Second hike - Djouce

5/04/2010

Full of renewed enthusiasm following our success at Glendalough, we googled the next victim - Djouce (again in Wicklow). With a height of just over 700 metres it was around what we had already done so we thought we would be just fine.

How wrong we were.

The day started ominously with sheets of rain and lashing wind, but we decided that we had better get used to climbing in inclement weather just in case things take a turn for the worse in Kili, so off we set, flasks of tea ready in the backpacks. The ascent was not bad at all - very gradual, but because of the weather parts were very slushy and made for tiring going. We went through some very attractive forest and in the distance could see the lovely Powerscourt Waterfall. Also some not so lovely evidence of people before us - please, people, clean up your beer cans and crisp packets before you leave this lovely area!!

On we trudged with the weather getting a little less pleasant with every step. Ahead of us loomed the summit. It's a pretty pointy peak from the foot and looks much higher than it is, so we took our lunch break just at the gate of the path to the top. It really sucked - it's hard to enjoy your sandwich when it's being turned into a frozen soggy mess by the elements. We didn't hang around but at least the food and drink gave us some energy to carry on!

And this is where things began to get really interesting.

The wind picked up with every foot we climbed. By the time we were near the top, we were literally being pushed back two steps for every one we took forward. This is where we broke one of our friends, and she has vowed never to set foot on a hillwalk again! To her credit she kept going right to the end, but hated every minute! We were able to lean right into the wind and have it keep us upright and had to scream into each others' faces to be heard. Hmmm!! Added to this delight, there was also still snow around so the temperature was decidedly lower.

Finally, finally, we managed to drag ourselves to the top, where there is a handy rocky outcrop to fall against/use as an anchor to avoid being blown down the hill like a leaf in that wind. Of course, on the other side of said rock was a small boy in trainers and a fleece with his mum and grandmother, out for a leisurely stroll in the fresh air.

What's IN that Wicklow air???

After fifteen minutes of some of us being limpets on the side of the rock others seeing how far we could lean into the wind, we started our descent. If we had had the inclination we could have kept going in the direction we came, but without a map (and with the broken friend threatening murder) we went back the same way as we came up. If we thought walking uphill in a gale was fun, walking downhill on scree with the same gale coming at you from behind and the side was a freaking laugh a minute.

We were so happy to get to terra firma, as it were, that we almost skipped the rest of the way around the little forest to the carpark. Two of our group even victory sprinted the last 50 metres, which they regretted almost immediately.

Summary: approx 6 hours, altitude 820 metres.

First hike - Glendalough - An Spinc

21/03/2010

The first climb we decided on was a relatively easy one. Easy because we knew how to get to it, where to park, where to start, and the trail was marked.

Feeling totally professional, we pulled on hiking boots that before this were like those big 4x4's you see school-run ladies in - you know the ones with no mud on them - dragged out some appropriate trousers (word to the wise: any long walks in wet jeans are NOT a good idea, unless you enjoy serious chafeage), packed a picnic lunch and set off to Glendalough in Co Wicklow.

This is a very well known tourist spot because it's an ancient monastic settlement dating back from the 6th century. It's beautiful and it also forms part of the Wicklow Way . We decided on the An Spinc (the Pointed Hill) route.

We started our hike at the Visitor's Centre at a good early 9:30am. After initially starting strong most of us began to feel the strain...that first bit was steeper than expected! As we were taking a snack break (it had been at least half an hour) we heard a noise...something was coming...what was it? A mountain goat? A rare eagle? Surely not...a man running up the same ascent up which we had just struggled, cheerily greeting us. Hmmm.

On we trudged up the hillside. The steps, paths and boardwalks that have been built along the trail are very welcome as the ground is so boggy in this area, especially if it's been wet...oh wait, that's ALL THE TIME.

After several really demoralising false summits, we finally reached the top. The views were more than worth it. On a clear day, you can see all the way to the sea! We were looking out over the lush valley with the beautiful lake shining below us. Taking it all in, it was hard not to feel proud of what we had achieved...until a lady of about 70 skipped past us singing, "Good morning!"

Seriously.

On we went. The descent was easier for me as I had come to hate all those helpful steps on the ascent (600, I found out afterwards!), but a little treacherous due to the recent rain making the boardwalk slippery. Note to self - bog is really squelchy and black, and thank goodness for paying a tiny bit extra for waterproof boots. Two of our group were struggling with their knees so if you do suffer from weakened joints you might consider investing in a knee guard for outings like this.

By now used to this lark, we stepped aside several times for hardy fellows who jogged past us in shorts and a t-shirt, having obviously run up the same route as we had just struggled up. The Wicklow air evidently has something to offer anyway.

As we descended the weather improved until it was gloriously sunny. We stopped for our picnic lunch and thank goodness for flasks with hot tea, is all I can say!

From this point on we walked through the disused mines (silver, lead and zinc were mined there from the late 1700's to 1957) and followed the Glendalough River down to the upper lake. Here we started bumping into more and more regular walkers so we did feel pretty good about our "proper" gear and sweaty faces.

This trail led us to the second car park where - alleluia! - there are public toilets. Ladies, you know what I'm talking about here. From there, a short hop to our car and we were done. Tired, sore and happy!

Summary: approx 4 hours, 10 km's, altitiude around 700 metres. (Only 5200 short of Kili! :-))

The Beginning

It's 2010. I am 30 years old this year. So far, I have not published a Nobel prize winning tome, nor have I achieved CEO status, or figured out how the CERN collider thingy works (besides the possibility that it could suck us all into a black hole...or something). So really, it's time I get a move on.


A few months ago, I heard that a friend had decided to climb the highest peak in Africa - Mount Kilimanjaro. At 5895 metres (19000 feet approximately), it's the highest free standing mountain in the world.


Yes! There's my challenge right there, I thought. And even better, it's for charity - the Marie Keating Foundation. One way to get over being over the hill is going over another one - isn't that how the saying goes?


My husband has been roped in, without any protest as he's a Bear Grylls wannabe (I just wanna be with Bear Grylls), so the two of us plus our friend and her sister are planing the trip of a lifetime in October.


I thought I'd start this blog in case anyone out there is interested to hear how four complete hiking beginners (and, in my case, a severe exercise-phobic) are training, what equipment we need and from where...we've been really lucky finding loads of useful info and are loving the outdoorsy pursuits here in Ireland.