Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more
General => Meets, places, trips and reviews => Topic started by: Big Dod on December 03, 2012
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Well, myself and summit86 decided to head off up commedagh last night for our first summit camp, ever.
The forecast was for a clear, cold, night and rain all day Sunday so with appropriate clothing and gear we set off about midday.
It seemed that the top of commedagh was the only peak in N.Irleand that was covered in cloud but, hoping that'd clear later we kept on.
Now its been a while since I went for any kind of a hike up a mountain and I'd never done it before with a full rucksack so after one last puff off we set - this was going to be a test of character.
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First thing I learned is I dont like using two poles.
I handed the other to Phil.
We had a few stops on the way to try out the jetboil and try and contact my daughetr at home with the Binatone Action 1000 radios. Jetboil did what it was supposed to very well when we stopped at the 'Big Rock' below the stairs up to the saddle, Binatone was intermittent amongst the trees (with Dundrum Road) but from the 'Big Rock' it worked very clearly all the way up COmmedagh until we entered the cloud.
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Spoke to a few folk on the way who all commented that it'd be a cold one - apologies if any of you are on this forum. I was concentrating to hard on my next breath at this time to ask :)
Eventually made it to the saddle and was greeted with the view below which gave me an excuse to drop the pack, catch my breath for 10 minutes and have a chat with a few folk sitting to the left taking in the same view. They seemed to be having a good time, laughing and chatting though the laughter was probably from my jump from the third step from the top as a gust of wind helped me over the wall. Perfect landing I might add :)
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And then off to the right and up the final stretch to Commedaghs summit.
Phil said it wasnt a bad climb and that we'd be there in no time but I found it tiring enough. Reallt do need to lighted the load for the next time I do this.
As phil disappeared into the mist I decided I'd drop the rucksack and sit for a couple of minutes thinking that I had another climb after the next 'lip. Turns out I was 10 or 20 steps from the summit :) But we made it and it was foggy.
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Nipped down to the water pipe to fill our flasks too. Very handy thing to have up there but at night with head torches we slid most of the way down to it. Very icy.
Put the wine out to chill while we got the tents up
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Then got the firelog lit and grabbed a seat after a bite to eat.
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Although the ground was white there was almost no wind at all and it was quite pleasant up there.
Bed by 20:00, I think.
I was hoping for a clear sky for a bit of night sky lonf exposures but it didnt happen. Well, apparently it did but I was tucked up snug after that bottle of white and couldnt drag myself outa the tent.
Woke at 11:30 to the sound of Phil snoring so stepped out for a look around and took a few shots by moonlight and the occasional break in the clouds before jumping back in and trying to get some sleep.
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I had a Thermarest Z-Lite closed cell foam mat, a Helium 3.8 inflatable mat on top a Lamina 0 sleeping bag and a pillow I bought in Cotswold too. Very comfortable combination. I did toss and turn for a bit and found the noise of the snow valance's in the slight brezze a bit distracting but I eventually fell asleep. Woke a few times to find my toes off the end of the bat and on the ground sheet but unsure if I was sliding as I was on a slight slope or just from moving as I slept.
Anyway, I woke up and had no clue what time it was so I opened the zip at the other end of the tent and Wow - what a view..
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So boots on and out with the camera.
Phil popped his head out and tought it was snowing but was just the frost on the outside of the tent falling on him
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And off I went to take a few more pics...
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Quick brew and packed our gear to the sound of barking behind us. Two different blokes in shorts with dogs appeared, over the stile, and away. Fair play but I was keeping by winter crag hoppers on thank you very much.
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After more photos :)
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Then off along the wall towards the hares gap, stopping off at the water pipe for a drink and refil.
Met quite a few people on their way up Commedagh too.
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Realised that we were being stalked after a bit.
Old friend of Phils :)
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There seemed to be folk climbing just about every peak you could see and along every path too.
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Finally made it to hares gap
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..and dropped the ruck for a well earned sit down and think..
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By this time all I was thinking about was a massive fry at Meelmore lodge but when I called they said that no frys were available just now - NOoo!! - but a toasted sammidge would do just nicely :)
Down the trassey track
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..passing loads more people heading up and it was camera in the bag, tummy rumbling, head down and keep er lit. Oh aye, and sheets of ice and many many speed wobbles along the way..
