Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more
General => Meets, places, trips and reviews => Topic started by: LennyJ1 on January 06, 2013
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Looking to get down for some port n chat around a fire log and some bouldering (Weather dependent in the morning)
Anyone interested?
Coming
LennyJ1
specimanYak
Typo-On
Matthew
Possible
LandyLiam
RedLeader
Oisin
Edited to show attendees
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Hmmm, I take it the Friday night doesn't suit ya mate?
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Hmmm, I take it the Friday night doesn't suit ya mate?
Friday very rarely do. I am working Saturday.
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fair to middlin chance i could make this one, are you bringing any gear for a morning climb? (like you've enough to carry up the hill ;D )
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fair to middlin chance i could make this one, are you bringing any gear for a morning climb? (like you've enough to carry up the hill ;D )
Just looking at going bouldering at the mo. but could change plans to climbing. Depends on everyone.
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I might be able to make this one. Haven't had a summit camp in a while, this would be a nice return.
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Here is the List of climbs on Hen
http://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crag.php?id=1160 (http://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crag.php?id=1160)
I think if we end up just doing some bouldering then I will take on the font 4's and 5's. However I dont mind draging my ropes and metal work up there to do some climbing if the weather is ok.
Would love to do
Yak-Yak (Because I like the name lol)
Escalator
Simplicity
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I could be interested in this Lenny depending on weather, have never summit camped before and it's about time i did, also those climbing names are calling out to me, lol:
Yak-Yak
Escalator
Simplicity
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I could be interested in this Lenny depending on weather, have never summit camped before and it's about time i did, also those climbing names are calling out to me, lol:
Yak-Yak
Escalator
Simplicity
Kinda thought you might pick up on that one lol. You know you have a lift. Gotta break that summit cherry sometime too
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Kinda thought you might pick up on that one lol. You know you have a lift. Gotta break that summit cherry sometime too
Hah, cheers Lenny, hopefully the weather's good enough to get some bouldering in.
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Kinda thought you might pick up on that one lol. You know you have a lift. Gotta break that summit cherry sometime too
Hah, cheers Lenny, hopefully the weather's good enough to get some bouldering in.
was maybe thinking of taking our harness (Weather dependent)
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Edited first post to show names
Im in, permission granted :)
I'll be down late
Sweet
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Sounds tempting. I'll see if I can get finished work early on Saturday (2pm)
Then maybe catch a lift down with you Dave if your heading late?
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Sounds tempting. I'll see if I can get finished work early on Saturday (2pm)
Then maybe catch a lift down with you Dave if your heading late?
But I am sure we can come to a arrangement
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count me out now, i've got a better offer for that weekend, lovely comfy hotel :)
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count me out now, i've got a better offer for that weekend, lovely comfy hotel :)
Well you could come down to climb on Sunday?
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i'll be a 5 hr drive away :(
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I should be able to make this.
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I'm working until 2pm that on the Saturday, so I should be able to make it into Belfast at a fashionable time.
I must get my boulder on! Looks like its a go.
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Ohh go on then, I'm in! :D
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If anyone fancies a go at bouldering and doesn't have any rock shoes, I'm happy to swap mine around between turns. I'm size 9.
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Ohh go on then, I'm in! :D
Woop! Woop! ;D
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Lenny, I can't make this one anymore mate. I am away to Donegall with the miss for the weekend.
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Hope the snows stilling lying for this, thatd rock!!! :D
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Hope the snows stilling lying for this, thatd rock!!! :D
That's what I'm thinking too :)
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Hope the snows stilling lying for this, thatd rock!!! :D
That's what I'm thinking too :)
NOOOOOO, SNOW = NO CLIMBING :'(
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Yeah, I know... But the climbing will always be there the snow won't :-/
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Looks like its to be a fair bit warmer for the weekend, climbing could be on :)
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The snow will help cushion our falls, i mean, my falls. :D
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The snow will help cushion our falls, i mean, my falls. :D
We need to be extremely careful in situations like these, the Yak call could trigger avalanches.
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We need to be extremely careful in situations like these, the Yak call could trigger avalanches.
Hhaahah, brilliant ;D
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I'm afraid I'm still a maybe for this. The whole family is doing a bit of vomiting at the mo.
Anyone any idea what it might be like up there come the weekend? The forecast is a bit vague.
