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Author Topic: Mourne Seven Sevens - Sat 6th August 2011  (Read 19974 times)

LandyLiam

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Mourne Seven Sevens - Sat 6th August 2011
« on: July 24, 2011 »
yes its on red arrows day, i'm planning to have a go, don't think i'll get back in time to see the red arrows though  :(

Quote
MOURNE SEVEN SEVENS CHALLENGE

Saturday 6th August 2011

Objective: To climb all seven peaks in the Mourne Mountains that are 700m+ above sea level.

Distance.......18 miles (29km)

Ascent/Descent.......8,100 feet (2,495m)

Typical Duration.......10-12 hours

Starting Time............7.00-9.00am

Entrance Fee............£10.00 stg.


info here: http://www.walkersassociation.ie/node/246

entry form here: http://home.btconnect.com/spartanredsox/

seems that you just print it out and bring on the day, no pre-boking needed


anyone else up for this? i'd rather have a walking partner, if i don't get one i'll just stalk one of the other entrants  ;D i'll be doing the 7am start hopefully and maybe running the downhill bits
« Last Edit: July 24, 2011 by LandyLiam »
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LennyJ1

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Re: Mourne Seven Sevens - Sat 6th August 2011
« Reply #1 on: July 25, 2011 »
I would of joined you untill you said that horrible word running.
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MG1

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Re: Mourne Seven Sevens - Sat 6th August 2011
« Reply #2 on: July 25, 2011 »
Its one i've been looking to do but i'm doing the tour of the lough with Hand cycling NI that day.
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twentyclicks

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Re: Mourne Seven Sevens - Sat 6th August 2011
« Reply #3 on: July 25, 2011 »
Thought I was going to be free for this but they changed the rota in work  :(
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LandyLiam

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Re: Mourne Seven Sevens - Sat 6th August 2011
« Reply #4 on: August 03, 2011 »
The Red Arrows display is at 2.15pm, now i've no idea how long it will take me to do the 7 summits (don't think i've ever done more than 2 summits in a day), but if i start at 7am from Donard car park, bypass Donard and Commedagh and go straight to the Brandy Pad to Bearnagh, Meelmore, Meelbeg, Ben Crom Dam, Binnion & Lamagan, then go straight to Commedagh via Cove & Beg, watch the planes, then do Donard last. In the unlikely event i get there early i could do Donard before Commedagh, If i'm running late I could leave out Binnion.

Hopefully on Commedagh i'll be lighting a cigar at 2pm and saying "I like it when a plan comes together"  8)

Also have to decide to do this in boots or trainers  ??? gonna be boggy from Meelbeg to Ben Crom Dam  :(

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RedLeader

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Re: Mourne Seven Sevens - Sat 6th August 2011
« Reply #5 on: August 03, 2011 »
Best of luck for everyone doing this!
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LandyLiam

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Re: Mourne Seven Sevens - Sat 6th August 2011
« Reply #6 on: August 06, 2011 »
all ready for a 7am start, hopefully will do it in 7 hours  ::)  although with the amount of low cloud clinging to the mournes at the moment this is gonna be more of a navigation exercise  :o
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LandyLiam

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Re: Mourne Seven Sevens - Sat 6th August 2011
« Reply #7 on: August 06, 2011 »
Looks like were gonna have to rename this the 4 sevens! Well I completed the circuit but left out 3 peaks, went the wrong way twice, had 1 medium fall (waist high hole), loust 4 pounds in weight, found 2 geocaches, eaten by midges at ben crom but back to donard park in 7hrs15mins in time to see some of the red arrows (although by that stage I was more interested in a cup of tea and a sandwich). Will have some pics and a write up later but hats off to anyone who completes that event, it's tough, and then there's the bionic people that run it  :o
« Last Edit: August 06, 2011 by LandyLiam »
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sjh1

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Re: Mourne Seven Sevens - Sat 6th August 2011
« Reply #8 on: August 06, 2011 »
Quote from: LandyLiam on July 24, 2011
no pre-boking needed

... only boke after you've ran a mile or two!
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LandyLiam

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Re: Mourne Seven Sevens - Sat 6th August 2011
« Reply #9 on: August 06, 2011 »
oops, well spooted   8)

no boking was done and no blisters either  :o the socks i use actually guarantee no blisters, so far so good
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LandyLiam

