Ballyhoura Bears Walks 29th November, 2009

By Robin Lee (Ballyhoura Bears PRO)
Ah yes! The winter has arrived at last. That glorious Indian summer that we were lucky to have a few weeks ago has rapidly been replaced by the real seasonal winter weather. What harm. Isn’t this the time to get it? From a walkers point of view it just means that you plan for the expected conditions, tog out appropriately and get on with it. Somehow the conditions are seldom so bad when you get out, as they appear to be from the warmth and comfort of home. Sunday was one such day. All of the predictions were that it was to be cold, wet and windy. Burrrr you’d imagine! Not so bad, though, when you get out into it.

Our Chairman, Denis Bates, had planned his second skills walk for the Galtys on Sunday, departing from Galty Castle Car Park. These walks are Denis’ idea and they have proved to be very successful. It is all very well attending the several excellent courses that are available on all of the aspects of mountain and hill walking, but putting these into practice on the ground is where it matters. That is what these walks are about. They involve a considerable amount of preparation, and this is undertaken by Denis with precision, such that at the start we are equipped with the relevant maps for the day, and with the tasks that are expected of the group. Of necessity, Sunday’s plans had to be slightly changed to keep the walk lower that was intended. Handling maps and compass in the blustery snowy conditions that existed on high was going to make life very difficult and the intended practice in the use of both might have been curtailed or missed altogether. Staying low did not spoil the enjoyment of this walk, however, and the rehearsal of all of the skills that were planned for the day was achieved. The skills continued right to the end of the walk back at the Car Park where rapid cooking resulted in mugs of freshly boiled hot tea to get the circulation going again before setting off on the journey home.

The “A” and “B” walks were planned for Ardpatrick and Ballynaboola respectively.

Liz Enright AND Frances O’Donovan led off the “A” walk, substituting, on short notice, for Susie Flavin who was ill. A short time on the road brought us to the entrance of the Toor bothareen, which we took as, planned. The conditions were poor at the start and they were disimproving all the time. Changes to the planned route were inevitable, therefore, in the interest of safety and the enjoyment of the participants. We decided to stay on “the main drag” as far as the Map Board at Castle Philip and once there a further decision would be made to accommodate the conditions. It was evident once we left the path to cross over to Castle Philip that the underfoot was going to be poor and so the main adjustment of the day was made – we would return to the map board and advance on the Pigeon Rock and take it from there. Departing the rock for Seefin the question was if the terrain would take the walkers given its notoriety for being “bottomless”. “It is an ill wind etc!” Hadn’t the frost created a lovely crust on the usually marshy ground making passage over this patch very comfortable? On with us now, with a spring in our step to Seefin, the Lacka, Coolfree Mountain, The Goats Path and finally Glenosheen Car Park, which greeted us with Spring like weather! Given this unexpected turn of fortune we decided to take advantage of it and off we went to Blackrock where we turned for the Toor bohareen again for the trek home. These notes have regularly remarked in the past that the Ballyhouras have a wealth of fine walking. Sunday’s walk was further evidence of this especially as they provide several options to meet whatever circumstances might crop up. Well done to Liz and Frances for taking on this walk on such short notice and for brining everyone home safe and sound and well pleased with their 24 Km., 6 hour walk.

Further over, and on the western flank of the Ballyhouras Willie O’Rourke took charge of the “B” walk. Setting out from the entrance to the Car Park we went on the Carron Loop – one of the more charming walks on this range. This turned out to be a satisfactory choice on the day that was in it, as it as it guarantees sound underfoot conditions throughout. Of the three walks on the calendar on Sunday we probably enjoyed the best conditions, and this helped in creating a genial atmosphere from the start. Progressing up through the Car Park we were soon on the track to Carron, crossing the now very popular mountain bike track here and there. It is a tribute to both activities that this area is well populated with walkers and mountain cyclists every Sunday, neither activity impeding the other. Carron was our target and we reached it in good time. It provided us with a good, but limited, view of the surrounding area; lucky to get any view given the conditions that obtained just to the east of us with the “A” walkers on Castle Philip. We returned by the same route as brought us to Carron pleased by a walk that was well and carefully led.

Our Christmas party is on at Deebert House Hotel on Friday night, 4th December. There has been a wonderful response to the ticket sales this year. If anyone is still interested in attending they are more than welcome. Contact Eugene Stephens (087) 2804637 for tickets.

Séamus Moran – (069) 64941 or (087) 2684976 will make sure that the party cobwebs will be blown off on the Kerry Reeks on Sunday next! He is assembling the “A” walkers at Lislebane Car Park at 9.30 a m for a strenuous walk via the Cummeengearagh Gully. Not to be outdone by this, however, Robin Lee – (087) 6385290 - is leading the second of his Nordic Walks at Darragh Bridge at 9.00 a m on Sunday, and he will have those interested in partaking in the “B” walk from the same starting point back there by 11.00 a m when Susie Flavin – (085) 1448015 – will take charge of this walk.