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General => Meets, places, trips and reviews => Topic started by: LennyJ1 on June 14, 2010

Title: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: LennyJ1 on June 14, 2010
Hi Guys

I know you are all doing iPLOD on Friday night, but I am going for a overnighter on 19th.

If anyone is intrested you are more than welcome to join me. I have the car and coming from Belfast if you need a lift.

Cheers ;D
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: RedLeader on June 14, 2010
I'll be doing an overnighter on the 19th but thankfully after 6 months of walking and camping, this time I'll be bivvying in the Slieve Donard rather than on it. And by God I deserve it!!
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: LennyJ1 on June 14, 2010
Bivving in Slieve Donard, Plush ;)
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: ChuckMcB on June 14, 2010
I know you are all doing iPLOD on Friday night, but I am going for a overnighter on 19th.
There's only eight of us doing the iPlod....got to be plenty of lurkers who wanna hit the hills, even for a wee low level camp...
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: LennyJ1 on June 14, 2010
There's only eight of us doing the iPlod....got to be plenty of lurkers who wanna hit the hills, even for a wee low level camp...
[/quote]

I will be camping on higher ground sorry, not low level.
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: ChuckMcB on June 14, 2010
Nothing to be sorry about, where are you thinking about?
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: LennyJ1 on June 14, 2010
Either Slieve Bearnagh or Slievenaglogh
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: LennyJ1 on June 14, 2010
can someone please post a online map up to Slieve Bearnagh from the lodge?
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: ChuckMcB on June 15, 2010
Try this, it doesn't start from the lodge but from the car park just down from it:

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/blueprint/images/beaten_track/bearnagh.jpg)
(source (http://www.bbc.co.uk/blueprint/offthebeatentrack/bearnagh.shtml))

Otherwise see the attached for a loop going up one side of Bearnagh and returning down the other side the next day:

Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: RedLeader on June 15, 2010
Chucks route would be the one I would use. From Meelmore up Brandy Pad and up Bearnagh to camp in the low ground between the 2 tors. Then off the other side the next morning. If you haven't been up Bearnagh before it's quite steep up the Hares Gap side and still steep on the other side but also lacking in obvious path. If you're unsure stick to the wall.

Here's the thread from when we camped on the summit.
http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=513.0
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: MikeD on June 15, 2010
I'd defo advise hares gap side - for getting up - depends if you're on your own - but lack of a path can put off - the less adventurous types...
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: LennyJ1 on June 15, 2010
I think if I end up going by myself I will defo go up hares gap..
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: Dowser on June 16, 2010
I think if I end up going by myself I will defo go up hares gap..

Hey LennyJ1

I'm Marshalling for the Iplod on the Friday night, doing the Hare's Gap checkpoint but planning on staying in the mountains for an extra night.  My plan as it stands is this.

Leave Hare's Gap about 11am (After I catch up on a bit of kip 'cause I'm likely to have been up all night.
Head down the Brandy Pad then swing left up to the Mourne Wall at the base of S' Meelmore.
Summit Meelmore
Follow the wall and summit Meelbeg
Drop down to the Blue lough for a bit of grub.
Then back to the Mourne Wall and follow it to the Summit of Bearnagh
I will be pitching camp in the low ground between the 2 tors of Bearnagh.
I've hopefully attached a map below.

If you spot me along the route feel free to say hello or tag along.  If you decide to camp on Bearnagh I'll defo see you there.
I'll be wearing camoflage army combat trousers and lugging a red rucsack about with me.

If the weather turns nasty, and I get soaked through on the Friday night, I may decide against staying the second night.  I'm not intending this one to be an endurance test.

Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: LennyJ1 on June 16, 2010
Hey Dowser

I am more than likely to be up between the tors or on the top.

Hope to catch you up there? And the weather stays like it is.
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: RedLeader on June 16, 2010
Chuck says the midges are out in force so come prepared!!

I've stuck a thread here so we can all complain about the little bastards.
http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1176.0
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: Dowser on June 16, 2010
Hope to catch you up there? And the weather stays like it is.

Hey Lenny

My Babysitter has let me down badly and I can't get anyone to mind my kids for me on Saturday.  Doesn't look like I'm getting to Bearnagh Saturday night... I'm completely gutted... I was really looking forward to this one!

Another time maybe  >:(
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: LennyJ1 on June 16, 2010
Hope to catch you up there? And the weather stays like it is.

Hey Lenny

My Babysitter has let me down badly and I can't get anyone to mind my kids for me on Saturday.  Doesn't look like I'm getting to Bearnagh Saturday night... I'm completely gutted... I was really looking forward to this one!

Another time maybe  >:(


Never worry.