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How about if the weather isnt favorable for climbing/bouldering we head to the Hotrock for a couple of hrs?
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How about if the weather isnt favorable for climbing/bouldering we head to the Hotrock for a couple of hrs?
;D LIKE
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How about if the weather isnt favorable for climbing/bouldering we head to the Hotrock for a couple of hrs?
Nice backup plan but as long as there's no rain, we'll be climbing the Coldrocks at Hen. :)
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Right Osin and Dave. I will pick you both up at 4.15 from the side of the opera house and Europa on Saturday. :)
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Sorry guys but theres a very good chance that ill not be able to make this one, but hope you all have a good night.
Cheers Alan. 8)
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Sorry guys but theres a very good chance that ill not be able to make this one, but hope you all have a good night.
Cheers Alan. 8)
:(
Well in the hope I actually feel better tomorrow I sorted all my climbing gear, that stuffs not feckin light :(
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Sorry guys but theres a very good chance that ill not be able to make this one, but hope you all have a good night.
Cheers Alan. 8)
NNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
[Well in the hope I actually feel better tomorrow I sorted all my climbing gear, that stuffs not feckin light :(
I know, half my weight is on climbing kit (Not including the rope (so watch out dave or Osin one of you are getting that but there might be a little surprise in that for ya)
Also we need to talk about fire logs.
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Sorry lads, I'll also not be able to make this one. Too many things going on at home. Have a top trip though, I'll be raging if there's snow :'(
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Yeah we need to do a bit of organising. If we're carrying lots of weight we need to probably share some stuff.
I was just going to buy a ready meal from Cotswold or something, so would only need hot water. Think we could share a stove between us? I'm not sure what the thoughts are at sharing a tent.
I could dangerously volunteer to bring a firelog and hobo stove?
I'll pack my bag later tonight when I'm home from work and see what I have space wise
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I will put 2 fire logs in the boot if anyone has space. I have my one man tent so cant share there (My vango is a lump). I dont mind sharing my jetboil with ya if you carry a spare gas can.
I will be buy a little chineese before we go to have up there.
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I'll leave some space for a firelog then and then a gas canister. Do you want me to buy a canister while I'm in Cotswold?
What about Dave and his tent? I've never heard your set-up, I'd hate to see you haul a 4Kg 3 man tent up by yourself. Wouldnt be as enjoyable for you.
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I'll leave some space for a firelog then and then a gas canister. Do you want me to buy a canister while I'm in Cotswold?
What about Dave and his tent? I've never heard your set-up, I'd hate to see you haul a 4Kg 3 man tent up by yourself. Wouldnt be as enjoyable for you.
Just bring a small one as it could get cold and one might under perform
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To be honest i'm having second thoughts about this as i really don't like the look of the weather so i'm gonna play it by ear tomorrow. I'll pack my bag tonight and i'll be bringing as much as i can, mini trangia, fuel and water, and i'll grab a firelog as well. This is my tent here if anybody needs to share:
http://goo.gl/SFNYX
I'll bring my daypack with climbing gear as well, but again i'll know exactly what i'm doing tomorrow.
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Ok, it seems that no amount of watching the weather forecast is going to make the rain go away. Soooo........alright then I'll join you lot for a wee night out.
I'll probably breeze in about 7:00-7:30pm and I'll be away again after breakfast, brief as usual. Weather looks ok for Sunday morning by the way - good news for climbers.
I'll bring a fire log and I'll carry a couple up for you since you have all the climbing gear. I'll be arriving later so you could leave a couple in a plastic bag under the car you travel in.
I don't think you need to be too concerned about weight, it is only about a 25 minute walk from the car. Definately a distance worth carrying your luxuries for.
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Providing I can walk Im going, regardless of the weather. ;D
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To be honest i'm having second thoughts about this as i really don't like the look of the weather so i'm gonna play it by ear tomorrow. I'll pack my bag tonight and i'll be bringing as much as i can, mini trangia, fuel and water, and i'll grab a firelog as well. This is my tent here if anybody needs to share:
http://goo.gl/SFNYX
I'll bring my daypack with climbing gear as well, but again i'll know exactly what i'm doing tomorrow.
