Ballyhoura Bears 15th June 2009

By Robert Lee, Ballyhoura Bears PRO

With midsummer day approaching, and with the relatively fine weather staying with us, the Bears walking calendar continues to attract large numbers of members and visitors to it’s walks. Added to this a number of our members are travelling to far flung reaches of the walking world to experience the challenges of Machupicchu in the Peruvian Andes, Mont Blanc and The Matterhorn in the Alps, Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, and Nepal giving rise to a lot of fitness training going on. It seems as if the Kerry Reeks have become the accepted training ground for these trips, with reports of a constant presence of Bears on different rises of this range each weekend.

Last Sunday Eugene Stephens had a real gem up his sleeve! His “A” walk on the Coomloughra Horseshoe excluded the routine Beenkeragh Ridge leg, but he replaced it with a challenging rise on the southern face of Beenkeragh to The Anvil; strenuous but exciting.

Leaving our parked cars at the Hydro Road and facing for Caher, the threatening rain clouds obliged us, and we were provided with a beautifully bright clear morning for this rise. Caher (1,001M) also obliged by providing the most spectacular views of south Kerry and Kenmare Bay. Turning now to the east we proceeded along the generous ridge that led to Carrauntoohil (1,039M), and thence southwards to the path leading north to the Heavenly Gates and the rescue hut. This was a suitable spot for refreshments before tackling Beenkeragh (1,010M). If it was tough to get there, the reward was worthwhile; uninterrupted views of north Kerry, Dingle Bay, Inch Strand etc. A real feast. All that was left now was to cross to Skregmore (848M) before dropping down to Lough Iochtar at the top of the Hydro Road, and back to our cars. Just as he had planned a wonderful walk for us, it seemed as though Eugene had arranged the weather as well. The first drop of rain fell as we departed for Kate Kearney’s for a well-earned plate of food. We couldn’t have hoped for a safer pair of hands on this 7 hour trek. Thank you Eugene.

John Hennessy led the “B” walk from T O Park at Knockadea. While this was a well attended walk, there were more visitors than members on it, maybe due to the Limerick/Waterford match in Thurles. Unlike previous walks that John has led from this start, he started on Sunday from Darragh Bridge, walking first by road to Ballyorgan. It was quite appropriate, then, that he should chose to return to the start by the new river walk on the Molanna (Keale River); a walk that he has been so instrumental in creating to it’s now finished state.

For those that are not familiar with this newly created track it is accessible from the new boardwalk at Darragh Bridge or from the river bridge at Ballydonoghue. The full length of the walk is approx 5 Km from end to end, but of course it can be shortened to any distance desired. It is highly recommended as a leisurely trek for the young and not so young, who might enjoy a quiet river walk in safety.

Sunday next is midsummer’s day and Paddy and Marion Kelly are taking full advantage of the long day by assembling their walk for Mullaghanattin (via The Pocket) at Daly’s Filling Station at 8.30 a m. Arrangements for this can be made with them on (086) 2673270. At the opposite side of our walking territory Denis Bates – (086) 8047570 – assembles the “B” walk at the Church at Silvermines village at 11 a m. If his recent walk in The Burren is anything to go by, it is sure that he will have a well researched interesting walk in store.

Monday evening, 6th July sees a new event in our calendar. A Mass will be celebrated at the Glenanaar Mass Rock. This is open to everyone. After collecting at Glenanaar Wood Car Park, Cal McCarthy will lead the congregation, on foot, to the Mass Rock for the celebration, and will return to the Car Park immediately afterwards. It is hoped that as many people as possible will turn out for this unique occasion. More details will be available closer to the date.