Commedagh ridge-line walk

[Mourneman]

A solo trek today on Commedagh's ridge-line today, I caught the early bus to Newcastle with all the screaming brats on board.The weather forecast gave it as showers in the morning with brighter spells later.

PA030036 by paul surginor, on Flickr

PA030044 by paul surginor, on Flickr

I set off along the glen river doing the usual stunt of slipping on tree roots regretting I'd went the that way,nearing the Ice-house I stopped for first breakfast,an orange,some porridge & of course strong coffee,passing by me was a group of around ten men all eager to be the one in front,near tripping over each other in the progress.


As I left the comfort of the woods I noticed the rain was getting heavy & the wind had increased,memories of lost torches & flares were coming flooding back to me.I pushed on reaching the Saddle,oh how I hate it,it's a real leg puller,stopping again for a protein bar & a brew I made the slow plod up "Commedaghs back",nesting as much as I could from the now howling wind coming from Annalong valley.

PA030054 by paul surginor, on Flickr

PA030102 by paul surginor, on Flickr


Recently I've been doing a lot of navigation training  with big E & I intended to put in into practise,visability was about 20 feet,so I measured out the distance from commedaghs shelter to the summit cairn,around 250 metres,given that I know my pace is around 67 paces to 100 metres I would walk this distance to judge the results,also as I could not see the summit cairn this would be an ideal oppourtuniy to follow a compass bearing.

PA030131 by paul surginor, on Flickr

PA030134 by paul surginor, on Flickr

PA030137 by paul surginor, on Flickr

PA030149 by paul surginor, on Flickr



Leaving the shelter I aligned my map & compass & fixed a bearing,counting every second step as I went I followed the compass right to the cairn,delighted, I also counted 187paces,so that was on the money as well,it's one think having a map & compass ,another think being able to use it,feeling quite chuffed with myself I carried on along commedaghs ridge line & onto Shan slieve.

Panorama494 by paul surginor, on Flickr


Panorama495 by paul surginor, on Flickr


Panorama496 by paul surginor, on Flickr


Panorama497 by paul surginor, on Flickr




Reaching the treeline I again passed the ni- wild camp site,with time a bit of push I got to the bus station as the bus was pulling put,a cracking wee morning in the hills

i'll attach the film later 

Here's some movie footage from today       - http://youtu.be/St3t1rKH3ZE