What you need to do is take those second thoughts and burn them. You'll be grand, your tent is cracker, more than enough for a wee summit on Hen. Just carry a few layers and a waterproof coat. Hen isn't even a hard walk, I'll happily carry some stuff up for you.
You have to go, just think of the climbing. You can't let Yak Yak escape you.
Lenny, you wouldn't mind linking me to the stove I need to buy in Cotswold?
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What you need to do is take those second thoughts and burn them.
Yeah, they could replace one of the firelogs :D
Is anyone bringing a tarp to shelter under?
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To be honest i'm having second thoughts about this as i really don't like the look of the weather so i'm gonna play it by ear tomorrow. I'll pack my bag tonight and i'll be bringing as much as i can, mini trangia, fuel and water, and i'll grab a firelog as well. This is my tent here if anybody needs to share:
http://goo.gl/SFNYX
I'll bring my daypack with climbing gear as well, but again i'll know exactly what i'm doing tomorrow.
Dont be doing that dude. You could come to regret it. I gave myself a boot up the ass for those type of thoughts. (Anyway if it reay is to bad I will just sleep in the back of my car lol)
From Oisin
Lenny, you wouldn't mind linking me to the stove I need to buy in Cotswold?
What do yoiu mean? you dont need a stove just a screw cap gas cannister
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Good luck for tomorrow night guys , i would have liked to be joining your merry band up there but have other things on this weekend so maybe next time that you are out me and my right hand man, mini me, my shadow could join you? have a great night.
Glenn
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Dont be doing that dude. You could come to regret it. I gave myself a boot up the ass for those type of thoughts. (Anyway if it reay is to bad I will just sleep in the back of my car lol)
No worries, tomorrow's a new day and i know i'll wake up raring to go, :)
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i would have liked to be joining your merry band up there but have other things on this weekend
Glenn
That's code for pub :) We'll raise a glass to ya Glenn.
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i would have liked to be joining your merry band up there but have other things on this weekend
Glenn
That's code for pub :) We'll raise a glass to ya Glenn.
Ha Ha the voice of experience :o
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Sorry Lenny, meant canister. But I'll maybe try my wee stove myself, and if all else fails I can steal some hot water, or worse case eat it cold.
Good man Yak, if I dont see you tomorrow, I'll give you a kick up the ass next time I see you.
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Haha, i can confirm i'm definitely going, actually looking really forward to it, the rucksack's packed and ready to roll so see you all tomorrow then. ;D
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That's me packed and ready. Ill be down for either 7:30ish or 9ish depending on the runs tonight.
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That's me packed and ready. Ill be down for either 7:30ish or 9ish depending on the runs tonight.
I can send down some immodium if you think that would help ;-)
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Lol. That didn't sound like I meant it :(
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That's me packed and ready. Ill be down for either 7:30ish or 9ish depending on the runs tonight.
Hope they clear up before you start the climbing! "Look out below!!!!" ;D ;D
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That's me packed and ready. Ill be down for either 7:30ish or 9ish depending on the runs tonight.
Hope they clear up before you start the climbing! "Look out below!!!!" ;D ;D
Dibs leading lol
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We were at Spelga briefly earlier on and the weather was absolutely foul. Hope it clears up for you guys!
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Only me up top at mo. it's dry but a wee bit gusty. Got a brew on and waiting for company to arrive :)
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Great stuff. Did it dry up? Was absolutely chucking it down earlier at Spelga.
Only me up top at mo. it's dry but a wee bit gusty. Got a brew on and waiting for company to arrive :)
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Only me up top at mo. it's dry but a wee bit gusty. Got a brew on and waiting for company to arrive :)
what ??? ??? is this a solo camp :'( :'(
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Goodluck lads, sounds like it is going to be a minging night.
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Whorya and myself made the summit, it's been pretty windy ;D
Just turning in.
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Whorya and myself made the summit, it's been pretty windy ;D
Just turning in.
Hats off to you guys... You've put the "Wild" in NI-Wild with this summit camp :D
I'm sure it must be totally awesome (and cold) up there this morning. Really looking forward to seeing the photos if you got a chance to take any.
Redleader and I were down for an extreme family picnic to test a couple of Stoves but the rain was torrential and there was freezing fog by the time I was leaving the hills at about 16:00. The kids and I managed about 15 minutes in the snow. Any longer and there would have been a serious risk of body parts dropping off :(
(http://i.imgur.com/FvMHrYe.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/gjXNCgM.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/qtUx6qL.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/HHFMkmn.jpg)
8)
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Whorya and myself made the summit, it's been pretty windy ;D
Just turning in.
