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Author Topic: Planning a wet and windy one!  (Read 12649 times)

whoRya

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Planning a wet and windy one!
« on: December 27, 2012 »
Hi all, as the title suggests, myself and a few friends are planning a night out in the Mournes.  The weather forecast is pretty unfavourable with potentially high winds (50 mph+) due from the SSW. 

Most of the guys seldom get out so we would like it to be somewhere high rather than a night in the forest.  I'm looking a bit of advice for potential sites to camp ideally with significant protection from the wind whether that is natural or from the Mourne Wall.   Unfortunately it comes down a simple choice of to go or not, we don't have an opportunity to delay it a day or two. 

Some possible sites may be:

-  Commedagh - should be able to get right and close to the wall - a southerly wind may get over the wall

-  Bearnagh - the contours look pretty favourable on the northerly side of the North Torr - I'm not sure I've even walked this part of the mountain
                    - I've camped between the North Torr and Summit Torr on the inner side, but again the terrain looks pretty good on the outer side of the wall between the North Torr and the turn in the wall.

-  Hen Mountain -  I wonder if there is enough room for three tents to snuggle in close to the West Torr? doesn't give much opportunity for a walk though.

-  Slievenaglogh (the one on the northern side) - bit of a wild card, not sure I have seen anything about anyone camping here but the north side of the wall may present an opportunity.  Is the ground well drained up there?

-  Hare's Gap - Is the north-west side of the gap very eroded or do you think we could get in close enough to the wall?

I'd welcome your thoughts.  As you can see I've ruled out exposed summits like Doan and around the Annalong Valley which may get the worst of the wind.
« Last Edit: December 27, 2012 by whoRya »
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Re: Planning a wet and windy one!
« Reply #1 on: December 27, 2012 »
Quote from: Typo-On on December 27, 2012
Bearnagh make them suffer ;)

Oh Gosh! You really are full of Christmas cheer! lol
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Mourneman

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Re: Planning a wet and windy one!
« Reply #2 on: December 27, 2012 »
Few places spring to mind,
1.) the stile at the end of the Ott trek,taking shelter behind the wall.
2.) Sprinkwee campsite
3.)hares gap
4.)pierces castle
5.)fofanny dam
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LandyLiam

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Re: Planning a wet and windy one!
« Reply #3 on: December 28, 2012 »
hope its not tonight, wild up there  :o
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LennyJ1

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Re: Planning a wet and windy one!
« Reply #4 on: December 28, 2012 »
its very windy out there tonight
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LennyJ1

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Re: Planning a wet and windy one!
« Reply #5 on: December 28, 2012 »
Quote from: Typo-On on December 28, 2012
Quote from: LennyJ1 on December 28, 2012
its very windy out there tonight

2000 posts for the len-man ;)

Yeoo 2001
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LandyLiam

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Re: Planning a wet and windy one!
« Reply #6 on: December 28, 2012 »
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LennyJ1

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Re: Planning a wet and windy one!
« Reply #7 on: December 29, 2012 »
Quote from: LandyLiam on December 28, 2012


I maybe 2nd to you. I am still king of the castle lol
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Rumblebum

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Re: Planning a wet and windy one!
« Reply #8 on: December 29, 2012 »
Yip I can confirm that it was windy, windy as hell! We got up to the saddle and decided that it may not be that enjoyable to spend the night on the summit so retired back down to the comfort of donard wood where we chewed the fat and drank wine over the ever present firelog.
I was looking for the lost and found section on the forum there but couldn't see it, one of our guys lost a new Lowe Alpine rain cover, it blew off his ruck on the way up to the saddle, I know there's a slim chance of him seeing it again but thought I'd let you know Incase anybody comes across it.
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whoRya

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Re: Planning a wet and windy one!
« Reply #9 on: December 29, 2012 »
Grrr, it took me too long to type!

Um yes wind, can be strong can't it?  I must have looked at weather forecasts more often before this camp than before all the others put together.  As much as I hoped it would the wind just wouldn't drop below a forecast of 70-80mph, without gusts!

We started out from Donard Park up the Glen River Path and made it up through strong winds up to the Saddle.  Hunkering down by the wall gave a really good bit of protection from the wind which was hitting the wall square on. 

We had a bit of a chat with some guys who had already pitched their tent for the night and it was holding up not too bad, then had a bit of a wander to see if there was anywhere suitable to pitch another few tents.  The problem was the amount of water that was running alongside the wall and the eroded ground could make a good job of perforating your groundsheet. 

A quick debate ensued about the merits going higher up Commedagh for a recce to see what it was like, the consensus though was it was a long way up to find out you had to come back again.  If the wall was at the right angle it may have been doable but there was no doubt that without having significant protection it simply wouldn't have been possible at all. 

We decided to descend again but not before we climbed over the stile, which was not easy to do and had a bit of fun trying to stand in the wind which was constant and stronger than anything I have felt before.  We got back over and went back down to Donard Wood which was relatively calm.

A great night overall and fair play to the lads staying up at the saddle, I hope you had a good night.



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whoRya

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Re: Planning a wet and windy one!
« Reply #10 on: December 29, 2012 »
Quote from: Typo-On on December 29, 2012
Lost on the glen river side?

I think the wind ripped it off just as got to the top of the steps and was approaching the cairn.
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RedLeader

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Re: Planning a wet and windy one!
« Reply #11 on: December 30, 2012 »
Great stuff guys, sometimes the hard ones are the most fun! What sort of tent did the chaps at the saddle have?
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whoRya

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Re: Planning a wet and windy one!
« Reply #12 on: December 30, 2012 »
It was a dome tent, don't know the model though.  While it was a wee bit taller and the top was catching a little bit of the wind there was good use being made or rocks to keep the pegs in.
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