Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more
General => Meets, places, trips and reviews => Topic started by: Fred on July 06, 2013
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With such a great weather outlook it was hard to resist a bivvi on Friday night. I hiked into the mournes from Newcastle via the glen river track and brandy pad, arriving on Meelbeg in about three and a half hours. The walk in was very pleasant in the gentle evening sunshine and with so few walkers about, I virtually had the mountains to myself. Although there was a strong breeze on the summit, there was enough shelter behind the wall to cook and settle down in my sleeping bag to watch the sunset. Thanks to the breeze, there wasn't a midge in sight.
The remainder of out group, Rumblebum, Typon and Cerbera147 arrived after eleven, accompanied by Landyliam who just made a flying visit to chat and drink our beer before disappearing into the night. We had a great night cooking and chatting by the heat of our firelogs before turning in around 2am. The summit of meelbeg doesn't lend itself to camping but we found enough reasonably level spaces for bivvi bags. This was Rumblebums first bivvi and hopefully after such a pleasant night he is a convert now. The following morning after a hearty breakfast we hiked out after doing a spot of geocaching.
It was a great night out and thanks to all who came along for making it so enjoyable.
Breakfast in the early morning sun
(http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l261/Frednobread/P1050778_zps54a411d1.jpg)
The outlook over Doan
(http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l261/Frednobread/P1050780_zpsbe053f85.jpg)
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accompanied by Landyliam who just made a flying visit to chat and drink our beer
and i was eyeing up the burgers too 8)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/P1000044Large_zpsd922ec93.jpg)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/P1000048Large_zps7dde9c51.jpg)
Dave goes for a pee
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/P1000051Large_zps7670deed.jpg)
firestarter
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/P1000057Large_zpse67a097f.jpg)
Dave cooking the burgers
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/P1000063Large_zpsdc6b21e4.jpg)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/P1000074Large_zps8b34d956.jpg)
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Another great night! I knew someone was perving on me while I pee'd!! I FELT THE EYES! :)
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Thanks for the night guys, we got a cracker of a night for it and it felt good to pop my cherry at the Bivvy game.
We're getting through these summits rightly!
RB :)
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Nice one lads,first bivvy rumblebum,good lad.i done my first bivvy on hen recently
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Good work guys, I would be tempted to try this bivvy game myself, mostly for the sunset and sunrise opportunities!
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Was a good night for it, sorry I missed you guys, ended up on the side of Doan at midnight (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcrobert/sets/72157634528044924/with/9230328518/).
Did you guys see the mad clouds drifting in from the Newcastle side at midnight? Thought we were going to be treated to a cloud inversion.
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It was a great a night; thanks for the invite. Second time in the bivvy for me but my first summit ;D
My first time bivvying I forgot my sleepmat and this time it disappeared on the way up ??? I'm destined not to experience bivvying with a mat. Although everyone volunteered their sit mat so it was all good.
I would highly recommend bivvying to all. I see no reason not to try it especially on nights like Friday.
Thanks to the guys for bearing with me on the way and to Liam for his help ;) If only the summit could be at the bottom of the mountain ::)
The clouds and mist were amazing as was the sunrise around 4am. I'll pop up some pics later.
BTW if you see a blue sleepmat between Meelmore Lodge and Meelbeg it's mine :D
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Good work guys, I would be tempted to try this bivvy game myself, mostly for the sunset and sunrise opportunities!
Go ahead and do it, even if just using a tarp quick shelter. I got my first real tarp a few weeks back and have only used it once so far as shelter but even that was enough to show me that unless I am atop the himalayas in a snowstorm I won't be using tents ever again.
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Thanks for the night guys, we got a cracker of a night for it and it felt good to pop my cherry at the Bivvy game.
We're getting through these summits rightly!
RB :)
So are you now team bivvy?
Do you solemnly swear to forsaketh the tent?
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Thanks for the night guys, we got a cracker of a night for it and it felt good to pop my cherry at the Bivvy game.
We're getting through these summits rightly!
RB :)
So are you now team bivvy?
Do you solemnly swear to forsaketh the tent?
Lol, we'll I gotta admit that I did enjoy it, just a little ;) though I'd say if I was lying there and the rain going sideways, I'd be thinking oh bollocks!!!! ::)
Now I've to get the tarp bought!
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Looked like a sweet night guys. The weather looked perfect. I can't say I was jealous at all ;)
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Looks like a cracker, great weather for the next wee while hopefully too!
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Chuck - we didn't have any lights until quite late when the firelogs were lit. There was also another party on meelmore and they didn't have any lights either. Im sorry to hear that you had midge problems but I see them as an incentive to bivvi on the summits. We had a fresh breeze all night long.
Team bivvi, more like bivvi bandits!
Fred
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Nice one lads ;D
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Brilliant stuff guys, it was a beautiful night for it. The Mournes really are stunning on a sunny clear day.
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