Interested in Wall Climbing? Print
Sunday was a day of four seasons with claggy fog and mist, bitter winds and some rain but the Peaks were out on the Galtees in numbers. The early walk was led by Tom Dalton assisted by Jim O’Flaherty. Tom was in his own backyard and used his local knowledge to design a winter’s walk for a fit team. Starting from Carrigeen Mountain Tom led his crew of thirteen onto Knockaterriff in a good uphill leg stretching exercise  Weather conditions made for very poor visibility and Tom used the county boundary wall as his guide to the base of Galtymore. Adjustments to course led his group off  the high ground to Kings Cottage and set course for the New Bridge to exit by the Yellow House. There is a recently constructed facility by a local family which has parking spaces, toilets, and refreshments for the walker. Bring some folding currency on the next walk and enjoy this very desirable local initiative. Tom’s walk covered about twenty kilometres and height gain of one thousand meters. Stern stuff indeed.
P J O Meara led the late walk in a swop with Ruairi assisted by Kaye Mullaney and Bernard Lennon and parked up at the Glengarra Hostel. Forest tracks westwards gave his group of twenty four a nice warm up before the open mountain. Setting course for height 657 south of Galtybeg P J led steadily upwards and onwards across streams without any mishap. Finding shelter before the Black Road a hot drink and a sandwich were partaken in fairly civilised conditions before full exposure to the elements. Swinging south for about a kilometre P J led up the side of Knockeenatoung at the air crash monument. Once on top little time was wasted before setting course along the top to the wood via the cairn with compass set just in case fog which was threatening closed in. The descent from the top to the forest track was tricky with newer members discovering the skills at backside tobogganing. All reached the track after this steep learning curve unharmed and set off on the long walk back to the cars with darkness falling well tired and pleased with their day on the Galtees.
The first visit to a climbing wall takes place on Friday evening the 20th in Kilfinane at 7.30. There is a group travelling from Clonmel and contact details from Michael Tobin and John Morrissey. The details for the Peaks Christmas Party are finalised and it will be held in Raheen House after the walk in from Ballymacabry earlier in the day. Note the date is Saturday the 5th December and the buffet meal has a choice of surf or turf. All committee members have tickets for sale and please get them in time.
Walks for Sunday the 22nd are in the Knockmealdown’s and the 10am leader is Phillip Dunne assisted by Ger Barrett. The 12 noon walk is led by Greg Kenny assisted by Pat Beardmore and Kevin O Donnell. Winter has descended so full gear is recommended and be prepared for all sorts of weather with a change of clothing after the walk finishes. Visit the website for pictures of the Dolomite trip to Italy recently and for club updates on contact numbers by logging on to www.peaksmcclonmel.ie or call Bernard on mobile no 0862937220.