I am still going if anyone else wants to join me
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: DryBag on June 17, 2010
Ach, wrong night.  i'm heading down that direction tonight for a one-nighter.  I need some mountain bike experience for the ride I'm doing next month. 
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: Dowser on June 17, 2010
Hope to catch you up there? And the weather stays like it is.

My Babysitter has let me down badly and I can't get anyone to mind my kids for me on Saturday.  Doesn't look like I'm getting to Bearnagh Saturday night... I'm completely gutted... I was really looking forward to this one!

Another time maybe  >:(

Looks like I might be back on for this... A new baby sitter has stepped up to the ocky.  Just need to clear it with the Trouble and Strife.  Haven't told her I'm going to Romania next Tuesday either, so fingers crossed.


I could be camping in the garden tonight ::)
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: LennyJ1 on June 17, 2010
Good stuff Dowser.

Still might see you on saturday then.
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: Eamonn on June 17, 2010
Hey i can't do the overnighter but i can meet up for the walk the next day. What time are you thinking of getting up at?
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: LennyJ1 on June 17, 2010
not really sure, might get up for sunrise then have brekie. might go for 8-9 am
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: Eamonn on June 17, 2010
I have to leave my GF too work for about half 8. Then i was planning to head over to the hare gap to do that route Dowser said. I'll keep an eye out for you.
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: ChuckMcB on June 17, 2010
Weather look cracking this weekend ....even with doing the iWait gig on Friday/Sat, you guys are giving me the itch. May just find somewhere to hole up and get some sleep then head up to Bearnagh in the afternoon/evening. (if you see a tall guy wearing a grey baseball cap...you've found me)
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: LennyJ1 on June 17, 2010
let the inner you come.
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: Dowser on June 18, 2010
I have to leave my GF too work for about half 8. Then i was planning to head over to the hare gap to do that route Dowser said. I'll keep an eye out for you.

Big E,

I'll probably be at Hares Gap till about 10 or 11am sleeping, after marshalling the Iplod through the night. I know that makes me sound like a lazy git, but there's not a lot of point setting off to early as I don't want to be sitting on top of Bearnagh from 3pm, twiddling my thumbs till it gets dark.

This is a new route for me so I don't know how long it's gonna take.  I would like to be Summiting Bearnagh then dropping down to the Tors, to set up camp around 5 or 6pm. 

I've a good set of Binos with me so I'll keep an eye out for you around Hares Gap, before I set off on my route.  If you can give me a bit of a description of what you'll be wearing it will avoid me approaching randoms, like some sort of Mourne Prostitute!

I'll be sticking to the route I posted as closely as possible, so if your late getting to Hares Gap, you might pick me up elsewhere.

Hopefully see you Saturday.
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: Dowser on June 18, 2010
Weather look cracking this weekend ....even with doing the iWait gig on Friday/Sat, you guys are giving me the itch. May just find somewhere to hole up and get some sleep then head up to Bearnagh in the afternoon/evening. (if you see a tall guy wearing a grey baseball cap...you've found me)

Throw a bit of extra food in your ruc and give in to the itch.  May as well make the most of this weather...

Maybe see you on Bearnagh Saturday night then..!
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: ChuckMcB on June 18, 2010
Throw a bit of extra food in your ruc and give in to the itch.  May as well make the most of this weather...

Maybe see you on Bearnagh Saturday night then..!
Extra food and spare set of clothes packed in the car, will do a quick change/resupply once I've had my free breakfast and moved the car a bit closer to Bearnagh ;)

It's just a question of where I'm going to get some sleep, I fancy a lazy afternoon somewhere quiet in the shade of the tarp.
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: Scribble on June 18, 2010
Throw a bit of extra food in your ruc and give in to the itch.  May as well make the most of this weather...

Maybe see you on Bearnagh Saturday night then..!
Extra food and spare set of clothes packed in the car, will do a quick change/resupply once I've had my free breakfast and moved the car a bit closer to Bearnagh ;)

It's just a question of where I'm going to get some sleep, I fancy a lazy afternoon somewhere quiet in the shade of the tarp.

book yourself a room and set tarp up over bed :) open window for added affect
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: LennyJ1 on June 18, 2010
Hi Guys

I will be leaving Belfast Between 3-4 depending on how long it takes the wife to get back from the hair dressers. I will be at Meelmore Lodge between 4-5.

Hope to see some of you there.

If you want my mobile please PM me

Lenny
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: Eamonn on June 18, 2010
i'll be wearing a blue HH top and light coloured trousers. I should be at the hares gap about 9.30.

Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: LennyJ1 on June 20, 2010
Had a great time on top of Slieve Bearnrgh. No one came so all on my own. Was very windy (VERY).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lennyj1/sets/72157624316350588/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lennyj1/sets/72157624316350588/)
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: Eamonn on June 20, 2010
Nice one. How did the tent cope in the wind?

I wasn't at the hares gap till about 11 then did Bernagh Meelbeg and meelmore don't think i saw you or Dowser.
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: Dowser on June 20, 2010

I wasn't at the hares gap till about 11 then did Bernagh Meelbeg and Meelmore don't think i saw you or Dowser.


I left the Hares Gap about 10am.  Decided not to stay over for a number of reasons.  With doing the all nighter on the Friday I had a lot of kit with me for keeping warm while standing around from 10pm to 7am.  Because I wasn't sleeping on the Friday night I didn't bring a sleeping bag and when I eventually settled down at about 7.30am for a bit of kip I realised that I would be screwed doing a summit camp on Bearnagh without it.  I tried to make a bit of a nest out of all the gear I had for keeping warm on the Friday night but it was no good.  After only an hour of snooze I was wet with condensation (ok... sweat).

The main reason for not hanging about was too much kit, and I have learnt a valuable lesson this time about weight.  There was no way I was gonna make it over Meelmore, Meelbeg and summit Bearnagh with all the gear I was carrying.  I should really have came down off the Mountains after Iplod with Matthewrblack and ditched a load of gear that was no longer necessary into his car then headed back up into the hills, pushed out a few zzz's, then went about completing my proposed route.  Hindsights wonderful, but I think the complete lack of sleep stopped me for thinking of this solution at 7am Saturday morn.

Saturday turned out to be a smasher and I'm kicking myself for heading home but, on the positive side, I've still got a great route to complete soon, only this time I will make sure I have only the gear that I need and I will be travelling ultra light.

I will let you know when I'm planning to do this trek and will post a Kit List for you all to provide some constructive criticism on. I need to learn how to travel light!

I was considering buying Gelert Solo for this sort of thing (and my first step towards travelling light). 

If any of you have this one man tent or had one, and since changed, I would appreciate a bit of feed back regarding it.  Good, Bad or just plain Ugly?
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: LennyJ1 on June 20, 2010
Hey Dowser, never worry maybe next time.

The Gelert Solo is a very good tent. Stood up to the wind very well last night
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: RedLeader on June 21, 2010
Do you not think the Gelert Solo is very cramped? I was in mine for the first time on Friday night and I couldn't lie flat out.

Hey Dowser, never worry maybe next time.

The Gelert Solo is a very good tent. Stood up to the wind very well last night
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: chris on June 21, 2010
Do you not think the Gelert Solo is very cramped? I was in mine for the first time on Friday night and I couldn't lie flat out.

Do I detect a tent purchase coming up!? I'll see you in work and remember we're only open untill 6 on Mondays.
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: LennyJ1 on June 21, 2010
Do you not think the Gelert Solo is very cramped? I was in mine for the first time on Friday night and I couldn't lie flat out.

Hey Dowser, never worry maybe next time.

The Gelert Solo is a very good tent. Stood up to the wind very well last night

Not really cramped, must be because I am a short arse.

Need to remeber a wind shield for my cooker next time.
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: RedLeader on June 21, 2010
Whenever I was in it if I moved right up to the top of the tent then the inner cloth was occasionally touching my face and if I moved far down enough to be comfortable then my feet were squeezed. However, I was on a slight hill which never helps. I'll give it another erection in the garden and try it again, preferably beside the Pro Action.

One thing was it has a very low profile and whereas in the Pro Action you can sort of wriggle into your clothes in the Gelert it wasn't possible.

Do you not think the Gelert Solo is very cramped? I was in mine for the first time on Friday night and I couldn't lie flat out.

Hey Dowser, never worry maybe next time.

The Gelert Solo is a very good tent. Stood up to the wind very well last night

Not really cramped, must be because I am a short arse.

Need to remeber a wind shield for my cooker next time.
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: ChuckMcB on June 21, 2010
Had a great time on top of Slieve Bearnrgh. No one came so all on my own. Was very windy (VERY).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lennyj1/sets/72157624316350588/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lennyj1/sets/72157624316350588/)
Glad it worked out for you LennyJ1. Good pics. Did you go up and down via Hares Gap in the end?

Sorry I couldn't make it....I got as far as the side of Meelmore, from about midday 'til 3...put up the tarp and bed roll to let it dry out....had a wee sleep in the sun...but really didn't feel like going on...so scampered back down to the car and off home.
Title: Re: Overnighter 19-20th June
Post by: LennyJ1 on June 21, 2010
It worked out really well. like I said really windy.