Bullseye Bivvy Trip Jan 18th 2014

[Matthew]

A route via Hares Gap might be an interesting way up.

[Dowser]

A route via Hares Gap might be interesting way up.

Yeah, I'd like to try something rather than the obvious Donard Wood route.

[RedLeader]

I'd be game for this for a change.

A route via Hares Gap might be interesting way up.

[clairebear]

me too, i hate walking from donard wood.  Bivvy bag has ben dusted down, will bring tarp too if weather looks wet.

[RedLeader]

Looks like some people might get their wish!

[Dowser]

Looks like some people might get their wish!

Awesome... If its really snowy I'll be going early, taking a direct route and building an Igloo for me and my new SnugPak to sleep in 

[Fred]

Igloo - in your dreams
If its that snowy you will have enough trouble avoiding sliding off the mountain, bivvi bags and snow are a slippery combination!

fred

[Dowser]

Igloo - in your dreams
If its that snowy you will have enough trouble avoiding sliding off the mountain, bivvi bags and snow are a slippery combination!

fred

I have built igloos in the past and you do not require deep snow... just a good folding army shovel and a plastic rectangular mop bucket.

I put this one up for the kids a couple of years ago when we last had decent snow, it stood over a week before the thaw and my neighbour and his 5 year old son spent the night in it.

Takes approximately one hour to construct and the physical activity keeps you warm.





An igloo might even solve the problem of sliding down the hill in your bivvy bag 

[Fred]

Fantastic!
I have always fancied doing an igloo. If we got a good dump of snow, I would be up for an igloo camp.

fred

[LandyLiam]

I can just imagine the whole igloo rolling down the slope with everyone inside    there's a good spot by the Glen River at the base of the saddle steps where snow drifts, saw some snow holes there last year, doubt there be enough snow high up, it all blows away 

[whoRya]

Nooo!  Don't start me on the long range forecasts.  I'll obsess enough over the 5 day forecast, checking every other hour to see if the weather is improving/deteriorating.

The Glen River path doesn't hold a great lot of interest for me this time.  I will probably look at the Black Stairs/Granite Trail/Millstone Mountain and the like for a variation in the route. 

[RedLeader]

The Black Stairs is a route I've never on and can't even picture. Where exactly is it?

[Dowser]

The Glen River path doesn't hold a great lot of interest for me this time.  I will probably look at the Black Stairs/Granite Trail/Millstone Mountain and the like for a variation in the route.

I think there's going to be a few different groups taking different routes to the Bullseye Bivvy spot due to varying fitness levels, motivation or having been along a particular route one too many times.

I'm still undecided which route I am planning on taking.  Up from Donard Wood is a definite no for me as I could do it blindfolded.  Up from Annalong Wood and contouring around Donard is a possibility but again I've walked the Carrick Little path many many times.

I'm in work at the mo, so can't study a map properly, but there's a route starting from Ben Crom going over Lamagan, Cove and Beg which may have potential for me.

Either way, if everybody going can stick a short post up before setting off to let us know which route they are intending to take then we can keep an eye out for you and make sure everybody arrives at camp safely.

[whoRya]

RedLeader I've not been up the Blackstairs either but they are the name for the 'waterfall' just up behind the Ice House.


Photo:  http://glasgowwestend.co.uk/show.php?contentid=12769

They look a steep pull, but once up and above them the contours level out a bit.  I suppose going this way you'd hit the lower cairn first.

[RedLeader]

Interesting. I do remember seeing that spot one year when it was all frozen (there was an ice climber on it). It looks mighty steep, is there a proper path or is it just a matter of clambering up?