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TREKKERS© 
This page has just received a major update as it had become too large as a single page. The walks have their own page so none of the information is lost. Whats left of this page deals with the various aspects Hill Walking.
Read on if you want enjoyable walks in the Mountains of Mourne, Ireland, for beginners and the older citizen.
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INTRODUCTION
This page deals with worst case scenario conditions to give you an idea of what can go wrong in hill walking. When things start to get really badly wrong it is comforting to know they can get a lot worse. However if you read this then you will be aware of what to do in most situations.
Adrian the author of this page accepted the challenge of Ben Nevis at 63 years of age. So if he can do it so can you. All you need is motivation a fitness plan and determination. If you read this page carefully it will give you the knowledge of how to bring yourself to a point where you can also reach the top of any mountain in the British Isles.
The older information is at the top of the page and the new .... more exciting stuff is at the bottom. .... Use the index to flick about.
Have fun.
Anyone who finds this page is welcome to read it and hopefully enjoy the content. I do my best to give those just starting the recreation of Hill Walking sufficient knowledge to get going safely. If you find it helpful please let me know.
We are always on the lookout for new members, anyone willing to have a go is welcome. You don't need to be a member of the Church, associating with us commits you to nothing. Let me know if you are interested and turn up at the Church car park about 10 minutes early. Watch this space for details of the 2008 schedule. If authors and publishers wish to use material contained within this page please contact me for permission to use it and also acknowledge this source. Some of the material contained within this page may be previously copyrighted by other subscribing authors, intellectual property rights belongs to them.
This page is general copyright of www.sixgolds.com use contact address in panel below.
IN THE BEGINNING
This is a walking club, well actually not a club, it is a group of friends who go walking together with the objective of enjoying the fresh air and magnificent scenery of our countryside. We are not interested in roping ourselves together and dangling of vertical cliffs, we are a walking club. I have yet to get on all fours to get up or down a hill and don't intend doing so. Once I had to sit on a rock and slide down it on my bottom and that's about as bad as it ever gets. We do however come to places where we need to assist each other over the odd obstruction blocking our path. This may be a boulder or a muddy place which we need to pass but we all help each other. Crossing muddy places can be fun but the experienced walkers test the ground ahead and find the best path for those who follow. Some of us are quite fit and others not so you will find a walking buddy with the same level of experience as yourself. We never leave anyone behind on their own, we always appreciate anyone who is a little slower than the rest as this gives us a chance to walk at a slower pace. Ok! Ok! I know I'm a lazy sod looking for any excuse to walk slow. Walking is to be enjoyed by everyone and it will improve your health by just doing it. When you are with a crowd of people enjoying themselves there is a synergy which is infectious and you forget your minor aches and pains and enjoy the day. When you do a few trips out with us you will find that your general level of fitness has improved so much that nothing we do will phase you in the slightest ever again. When you are in the company of folks like us you will enjoy yourself and look forward to the next trip. You don't need any special equipment, old clothes will do to get started with, when you find that you have a genuine love of walking then you can start looking for the proper walking kit. By that time you will have a good idea of the correct kit that you really need without spending a fortune on inappropriate gear.
 CONTACT ADDRESS |
I am sorry to do this to you, I get up to 100 Spam E-Mails every day, simply because I am a "Dot.Com" Not that this is a problem, I get the blues after ten seconds while my fancy E-Mail filter shows me how brilliant it is as the unauthorised SPAM going up in flames.
This is your page, you are the reporters and contributors, without you nothing, or very little, will appear within these pages. It is only as good as you make it. Send your copy to me by E-Mail and I can do the rest.
Please note the official language of SixGolds is Ulster-Scot and that gets round the spelling mistakes.
More important.... I am telling you about things based on my own experiences of years ago, things have moved on since, if there are better ways, we all need to know.
Adrian
Now that we have achieved the summit of Ben Nevis I feel that there is no reason for the group to break up. The health benefits of regular hill walking are well worth while.
Our only problem will be to find other challenges to keep us motivated and I am relying on Louis to do just that.
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The trekkers are in the process of drawing up the 2008 schedule. As soon as I get the dates times and places I will publish it on this page.INDEX
If you have not visited Scrabo Country Park before I have drawn this very simple map to help you get about. The view you see is from the Comber / Newtownards Road. All the vegetation has been stripped away and I have stretched the perspective horizontally to give you an idea of the various walks. The vertical height from the base of the tower to the lowest point on any of the paths is about 360 feet which gives a good variety of slopes to be walked. Details of the St Mary's training schedule is attached below. There are about 30 people now involved in the training and you are welcome to come and join us. This does not commit you to attempt Ben Nevis.
1 The section round Killynether Wood. This is the easiest section of all and can be walked easily in either direction. The distance is approximately 1 mile. The red sections indicate the toughest places on the walk for a beginner.
