hiking

Moylussa Hike & Scout Christmas Sleepover

Barry Kennedy

We have two events for the Scouts on Saturday 7th December – a hike and a sleepover. Can you please inform the Scouters by Thursday 5th December if your son is attending.

Moylussa Hike

We will be hiking up Moylussa (531m), the highest point in Clare. We’ll be meeting at the Scout Hall at 9 am. We expect to return to the hall around 2 pm (update to be sent via WhatsApp group). At this time of the year, there is a possibility that the summit of Moylussa will be covered in snow.

As part of their badgework, Scouts should do the following before the hike:

  • Scouts should pack their own bags (see below) and know what goes in the bag (and why)
  • Scouts should be able to get a weather forecast for the day of the hike

Gear List

Due to the time of the year, warm clothes, raingear and headtorch are essential as well as the usuals. Please ensure all Scouts have the correct gear as it is important for their safety, wellbeing and enjoyment on the hike.

  • Scout Neckerchief
  • Day bag
  • Raingear
  • Hiking boots
  • Hat & Gloves
  • Warm Clothes (layers)
  • Water (2ltr min)
  • Packed Lunch
  • Bivy Bag
  • Change of Clothes/Shoes (to be left in the leaders’ cars)
Image result for packing a rucksack scouting ireland

Christmas Sleepover

Our second event is a Christmas Sleepover in the Scout Hall. This event is being organised by our Patrol Leader’s Council. There is a €7 charge for food.

This will start from 8.30 pm (Please note there is a Heineken Cup match on in Thomond Park at 5.30 pm so there may be a considerable amount of traffic in the area). We’ll be finishing at 10.00 am on Sunday.

Scouts should bring a sleeping bag and ground mat.

Mobile phones/electronic devices are not permitted.

Scouts conquer Torc Mountain

Barry Kennedy

Well done to our 12 Scouts and 5 Scouters who successfully summited Torc Mountain (535m) in Killarney over the weekend.

We started at the lower car park (V967 847) and headed up the path to the impressive Torc Waterfall. After the waterfall, we continued on to the upper Car Park (V967 840) where we joined the Old Kenmare Road. We stopped briefly to do some map-reading at the fork by the Old Torc Bridge (V965 837). We continued along the road until we reached the turned off. From here, we follow a stone path with some railway sleepers to the summit of Torc Mountain.

At the summit, we had lunch. We also attempted some feature recognition of the various peaks in the distance such as Mangerton and Purple Mountain. We descend the mountain and headed back to the Car Park (with a slight detour at the Fork to complete the loop of the Waterfall trail)

After the hike, we stopped into Supermacs before heading for home. Thanks to Scouters Barry Kennedy, Neil Ryan, Bob Halvey, Mike Boland and Mike O’Halloran for helping run this great day in the hills. We’ll be back in Kerry before long to take on Mangerton, Purple Mountain and, maybe, even Currantoohill.

Details for your logbook

Scouts should complete their logbook of this hike in order to progress in the Hillwalking adventure skills and for the Four Seasons hike badge

Number in Party17
MapOSI 78
Duration4hrs 22mins
Distance9km
Height Gain 468m

Feel free to show your log to one of the Scouters for feedback.

Torc Day Hike (Scouts)

Barry Kennedy

We are organising a day hike for Scouts to Torc Mountain (535m) in Killarney on Saturday 16th November. This is a fairly easy hike that passes the stunning Torc Waterfall and (if the skies are clear) offers a fantastic view over Killarney National Park, the Lakes and the McGillicuddy Reeks

Parents need to let Barry know if they will be attending by 5pm Thursday

Location Torc Mountain, Killarney
DateSaturday 16th November
TimeMeeting 8am at the Scout Hall
Cost€5 petrol contribution + money for Supermacs

We aim to return to the Scout Hall between 6pm and 7pm. We’ll update parents via Whatsapp when we are leaving Killarney

Gear List

Due to the time of the year, warm clothes and a headtorch are essential as well as the usuals 

  • Scout Neckerchief
  • Day bag
  • Raingear
  • Hiking boots
  • Hat & Gloves
  • Warm Clothes (layers)
  • Water (2ltr min)
  • Packed Lunch
  • Bivy Bag
  • Change of Clothes/Shoes (to be left in the leaders’ cars)
Image result for packing a rucksack scouting ireland

All Scouts need to have paid the full fees for the first term and have submitted their activities consent form in order to attend this hike.

Scouts complete MPC Diamond

Barry Kennedy
No photo description available.

The Group would like to congratulate three Scouts – Eoghan Halvey, Jack Wall and Jake Walsh on complete the four Mountain Pursuit Challenge (MPC) events this year and, in doing so, achieved the coveted MPC diamond. Thanks to Scouter Neil Ryan for leading this over the past few months.

The MPCs are a series of weekend mountaineering events for Scouts held across the four provinces each. They are designed to be tough and challenging and aim to improve hiking, lightweight camping and navigation skills in the hills.

Their first event was the Munster MPC in the Teermoyle area in Kerry back in April.

Image may contain: 4 people, people smiling, people standing, cloud, sky, outdoor and nature

The second was the Leinster MPC during May in Aghavannagh in the Wicklow mountains and including Lugnaquilla (925m), the highest mountain in Leinster

Image may contain: 4 people, people smiling, people standing, sky, cloud, outdoor and nature

The third event was the Connaught MPC in September along the Twelve Bens, Co Galway. This very wet weekend saw the team summitting
Benbaun (729m)

The final event was the Ulster MPC in Oct, Mourne Mountains, Co. Down. Barry stood in for Neil for this event which saw the Scouts summit Cove Mountain (654m) and Slieve Lamagan (702m). On Sunday, the three Scouts were presented with their fourth and final MPC badge.

Image may contain: 4 people, people standing, sky, cloud, outdoor and nature

Check out the MPC team website for more info on these events