Ireland day 1110. Saturday 12 October 2024- Camenabologue 3

Today’s summary	Drove down to Glenmalure in Wicklow and led a group of six on a clockwise circuit of Camenabologue. Weather very mixed – fog, icy rain and gale force wind much of the way, but some brilliant sun later. Very boggy but everyone really enjoyed it. Light dinner in the flat after lots of sandwiches on the route
Today’s weather	Bright sun first thing but heavy rain and mist for much of the walk. Sun again at the end. Strong to gale force westerly wind. Temp on summit +4c according to Met Eireann. Appx 8c in the valley

Today’s overview location (The green mark shows the location of our route)		Close-up location (The red line shows where we walked) (Click button below to download GPX of today’s walk as recorded, or see interactive map at bottom with elevations corrected): Camenabologue 3 DWC

Commentary

(Summary blog only. Last full blog was Day 0368).

You know it’s going to be a tough day in the mountains when you have already emptied your rucksack and put on all the warm clothes you have with you, before you have even left the car park. Well, that’s exactly what happened to me today.

But before we get to that – the day had started bright and early with cups of tea in bed at 7am. We packed our things and then were away by 8:30 prompt – with Val in the driving seat today. (Thanks! It was nice to sit back and enjoy the view!). Our destination was the Baravore car park, in Glenmalure, from where I had volunteered to re-lead the Camenabologue walk again, for the Club. Earlier in the summer, because of various clashing commitments, only one other person was able to come so I said I would lead it again today, when hopefully people would have less going on in their diaries.

In the end, there were six of us in the car park this morning, which felt like just about the right number. And we were well-matched too, so nobody was frustrated at wanting to go faster, and nobody was left behind. But as soon as I got out of the car, I regretted not bringing my down jacket with me, because it was freezing! I had forgotten just how quickly winter can arrive in the mountains at this time of year. So although I still had two woollen shirts on, plus two woollen fleeces and a thick waterproof jacket, I was still only just warm enough all the way round.

Nevertheless, despite the fact that it started to rain just as we left the car park, forcing an immediate reassessment of the overtrouser situation, we set off and valiantly plugged our way up the steep Fraughan Glen, battling our way through whatever the elements threw at us. Eventually, and without really any substantial pause on the way, we reached the ridge. It’s left for Lugnaquilla and right for Camenabologue (possibly the most polysyllabic junction in Ireland) and we turned right (North), of course.

The northerly path is quite indistinct – and very wet today – so it took quite a bit of care to follow it. Anyway, we cautiously made our way along the ridge – which is actually as wide as a football pitch so there’s no danger of falling off – all the way to the top of our mountain. Miraculously, the solid rain and mist which had been our companion almost all the way up, melted away and the sun came out on the final summit approach.

The top of Camenabologue is remote and unspectacular – there isn’t even a trig point – but strangely satisfying to reach. We had planned to have lunch there but it was too cold – so we just stopped long enough to enjoy one of Linda’s ginger biscuits (delicious!) then dropped down about a further 800 metres or so to the old bunker by the military road, where there was a bit of shelter. Just over four hours to reach this spot, with no breaks. But we didn’t really have much of an option, as it was so cold windy and wet earlier on, with no shelter.

Even in the bunker it was cold and windy so we didn’t stop long. Though at this point, I reflected that my fingers, although cold, were definitely much more flexible, dry and generally comfortable in the mittens I had decided to wear today, rather than the gloves I normally choose. They are far better suited to Irish mountain conditions than gloves, so I think I will make them a permanent addition to my kit list in future.

From the bunker down to the car park at Baravore was a pretty straightforward plod by the stream straight down the Glenmalure valley. The only hazards were the dilapidated bridge and, of course, the bogs. But by this stage I don’t think any of us had anything remotely like dry feet, so none of us cared and we just splashed and squelched straight through.

We made it back to the cars just before 5pm after more than six hours walking. It took longer than I had expected, though conditions were worse than I had expected. But I reckoned that we still had a couple of hours of daylight in hand, though, so I wasn’t overly worried about being benighted. Once reunited with our cars, we said our farewells and Val and I made our way back round the M50 to Malahide. A light supper awaits – and perhaps even a G&T – which will no doubt assist our reflections on a tough but invigorating and satisfying day out in the mountains.

Today’s photos (click to enlarge)


Showing the way! Actually this is the route of an alternative way up Lugnaquilla – I’ve not tried it but some of our group had. Will need to check it out one day – perhaps next Spring	Val laughing in the face of adversity

Lonely cairn just coming into view on the top of Camenabologue	It was too cold and windy to stop at the top any longer than it took to scoff a ginger biscuit. So we dropped down a bit and sheltered in the old bunker by the Military Road just below Table Mountain. Even here it was still pretty cold, so we only paused for about ten minutes

On the derelict bridge. Not great if your sense of balance isn’t perfect	The old An Oige hostel in Glenmalure. It’s still in occasional use, apparently, though it’s always been deserted when I have been past

Here we are – the Super Six from the DWC, enjoying the weather. It was exceptionally wet underfoot, even by Irish standards. I’ve been up here three times this year and today was by far the wettest