2 The path to and from the tower. (Scrabo Hill, J476726) There are no difficult places and the path has now been covered with asphalt and no special shoes are required. It is for the beginner a steady uphill walk and should present no difficulty. Bring your binoculars this is an excellent lookout position. Total distance is under 1/2 mile.
3 The quarries are the longest section but there are two tough little slopes to be navigated. My advice is not to attempt this walk at speed take your time and enjoy the countryside. The total distance is about 2 miles.
NOTES:- The blue sections, these are not regular walks, and the slopes are quite severe. The zig zag path ( The Back Stairs ) below the tower marked "A" is a demanding slope for the beginner. To attempt this path I advise boots but they are not essential. If you do attempt to walk this path always be accompanied by another person as you could fall and be injured. Park in the upper car park and set off towards the tower. Turn right about 100 yards and head down the steps. Follow the main path downhill for about 3/4 of a mile. You will find a path on the left you will need to look carefully for it, then start heading up towards the tower. Once you get to the tower head down the main path and turn left down the path the path you used before 100 yards from the car park, and do it again.
Another interesting short but tough loop is round the section marked "B". Try this about four times round which should take no longer than 45 minutes.
The total time for a beginner round all three major sections is about 1 hour 30 minutes, experienced walkers should manage it in little over an hour. When you get fit and you gain confidence then attempt to do the whole thing twice round. After that has been achieved then try three times - in terms of distance that would be just over 10 miles which is slightly more than the round trip to the top of Ben Nevis but of course considerably less in height and effort.
See also the section DOWN 'n' DIRTY
KILLYNETHER WOOD AND SCRABO COUNTRY PARK. Location J476726 on the Irish GridThis is a much more realistic map of Scrabo Tower of the park land round Killynether Wood and Scrabo. The top drawing is for training purposes and this one is for visitors to Comber and Newtownards. We locals don't appreciate what we have on our doorstep unless we want to burst a gut running or walking round the place for exercise. I may as well do my bit for local tourism. The views from the top of Scrabo Hill are well worth the effort. In bronze age times was a settlement as it provided a perfect lookout and an easily defensible position.
There are toilet facilities in the upper car park including a disabled toilet. It should be noted that these facilities are only open during normal office hours.For those of you brave enough to walk to the top of the hill why not have a climb up inside the tower and see the even more spectacular views to be had from the viewing gallery. The tower itself is usually closed on Friday, however when it is open there are many interesting items on display and an audio visual (fancy name for a film show) presentation of the wild life of Strangford Lough. It may be possible, if you are disabled to get permission to drive to the top but this will need to be done by special arrangement with the caretakers at 203A Scrabo Road, Newtownards BT23 4SJ Tel: 028 91811491 Fax: 028 9182 0695.
It should be noted that there is no possibility of access into the tower for disabled people as the ancient design did not cater for this possibility and modifications to the tower are impossible.If the tower is closed then go for a walk round Killynether Woods the lower car park is better if you prefer a woodland walk. The upper car park makes it much easier to access the tower and the quarries. Take a stroll towards the tower and take the first left pathway down some steps and head towards the bottom of the Picnic Area. At the bottom take the path at the lower corner of the field and this will take you to a spectacular ridge-way high above and between two quarries. The path is fenced on either side so you should not be in any danger. There is a viewpoint and information board which will describe the flora and fauna together with a detailed description of the interesting geology of the area. Naturally you should bring a camera, it may be the only chance of seeing and photographing a falcon in your lifetime.
INTERESTING FACT
There is a race to the top of Slieve Donard which has been staged every year since 1945. You can take any route you fancy to the top and come back again any way you like the only control point is at the top. Starting at the Council Offices going to the top of Donard and returning to the start took the first winner of the race, a chap called S.Mc Ateer 1hr 59 mins. This was a very creditable achievement for an athlete of that era. During 1998 D. Mc Neilly broke the one hour barrier taking 55 mins 8 secs.
While these very notable achievements represent the times that are possible by local athletes going at full tilt it must be remembered we are not playing at the same game. We will be walking to the top in a much more civilised manner getting to the summit in about 2½ to 3 hours and about 2 to 2½ hours coming down again using the defined path to the top. We are not in the business of rushing up or down the mountains, breathing in the fresh air and enjoying the scenery is what we are about. Just walking to the top is an achievement in itself and anyone who does it can be happy they were fit and able to do so. For us its about enjoyment and leisure and feeling good afterwards. Ok, perhaps a little smug also.
INDEXTHE TORTOISE AND THE HARE Pep Talk
In every group there are people who are fitter than others. Some folks like to rush on ahead and others like myself act as tail end Charley. I have no problem with this as long as it does not slow everyone else up. I go at my own speed which is slightly slower than 60% of the group and I know that by doing this I will arrive at the top only a few minutes behind the leaders. I like to feel comfortable walking.