Hats off to you guys... You've put the "Wild" in NI-Wild with this summit camp :D
I'm sure it must be totally awesome (and cold) up there this morning. Really looking forward to seeing the photos if you got a chance to take any.
Redleader and I were down for an extreme family picnic to test a couple of Stoves but the rain was torrential and there was freezing fog by the time I was leaving the hills at about 16:00. The kids and I managed about 15 minutes in the snow. Any longer and there would have been a serious risk of body parts dropping off :(
(http://i.imgur.com/FvMHrYe.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/gjXNCgM.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/qtUx6qL.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/HHFMkmn.jpg)
8)
The road looks awesome around there. We headed to the hotrock as climbing outdoors was out (2 minutes up there without gloves was painfull :( ) I went around that way and couldnt beleive the depth in a few places (like your bottom pic)
Had a great night huddled in a dip chatting and then back to the tents for what seemed like the full fury of nature a few times.
On the way down two highlights would be plunging thigh deep into the snow with one leg and talking about our Salomon boots and how grippy they are. Demonstrating this on a wet/slimy boulder and then going on my hoop 3 steps later on muck :-[ ;D
WhoRya was the official photographer last night.
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Well done lads for getting out there and enjoying yourselves, I'm sure it was just like being back in the Falklands!! :D
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The weather was atrocious last night when we arrived, Oisin and myself camped out in the forest at a relatively calm spot, a few drinks and chat round a firelog, had a great night. Kudos to Typo and WhoRya for making it up there, they're made of tough stuff and deserve an Ni-Wild medal for sitting out the mental weather and they didn't even use their firelog. :o
Hotrocks in the morning for a climbing session, overall i had a great time, was just good to be out in the tent for a night.
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Well done lads for getting out there and enjoying yourselves, I'm sure it was just like being back in the Falklands!! :D
:P Im not that feckin old!
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I had arrived down after the advance group who had been put off by some really bad weather that had passed through earlier on. With the possibility of some climbing the other guys were happy to find a more sheltered spot and set themselves up for the next day.
A quick call to Typo-on established that he was still "110%" 8) on for having a go at the hill. I then made my way up Hen Mountain whilst Typo-on was still making his way down in the car, to see how it all looked. This was also a good chance to get some dinner and a cuppa into me, and browse NI Wild of course. A while later a call to Typo-on established he was already near the top of the hill but round the other side. We worked out we would try to meet in the gully that splits the first torr. I could barely make it down into the gulley due to the winds being funnelled up it. Typo-on on the other hand kind of flew up it.
Having met up we went to retrieve my rucksack which was easier said than done, the thoughts of trying to share a Laser Comp spurred us on to find it though. I was starting to think the other guys had come up and moved it for a laugh.
The weather was always going to be a bit of a challenge on this one, but with loads of different angles possible we wanted to have a go at finding somewhere that was sheltered enough. We didn't find that place so we pitched in the next best place!
We had to work on putting the tents up one at a time so one of us didn't take off, but eventually we got them up. As tempting as it was to climb into a soothing bed :o we resisted the temptation, instead finding a wee hollow to sit in and pass a couple of hours. In truth, I was happy not to be watching the tent flexing for a while.
As we turned in, the weather had eased considerably and we agreed that the worst of it had passed. :-\ That was until about 5 am when it was coming from every angle. I got up and checked the tents over and was impressed that all the guy lines were all still taut and holding well. The tents do seem to be designed to absorb a lot of the pressure.
By 8 am it was a good bit calmer and I got to do that obligatory skip around the mountain top with your boot laces untied and take a few shots, while the kettle fired up.
It was a great camp all in. Nice to do another summit, even in spite of the conditions. We all met up again down on the track and had a bit of banter.