Met a group of 10 or so (?) who were all wearing the same kit - red and black jackets.
Turns out they all had RAF on their arms and after saying hi and asking what it was like last night, took off at a run towards hares gap and beyond..
One more photo just had to be taken before we hit sheep fold ;D
Anybody on here own this?
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And that was that.
Spoke to one of the mountain rescus lads as the came through the gate at Sheep fold - said they had been doin assessments at 2am last night (Well done Laim :) ).
Hung a left along the wall till we came to the end of the track up to Meelmore.
Final push up the hill and dropped our packs, washed our boots in the wee 'wash you boots' thing provided outside and in for a massive sausage beans and chips.
Where by the way we met two lads from Carrick direction who were up on a summit camp (cant remember where). They were marking another one off the list. And apparently there were 4 others in earlier who had been out doing the same thing (Annalong wood direction?)
Anyway, taxi home, lovely shower and up to O'Hares for a seat beside the big log fire in the from bar for a gew well earned pints of Guiness and a to watch Ulster beat Scarlets 19-12.
What a buzz.... ;)
PS
That Force 10 is a fantastic tent but its gonna be used for me and the daughters when we can split the load. Lighter tent, maybe even bivvy, is definitely on the shopping list.
This post bas been archived in the NI-Wild Blog. You can see it here:
http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/blog/2012/12/december-slieve-commedagh-summit-camp/
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Loved that write up. Amazing photos, what camera were you lugging around with you.
That photo from your tent window out onto donard is a cracker. Enter a few of them for the photo comps for definite.
Well done for braving the weather.
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Great write up there. Really liked your photos. Loved the photos of the sunrise.
It's been awhile since we have had a good write up.
Cngrats on the summit camp and here's to many more.
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Great write up & amazing photos,well done :)
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Them sort of write ups and pictures make my day. Many thanks
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Brilliant stuff, those are fantastic pictures, especially the frosty tent in the morning. What sleeping arrangement did your chum have, am always interested in what sleeping bags/mats perform best in sub zero conditions.
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Fantastic photos, a real insight into the trip. Funny how a pretty non-descript evening weather-wise can give rise to such a beautiful sunrise in the morning. You just have to put yourself out there and sometimes it pays off big style.
...and welcome to the forum summit86!
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Great write up and pics, well done!
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Great to see that your happy to get stuck in and give it a go lads, class photos of the frost in the morning, hope to see you out on one of our camps soon. :)
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Brilliant report, yes i was trudging around between cock & pigeon rock at 2am thinking it would be a great night for camping :) pity you didn't get the clear skies but you still got some amazing shots, first of many summit camps i hope!
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Brilliant trip report and superb photos. I camped there in July on the other side of the wall due to wind direction. It was foggy so didn't get to enjoy the views you did. The water pipe is a fantastic resource.
We now need your kit list just to round it off.
Thank you for sharing your experience.
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First of many overnighters in the Mournes indeed.
Really enjoyed that but looking into the different options available to me for a bivvy setup to lighten my pack.
Camera was a Canon 550D
And I also gave the NI-Wild web address to a couple of folk I met that day, who were asking what we were doing out in the cold, to go read about wild camping.
Tent isnt even dry yet but I wanna go back up ;)
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What a great write up and have to say great pics it looked that cold im amazed you were able to keep a steady hand to take them!!! PS the bottle of white was a nice touch and straight by the neck i see lol..
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Made from Gewurtztraminer Riesling grapes, sure its like drinking schloer.
And I wasnt sharing so... :)
Chips had a bottle of Rum with him...
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Should have done the old white wine dark rum combo. Onwards, Upwards and outwards. That would have been a photo that you wouldn't want to post. Photo's are definitely inspiring I haven't camped in the Mournes in almost twenty years but will be back in there with the son next spring.
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Brilliant photos guys. Congratulations on your first summit camp... you braved the cold and were rewarded with a cracking morning.
May you have many more like it!
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That looks like a cracking night out lads, well done. The pics are class.
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Hey, great wee write up. those pics are really good. love the sunrise ones especially. well done lads :)
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For the record... I have never seen that sheep before!!! Was a great camp out!!! First of many I'm sure
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Brilliant write up and very good photos.