avoid doing the hateful walk up the Glen River or anything ;)  Does going from the Bloody Bridge add much mileage?  That said, its back to the thing about where do you leave you cars overnight.
Title: Re: Seven Sevens
Post by: suspectmonkey on April 19, 2010
Get planning with your Mapyx :)

BTW did you get the e-mail from Mapyx regarding the free, open source maps they have released after OS decision to open up its information?  I haven't had a chance to download them yet, but I'm assuming they don't extend to OSNI areas any way...
Title: Re: Seven Sevens
Post by: RedLeader on April 19, 2010
I did try and download them but they must have been having server issues and it didn't work.

Get planning with your Mapyx :)

BTW did you get the e-mail from Mapyx regarding the free, open source maps they have released after OS decision to open up its information?  I haven't had a chance to download them yet, but I'm assuming they don't extend to OSNI areas any way...
Title: Re: Seven Sevens
Post by: suspectmonkey on April 19, 2010
I did try and download them but they must have been having server issues and it didn't work.

Yeah, I got an e-mail from Mapyx saying that there servers went down due to the number of people downloading the maps.  They are meant to be up and running now, although haven't tried myself.  I guess a lot of people will be downloading the free software just to use the open source maps without every purchasing paid maps.  Actually, I am doing that at the moment!

Sorry for the thread hijack - carry on :)
Title: Re: Seven Sevens
Post by: suspectmonkey on April 19, 2010
I quite like the sound of this route: http://mountainviews.ie/mv/index.php?walk=36

Only downer is it involves back tracking on Binnian, but it would appear back tracking is fairly unavoidable unless you want to do a pretty circuitous route.  And seeing you are always on Binnian, regardless of where you are in the Mournes, then it shouldn't make much difference :-X
Title: Re: Seven Sevens
Post by: Eamonn on April 19, 2010
I'm in. Can anyone recommend me a cheap bivvy? I don't really know much about them.
Title: Re: Seven Sevens
Post by: MikeD on April 19, 2010
The alpkit hunka seems a popular choice at £30 delivered.

http://www.alpkit.com/hunka/