Mourne Seven Sevens - 2nd Aug 2014

[seanbranagh]

Have many of you done this?
Just how tough is it?
I am thinking of doing it his year, in August as part of my preparation for Kilimanjaro in October.
I climb Donard once or twice weekly via the Glenn River, return trip in around two hours from Donard park and I was happy enough last year with the UK 3 peaks 24 hours challenge, but I have not to date taken on anything that is as continuous as the seven sevens.

[LandyLiam]

I've had a few goes and failed, will certainley by having a go again this year. Sounds like you have the fitness required, just don't get lost and you should be all right  and of course there's always the zero sevens if anyone fancies a walk without the summits 

for more info on previous years see here
http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/forum/exercise-fitness-training-competitions-and-general-health/mourne-seven-sevens-2013/

http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/forum/outdoor-news-and-events/mourne-seven-sevens-sat-4th-aug-2012/

http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/forum/outdoor-news-and-events/mourne-seven-sevens-sat-6th-august-2011/msg24433/#msg24433

http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/forum/northern-ireland-hiking-walking-running-orienteering-and-geocaching/seven-sevens-on-the-twelfth/msg10976/#msg10976

[RedLeader]

The sevens really is a tough race, good luck to everyone that gives it a crack!

[seanbranagh]

I set out yesterday to climb Bernagh, Meelmore and Meelbeg because they were the three of the sevens that I was not already familiar with.
I went from Donard park as that is the starting for the seven sevens. When I got up to the saddle I decided I may as well go over Commedagh on the way to Bernagh instead of around it.
When I got to the top of Melbeg I decided to just keep going and do all seven so I got across to Binnian, then Lamagan and Donard to finish on the way back. I done the whole lot in about 10 hours.
What an amazing day it was too.
At least now I know exactly what to expect in August (although I will climb Donard first next time).
I think the worst bit of the whole route is getting from Meelbeg across to Ben Crom dam, across the bog.

[seanbranagh]

I forgot to ask yesterday;
Is there any sort of path at all to get across from Slieve Meelbeg to Ben Crom dam?
I just went as he crow flies and it was absolutely the worst bit of the day, across the bog.
Is following the Ben Crom river any easier?

[t18con]

@sean, it wasn't you we were talking to on top of bernagh about the seven sevens?

[seanbranagh]

Nope, not me; I was alone at the top of Bearnagh on Sunday.
I was chatting to a couple at the top of Commedagh though, from Co. Cork who were also doing the seven's on Sunday.
Might have been them?

[t18con]

no, we were talking to a guy who was out scouting for the 7x7s as well, on bearnagh. he planted a seed in my head to give it a try, i'm way way off the fitness levels at the moment.

[seanbranagh]

I wasn't sure if I was fully up to it either. That was pretty much why I tried, before actually entering the official event.
I was very happy to complete it in 10 hours.
Hopefully in August I will cut a good bit off that time, now that I am familiar with the route.

[KrazyKat]

 

[Rumblebum]

I forgot to ask yesterday;
Is there any sort of path at all to get across from Slieve Meelbeg to Ben Crom dam?
I just went as he crow flies and it was absolutely the worst bit of the day, across the bog.
Is following the Ben Crom river any easier?

Hi Sean,  I did the seven sevens a couple of years ago with WhoRya.
We made the mistake of going straight down from the summit of Meelbeg and heading for Ben crom, like yourself we ended up having a bit of trouble and got caught in the bog of dispair!
It's hard going climbing up, over and through all those peat hags and marshes.
We new we were off track so cut across to our right hand side and followed a small path that follows the course of the Ben crom river, we took this route down to the crags at Ben crom and then cut across left to the damn, there are some small paths that can take you across to the damn.

Next time I do it il follow the rest of the walkers and carry on following the wall over Meelbeg, then turn left at the saddle between it and slieve loughshannagh, this will lead me down to the river path.
The river will be on my right.
Hope this helps and beware of the midges!

[LandyLiam]

I forgot to ask yesterday;
Is there any sort of path at all to get across from Slieve Meelbeg to Ben Crom dam?
I just went as he crow flies and it was absolutely the worst bit of the day, across the bog.
Is following the Ben Crom river any easier?

here's the recommended route if visibilty is good, if vis is poor then i'd go to the saddle 

but its hard to decide when to leave the river and cut across for the dam

[seanbranagh]

Thank's for that guys. I remember looking across at the Ben Crom river (while I was in the bog) and wondering if perhaps that would be a better option but it was quite a distance away even to get to the river so I just kept going straight in the direction of the dam.
I am going to do the whole route again, at least one more time before August so I will try again and hopefully it will be easier.

[seanbranagh]

The photos I took while doing this on Sunday, was an amazing day;

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4234598960518.1073741833.1751767728&type=1&l=d3072ae6da

[MG1]

I done it last year. Its tough!! Got the first 5 out of the way easy enough then Binnian nearly broke me and the lamagan did break me. It was like a slow death march up Lamagan. Then head down to the finish, i havent decided on it this year. It took me 7hrs 20mins i think i could go under 7hrs if i dont hang about on any of the summits.