Video inside the tent.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76526252@N05/8422200708/in/photostream/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/76526252@N05/8422200708/in/photostream/)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8327/8422115370_51f2f104e4_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/76526252@N05/8422115370/)
Spot the tents.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8369/8422114746_d8e472a09b_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/76526252@N05/8422114746/)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8505/8421060477_3052c07bfe_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/76526252@N05/8421060477/)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8498/8422153990_eb7f0f6614_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/76526252@N05/8422153990/)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8098/8422152042_32f2261005_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/76526252@N05/8422152042/)
This was a little frozen pond, we lamented that fact that Craigy123 wasn't there so we could dare him to run across the ice, it was really thick. The water was probably about knee deep.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8230/8422149426_2e18a8b1b2_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/76526252@N05/8422149426/)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8232/8422147048_25020027eb_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/76526252@N05/8422147048/)
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Nice one lads,our hen camp last season was much the same,after some really bad weather we found a pitch to put our tents,karma
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Well done lads, total respect.
I was thinking of you on saturday night when I was snuggled up in bed with the rain lashing off the windows.
Fred
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Great write-up and the photos look grand, much respect to both of you, that popeye pic is hilarious, more karma added.
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Brilliant guys, am well jealous. What route did you take up, there are no paths on the map and my only time of Hen we just spotted the summit and made straight for it?
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Brilliant guys, am well jealous. What route did you take up, there are no paths on the map and my only time of Hen we just spotted the summit and made straight for it?
I just aimed for the tor. On my GPS (had to take it as i got it for xmas :) ) the talkytoaster map had a track marked which I didn't follow but in the morning it became apparent there is a sort of sheep track that seemed to correspond to the talkytoaster map. I also noticed an almost trimmed/flattened grass track going from the summit down to the path but much further up from the gate but this might just have been a group had flattened it on approach and it just hasn't sprung up.
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Great write-up and the photos look grand, much respect to both of you, that popeye pic is hilarious, more karma added.
I have this silly idea that at night my baselayer is 'cooling' me as its designed to wick sweat etc its hard to type what I actually think lol but something along the lines of it might not be taking heat away but is feeling cool in my skin.... I dunno it's all a ramble regardless I'm giving cotton tee's a whirl while I'm in my bag to see how I fair until I can get some merino.
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It's curious that the Talkytoaster maps (which are OpenStreetMap (http://www.openstreetmap.org/)) have a path marked that isn't on the OS map, either 50 or 25k.
Brilliant guys, am well jealous. What route did you take up, there are no paths on the map and my only time of Hen we just spotted the summit and made straight for it?
I just aimed for the tor. On my GPS (had to take it as i got it for xmas :) ) the talkytoaster map had a track marked which I didn't follow but in the morning it became apparent there is a sort of sheep track that seemed to correspond to the talkytoaster map. I also noticed an almost trimmed/flattened grass track going from the summit down to the path but much further up from the gate but this might just have been a group had flattened it on approach and it just hasn't sprung up.
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Nice one lads, your both mad in the head lol.
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Excellent Stuff... I'm well impressed.
I really thought there would be more snow on the summit having waded through snow drifts three feet deep earlier in the day myself,lower down the slopes.
Karma Awarded
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It's curious that the Talkytoaster maps (which are OpenStreetMap (http://www.openstreetmap.org/)) have a path marked that isn't on the OS map, either 50 or 25k.
I thought so too
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8509/8422493721_ca5b47e033.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/89502764@N04/8422493721/)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8516/8422492959_985a567ce1.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/89502764@N04/8422492959/)
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Defo one to bear in mind that OpenStreetMap is always worth a check too since it has stuff not marked elsewhere.
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well done lads for getting out there and doing it! Karma
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I got the wee linky thing for the video sorted in the post above.
I went straight up at the first torr but that took me to a point where I met the granite and I didn't want to cross the big slab in the conditions, so I had to drop back down a little and went to the left of the first torr to reach the main plateau. Typon on went to the right of the first torr as he mentioned above. We came down to the south between the second and third torrs on the way back and contoured round the base. It would be great down there if there was a northerly wind.
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Your video got me a couple of the 'your bonkers looks' in work... Thanks! :) :)
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Either really brave or really nuts, Well done for sticking to your guns and just going out and doing it. HARDCORE!!! 8) 8)
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Reminds me of this experience. Sometimes the really hard ones are the most satisfying!
http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/blog/2011/01/slieve-meelmore-summit-cam/
(http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/DSCF6825.jpg)
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We've archived whoRya's excellent trip report here:
http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/blog/2013/01/winter-hen-summit-camp/