Regional MPC 2002 - De La Salle Scout Group Expeditions Series

Regional MPC 2002
The Galty Witch Hunt

The 2002 Waterford and South Kilkenny Regional MPC was held from the 13th to the 15th of September in the Galty mountains. We hadn't been to the Galtees for an RMPC since 1996 and we actually started from the exact same spot this time around, although this time Tom Casey (now ARC Scouts) didn't get himself and a bus load of scouts lost on the way to the start. This year, a nice big MPC sign guided everybody to the starting point where teams received their team numbers, the first clue to the witch hunt and a green stick. You can read the full Petticoat Loose witch story here.

Above: Members of the 3rd and 7th Troops with scouts from Tramore and Thomastown on the summit of Galtymore (919m) during the 2002 Regional MPC.

Despite the not very confusing instructions of take the signpost that says 'Galtymore Stile' sign and then take the next right, there were one or two confused troops and an ARC who were a little unsure of the route to basecamp but everybody made it to the campsite above Drumleagh in good time. Unusually everybody seemed to have remembered the pegs for their tents and there was plenty of noise in the first night not least of which was the impressive concerto of snoring from Mr Tom Fagan and Mr William Collins. In his acknowledgent speech after the snoring had ceased, Mr Fagan insisted that Mr Andrew Paul had also featured in their dawn chorus.

Above: Scouts from Tramore with their leader Tom O'Neill on the summit of Galtymore.

We made a fairly early start on Saturday morning with most teams having embarked on the long slog up Sliabh Cois na Binne by 9.30 or so. That ascent was not for the faint hearted especially those who had opted for the tougher route option and were carrying full pack. They included the hardy souls from Thomastown, fueled as usual by a hearty fry up, 2 of Billy Collins' men from the 7th and three from the 3rd DLS. They were being guided on this hunt to Lough Muskry by Tom Casey, John Kinsella, Cider and the recent Slovakian returnee, Robert Windle (Roddy). From Sliabh Cois na Binne to Galtymore is another fine stretch of the legs which was broken by some attempts to catch a few sheep. By this stage there was a strange cloud/heat convection thing going on which meant that while we were baking in the sunshine, below us the Glen of Aherlow was covered in cloud.

Above: Billy Collins with his scouts from the 7th on Sliabh Cois na Binne.

Sacred Heart were the first team to summit on Galtymore and had their lunch in the sunshine while waiting for the other teams to catch up. Most teams were in time to catch the impressive low level flyover by a medium sized jet which we think was from Polar airlines! Other highlights of our time at the summit was Sheba the overfriendly sheep and the look on Cian O'hOgartaighs face when he discovered that the massive hordes of people on the top were not actually coming from the summit shop. From Galtymore we dropped down to the boggy col below Galtybeg where David Malone of the 7th made a spectacularly impressive backflip into the bog. From Galtybeg, we were given a 333 bearing to get us off the mountain and back in the direction of Drumleagh.

Above: The contingent from Sacred Heart on Galtymore during the 2002 Regional MPC.

Those on the extreme route continued out the ridge from Galtybeg and headed for Lough Muskry where a midget army was waiting to devour them. Back at basecamp a very relaxed evening was had and we noticed that a few extra tents had appeared belonging to St. Pauls who were making an impressive gallop up Galtymore in the wake of the main contingent.

Above: Extreme mountaineers Brian Walsh and Ian Grant from the 7th De La Salle.

After the devouring of many Pot Noodles, Taste Breaks, Quick Lunches and other re, de and otherwise hydrated foods of dubious nutritional value, we had a minor first aid emergency courtesy of Tramore and a barbed wire fence. This was followed by a Billy Collins lit campfire which featured an impressive selection of the quieter and somewhat more forgotten campfire songs.

Above: A member of Sacred Heart checks his bearing before descending from the summit of Galtymore.

After a bit of a lie in on Sunday morning we strolled up to Lough Curra where a few hardy souls had an icy dip. Ellen Collins provided the most entertainment by turning the lake red after spearing her foot on a sharp rock. Back at base, the tents were taken down before the scouts own led again by Billy Collins and followed closely by the 3rd Annual Floating Object Race. St. Pauls took the non duck heat but were pipped at the post by a well trained and highly motivated duck from Tramore. On the witch hunt front, Colm Ennis admitted that his clues were a bit on the way too cryptic side and promised that he would devise a challenge while his brain was on the planet for next year. To be fair, Pat O'Connor did come up with the answer - the thimble was in Billy Collins' Sunday lunch and Thomastown were given the prize as they were the only team to fully decipher the spell. Well done to all those who took part in the weekend - all 54 of whom were at the summit of Galtymore and hopefully enjoyed the excellent weather and another excellent Regional MPC.

Above: The winners of the 3rd Annual Regional Floating Object Race - the 8th Tramore.

Entrance | Comeragh Mountains | Guestbook | The Guide to Hiking

Outdoors | Expeditions| The Guide to Climbing