Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more
General => Meets, places, trips and reviews => Topic started by: Glenn B on August 22, 2016
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Planning a wee night up at the Spinkwee river this Saturday 27th, feel free to jump in if you fancy it.
I don't normally camp at this time of year it's usually around the end of September early October before I'm out, are the midges still about or would they be on their way out yet as the wee feckers drive me mad >:(
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The midges were out in force at the forest beside Fofanny Reservoir on Saturday morning, bring your head-nets and Smidge mate.
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Will do mate thanks they do my head in :'(
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I was up the Annalong River on Sat 13th/Sun 14th and the midges were brutal on Sunday morning. Had to break camp without pausing and walked the whole valley up to the Saddle without any relief whatsoever. Couldn't have even paused at the Saddle to tie a shoe lace. Never seen them as bad, or in fact at all up there! It was perfect conditions though, perfectly still with no direct sunlight and a bit of mizzley rain. Took to the ice house before we could stop for breakfast, and even then it was probably that the conditions had changed a bit. Some sights coming up Donard, folk were getting eaten alive, plenty turning back. I was speaking to one guy who spends a few nights a week up in the Mournes during the summer and his observation was that they were swarming in particular places at different times. Don't know enough about them myself to know their behaviour, let's face it if I did, I'd be a rich man!
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Oh no mate not good at all lol they would drive you insane :o
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Well, how did it go?
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Yeah was a great night, midges weren't much of a problem they showed up for about half an hour but the old smidge kept them at bay. A wee shower of rain not much and woke to a lovely morning on Sunday so yeah all good.
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It was a great camp but I have to admit, my legs were still sore this morning from walking, so unfit its ridiculous! Some lovely views from up there but I think it may be a while before my legs will carry me higher into the mountains.
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Sounds great. I would have expected Sprinkwee to be covered in midges with the river. Tell me this, did you have any issues with ticks? I shared a tent with them in Tollymore last year! Though it was early June.
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I got one of those gits on me last Saturday on Slieve Gullion. I just knew it too since I went off piste a bit and ended up in shoulder high bracken and wearing shorts.
Where in Tollymore were you Darran?
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No issues with ticks mate the only problem I had was that my red wine seemed to disappear very quickly ;D
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Was that the first outing with the new tent Glenn? How'd you get on with it?
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Hi G
No mate it got its first outting up at Helens Tower at the start of the year. I'm really happy with it so far and it's actually a bit roomier than I expected. The wee porch area is big enough for your pack, boots and other bits and pieces don't fancy trying to cook much in it though.
So yeah all good I just have to try and get the use out of it more.