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Re: Mourne Seven Sevens - Sat 6th August 2011
« Reply #10 on: August 06, 2011 »
some pics



the queue to sign on at 7am !!! a popular event



donard first for many, although this was as far as i went, straight to the brandy pad for me



when i get onto the brandy pad (that wee path you see) i'm greeted with this view, slieve beg and cove are in there, now this is a bit worrying as i've never crossed these mountains and low cloud will make it difficult, especially as they have some steep cliffs at one side  :o



the cloud clears 5 mins later, lets hope it stays that way, look at those steep drops  :o



i pass by the castles, very impressive



spotted this bird which just hovered in the one spot, at first i thought it must be a kite



view of ben crom reservoir, home of the man-eating mourne midges  >:( more of them later



slieve bernagh abovem i've taken the wrong path and ended up too low (distracted by a geocache  ;D ) so now have to climb that steep hill


going up meelmore, look at that steep descent from bearnagh in the background, rather down than up!




on my third summit, meelbeg, with a view of meelmore, i struggled to get up here,which is the easiest mountain of the day, so i knew my days were numbered and there was no way i was doing binnion next


going from meelbeg to bn crom dam i made a mistake and followed the wrong river, ben crom mountain was shrouded in cloud and i followed someone else go the wrong way too, and another followed me, this resulted in probably and extra half hour going through some real boggy peat hags, would have been worse if i didn't catch on til later though


this was a welcome sight



the bog takes it toll (had to put the trousers on as the heather was killing my bare legs)



finally at ben crom dam, not a breath of wind here, meaning MIDGES, thousands of them  >:(


up lamagan next, this was a hard slog, muscles were tightening, sat down a lot and watched the runners pass



spotted one of my running clubmates



eventually reached lamagan summit, where the lovely lady marshalls fed me with twixes  ;D
(a big thank you to any marshalls that read this, especially those that had to suffer the midges on ben crom)



then it was over to cove then slieve beg where i spotted the top of the devils coachroad, a very steep scramble, looking forward to trying this some day, also picked up another geocache nearby


then onto the brandy pad and back to the saddle at donard, i tried running the flat brandy pad again but felt leg muscles tightening again, but when i got to the saddle i ended up runing the whole way down to the car park with no bother at all  ???



the red arrows dispaly started as i got to the ice house



at the finish line, 7hrs 15mins later, having only done 4 of the 7s (6 summits total though) and approx 15 miles, sat here for a while with tea and sandwiches (delicious) before popping into town to meet the family and watch the rest of the air show



newcastle beach








the red line is the route i should have taken, the green one is my estimated actual route, you can see i skipped out donard and commedagh (in the hope of doing them last) and binnion, went too low across bearnagh, and followed the wrong river after meelbeg.

one poor fella did an extra mountain (slieve lough shannagh)


so did i enjoy it? no

am i glad i did it? yes

will i try again next year? definitely

the best bit?  doing the brandy pad to the hare's gap, i was the only person on it, very peaceful with great views, a fairly easy i walk i'd really recommend

the worst bit? ascending lamagan, that was tough  

what have a learned? practise the routes beforehand, bring more water (had only 750mls, drank about 1.5 litres with refills), plan refill points, don't go too fast at the start, pack some gels (i don't know what these are but the runners seem to have them, they must be good)

p.s. well done to simon who did the full course in 7hrs 55 mins, smoke that man a kipper  :)
« Last Edit: August 06, 2011 by LandyLiam »
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RedLeader

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Re: Mourne Seven Sevens - Sat 6th August 2011
« Reply #11 on: August 07, 2011 »
Awesome, congrats on an impressive show. Wish I had your energy!!
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Gerry

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Re: Mourne Seven Sevens - Sat 6th August 2011
« Reply #12 on: August 07, 2011 »
Well done that man!!!!!!!
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Kayakgirl

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Re: Mourne Seven Sevens - Sat 6th August 2011
« Reply #13 on: August 07, 2011 »
Well done!!
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LandyLiam

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Re: Mourne Seven Sevens - Sat 6th August 2011
« Reply #14 on: August 07, 2011 »
thanks for all the well done's, or where they for simon  ;D
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