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12 February 2009
An initial meeting to organise the proposed sponsored climb for Cancer Research by the friends of Clooney/Quin GAA Club was held on Tuesday evening, February 10th last.
The following is a review of the evenings deliberations..............
The intitial intention was to climb Carrantuohil, the highest Mountain Peak in Ireland.
It was agreed that the event will take place on Saturday, April 18th.
The meeting felt that the event should be broadened to allow greater participation, particularly for those who prefer leisurely walks.
Thus, there are going to be two aspects to the Event on the day.
Option 1 will be for those fit and strong enough to climb the 1,040 meters to the top of Carrauntouhil.
Option 2 will involve a 10K walk around the foothills of the Magillycuddys Reeks, passing the Lower Lakes of Lough Gouragh and Lough Callee and back to Cronans Yard Tearoom for a short break before completing the route at the Car park at Lisleibane. Most of this course will be on a walking trail and is generally flat.
We are now seeking Volunteers to take part in the Fundraising effort.
Sponsorship cards, which will be available next week, can be obtained from any of the following;
Pat O'Louighlin, Joe Littleton, Tom Guilfoyle, Fr. Michael Collins, Con Ryan, Maura O'Loughlin, Pat Ryan, Mary Littleton, Nollie McCarthy, Packie Conroy, Adrian Fleming or Conor Harrison.
To prepare for this event, there will be a series of training events to prepare for the Kerry Trip. The first of these will take place on Saturday week, February 21st at 9.30AM.
The meeting point will be the UL Activity Centre at Two Mile Gate on the main road between Ogonnelloe and Killaloe. An experienced Hill-walker will be on-hand to give advice on the "Do's and Dont's" while Hill-walking, along with some advice on the type of equipment needed.
The following information is from the Kerry Mountain Rescue Website.
(For our training on Saturday Feb 21st, you will need everything that has a * before it, the other items will be considered for the Kerry trip.)
Hillwalking Equipment
As a general rule of thumb you should always pack with the assumption that you may end up having to stay out after dark, even if it is through no fault of your own (for example you may be required to help another walker in distress). Try to be an asset and not a burden to any group that you are a part of.
A minimum list of equipment to carry on a day's hillwalk includes the following:
* - Waterproof jacket and leggings
* - Quality walking boots(N.B. These are most important!)
* - Plenty of warm clothing (nylon or fleece, but not cotton)
* - Hat and gloves
* - Food and fluids (and spare food!)
Map and compass (and the ability to use them!)
Survival bag
First aid kit
Torch (+ spare battery and bulb)
Whistle
Rucksack
Other items to consider include sleeping bag, emergency shelter, walking pole, rucksack liner, gaiters, watch, sun cream and hat (we all live in hope!), binoculars,
camera, penknife etc..
Mobile phones can be useful to carry, and there is no doubt that in some emergency situations they can save hours in calling for help, and can be extremely useful for enabling Mountain Rescue Teams to communicate directly with a party on the hill.
Be aware, however, that coverage in many mountainous areas is still poor and a signal may not always be possible.
A sensible approach is to carry a phone but not to depend on it (ie. carry it with the assumption that it will not work, and view it as a bonus if it does). It should certainly not be viewed as a substitute for knowledge, experience and essential equipment. Remember the mountaineering ethic of self-reliance, and please don't call out a Mountain Rescue team prematurely.
The Kerry Mountain Rescue Website is well worth a visit.
http://kerrymountainrescue.ie/index.html
It gives a background into the terrain we are about to venture into, along with the description of the route we will take ie Brother O'Shea's Gully, plus much more useful information and advice.
The Brother O'Shea's Gully route description is available here.... http://kerrymountainrescue.ie/routes/brotherˍosheas.html
For the most accurate and up-to-date weather for the Mountain, click here.... http://www.accuweather.com/ukie/mountain-forecast.asp?partner=accuweather&traveler=0&site=EIGMOL;Macgillycuddey's%20Reeks
Remember what we are about. We want to raise as much finance for Cancer Research, so we are seeking as many volunteers as possible who will raise as much money as they can!
Our Fundraising Motto - "You have two hands. One to help yourself, the second to help others." Author Unknown
