Wicklow Mountains Leaders Weekend 2006 - De La Salle Scout Group Expeditions Series

Wicklow Mountains
Leaders Weekend 2006

Above: The Leaders Weekend 2005 Contingent: Back Row (L-R):Ian Sinnott, Betty Guilfoyle, Kenneth Rouse, Gary Sinnott, Aidan Ennis, David Collins, Paschal Gilfoyle, Colm Ennis, Tom Casey, Peter Murphy, Robert Windle, John O'Donohue and Billy Collins. Basecamp support were Mary Winter, Veronica Murphy and Emily Dixon.

Many roads lead to Rathdrum in the County of Wicklow and the car containing Aidan, John and Peter and being driven by David Collins drove most of them that Friday night. While our planning meeting was ongoing in the centre of Rathdrum we received cryptic messages from Aidan about their location. They seemed in fact to be all over Leinster. It was like being in the Blair Witch Project reported Aidan afterwards as he never quite knew what was going on and was really a bit petrified. David was advised to take the main road in future but to be honest he probably wont. Meanwhile one of the best horseshoe routes on the east coast was being discussed for the next day along with the confident prediction that it would rain as we hadn't seen a dry day on the mountains since about June.

Above: TC, Gary and Roddy experiment with the umbrella on the way up Lugnaquilla.

There was the usual grunting and growling and huffing and puffing the next morning as people dripped out of bed at the Old Presbytery Hostel which is a fine place. The mammoth fries of old had been banished sadly and it was fruit and muesli for breakfast along with a slice of Claire Guilfoyle's magic cake. Roddy just had a ham sandwich. After the usual waiting for TC we piled into the cars and sped off towards Glenmalure and the start of our walk. Mary and Emily meanwhile were planning their assault on the Whitewater and Dundrum Shopping Centres despite pleas that they take a walk around Glendalough instead.

Above: Betty Guilfoyle on the ascent of Clohernagh.

We had just enough time for our starting out photo before the heavens opened and it was on with the wetgear or out with the umbrellas. Roddy had been given the task of assessing the usefulness of an umbrella in the Irish hills following our observances of their use in the Pyrenees earlier in the year. Early indications were good as he remained dry while everybody else wrestled with their wetgear leggings.

Above: The De La Salle Scout Group Leadership Team on the summit of Leinster's highest mountain, Lugnaquilla (925m)

Lugnaquilla at 925 metres was our aim which is of course the highest mountain in Leinster and first we had to drag ourselves up the 800 metre high Clohernagh. It was tough going firstly up the zig zags and then and then up the straighter path above Clonkeen. We had fine rainbows to enhance the views for a while but soon we were enveloped in clouds for the walk out to the summit of Lug. On the summit we had a quick lunch before getting down to the important business of the above 3000 feet pool competition. After an absence of many years the event was back and Sid from the 3rd was to take on Kenneth from the 7th in a troop v troop grudge match. It seemed that the last round had been played back in 1997 in Killarney and had involved Billy Collins winning against a forgotten opponent with the aid of his father.

Above: Sid attempts to make a comeback on the above 3000 feet pool competition.

Kenneth took an early lead after Sid's break off and while Sid rallied later in the game, it was Kenneth who finished the game strongly. Sid feared that this would be his last frame for at least a decade. From Lugnaquilla we navigated across to Camenabologue which was as messy as ever and from there we slogged up Table Mountain from where we could see across to the north Wicklow Hills and down into Blessington. From there it was off down the Glenmalure valley and Colm, although he didn't quite admit it at the time, just might have wandered one sub valley to the right. He may also have sent Gary, Roddy and Kenneth down the same way but promises not to do that again.

Above: I am certain that it's down that way lads.

Meanwhile we had completely lost TC who had been caught up running a multi million euro transport business for a few hours that day. It was agreed that we would push on without him but that we really must stop losing people.

Above: Heading for the top of Table Mountain.

TC was eventually found and so was the right track which we followed for quite a long while past the hostel and finally back to Billy and David and the cars. Our celebratory dinner at Jacob's Well went down very well and Peter Murphy even managed a second slice of dessert as it was his birthday. A toast was made to those who had scaled one of Ireland's highest peaks and also to those who had experienced the highpoints of Irish shopping. We also remembered our absent friends. The much anticipated poetry readings followed with TC resurrecting some of his leaders weekend poems and verses of old as well as unveiling a new specially written piece for this weekend which was very well received. Contributions were also made by Mary, Colm, Aidan and Billy amongst others. Later, Albert couldn't manage to get Mary to sing and we retired to a quieter spot up the road.

Above: Paschal - why does he need four walking poles?

On Sunday there was also an attempt made to resurrect the "Sunday Walk" which is always a lighter affair than the Saturday challenge. The first obstacle was Emily's car which wouldn't start. There were attempts made at pushing it down the hill before all seventeen of us stood around and examined the engine. Mechanic Peter Murphy consulted John Burke back in Waterford. Was it the battery, the alternator, the electrics - was it just that it was a piece of French engineering? Who knows, in the end the rescue men were called. Only TC, Colm, Peter and Billy set off for Great Sugar Loaf mountain which is of course the 457th highest peak in Ireland. Liverpool and Man United tempted others although Paschal and Betty to be fair got in an even longer walk than the Sugarloaf at Avondale House.

Above: Peter, TC and Colm on the 457th highest mountain in Ireland.

It took us a while to find the car park for the Sugar Loaf and it certainly is a busy spot. TC and Colm decided to pretty much run up and were joined not long after by Peter for the fine view over the Wicklow Coast, Dun Laoighre and Dublin Bay. All that remained for us to do was rescue Aidan and Emily from the side of the road again - the rescue guy had got the machine started but it had given up again a few kilometres down the N11. After a bit of towing, Billy got it going again and we were away off home. Next year Ben Macdui in the Cairngorms of Scotland will be our goal - start training.