(1) ...I try to avoid overheating,
(2) ...pains in the chest,
(3) ...gasping for air,
(4) ...heart going like the clappers .... .... ... and
(5) ...pains in the legs.
Everyone suffers from these five symptoms which are normal and during training exercises they are to be expected. No pain no gain. However during major exercises over a long distance you should (must) walk within your capacity.
I also don't like ......
(i)...Getting too warm
(ii)...Getting too cold
(iii)...Getting Wet
(iv)...Getting hungry...
If you read this page from top to bottom wou will learn how to overcome all these problems
To subject yourself to a prolonged period of the top five symptoms is dangerous especially in a remote area where if you go into the exhausted state could cause problems and delays for the group. Towards the end of a long walk everyone will begin to show or feel some of the symptoms.
Just ask experienced walkers about the walk to the top of Donard and they will clearly tell you that the place where accidents are most likely to happen is the last few hundred yards of the descent, close to the car park. Whenever you are exhausted the mind cannot function with it's normal efficiency and that is when you begin to make mistakes. Mistakes in a remote and dangerous place could be fatal.
The guides on Kilimanjaro are trained to watch for people exhibiting indecisiveness ( Which should be classified as the 6th symptom of over exertion. )and we should do the same. (We do) The cure for this problem at very high altitude is to get off the mountain. The cure at low altitude is rest with something to eat and drink, the black balls have most of the ingredients to restore normality. We will never go to what could be considered high altitude so we will not be faced with the problems of Kilimanjaro as there will be sufficient oxygen at relatively high pressure. What will happen is over-enthusiasm and rushing onward to the top. Don't over exert yourself at any time even during training, just push your previous limit gently. Each time you push the limit your body will become stronger providing you rest sufficiently between training sessions.
Don't become disheartened, by gentle perseverance your body will improve way beyond what you think it can do now. The Green Gymnasium article I wrote about 10 years ago is still as true today as it was then. We are not in the Army and there is no snappy corporal forcing us onward against our will. We are all enthusiastic volunteers of mixed ability with a common purpose in getting to the top of Ben Nevis or just getting fit. Louis will encourage us every step of the way as I am doing. Failure is in the "state of mind" not the fragility and limitations of the body. Train on a regular basis, don't over exert yourself, don't push to the limit too hard. Simply push gently at your barriers and through determination and with a will to succeed you shall.
When you are happy and enthusiastic there is a synergy shared between friends which will keep you going. I know I have trodden this path before. Keep a written record of how you feel on certain walks, because if you have been doing the work, when you revisit those places again you will clearly see the improvement in yourself.
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GROUP TRAINING This section to be re-scheduled ................................... |
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WALKING KIT Check List:- 1. Walking Kit - Essential Items |
HEAD PROTECTION
The sun can give us problems on exposed skin so it is advisable to use a good quality sun block cream. Small sticks or squeeze packs of factor 30 can be bought for as little as £1.50 in most shops. A stick of lip balm should also be somewhere in your kit as this can prevent chapping of the lips. The glare of the sun can sometimes cause headaches so a suitable pair of sun glasses should be carried. The glasses if they are not too dark can be used to protect the eyes from wind driven sleet or dust and for a little extra money can get you a pair with reactolite or transition lenses which automatically adjust to the light conditions. If the lenses are large or wrap round they give better protection to the eyes and face.
Broad brimmed or floppy hats also help to protect from the sun just make sure that there is an attachment strap to stop it blowing away. A lot of heat is lost from the head during cold or windy weather so a woolly cap or balaclava can be a life saver. A balaclava with a peak can help keep the sun off and with the legs of your glasses tucked under it they will not blow away. Wind on a mountain can be very fierce and anything detachable can vanish in seconds so use some method of securing it. I often use a baseball cap to keep the sun out of my eyes and it also helps to shed the rain drops away from my glasses. It is possible to wear a balaclava over a baseball cap which keeps it secure and gives your ears protection from the wind. Another use for the baseball cap is to keep a lightweight scarf in place to give your neck protection from the sun. It has even been known for a baseball cap to hold a lightweight insect net in place when passing through an insect infested wood. This is where fashion ends and practical protection from insects takes over. It is better to look daft than to be bitten. The woolly hat, baseball cap and balaclava can also be worn under the hood of your outer wind and rain protective layer which gives you head almost total protection from just about any element nature can chuck at you. The total weight and volume of all these items in minuscule and it is better to have them and not need them rather than to need them and not have them.
INDEXPACKING YOUR KIT
This needs careful thought as an incorrectly packed rucksack can ruin your entire day. Rule one is check everything and decide what you really need and keep only the essential items. Everything you stuff into the bag adds a little weight and it occupies a certain volume of space, carrying a heavy oversized pack is blooming hard work. In general the correct order of packing is the weighty items should be as close to your spine as possible if they are at the outer back of the pack their weight is somehow magnified and the movement amplified making the pack feel like a wobbly jelly. The next consideration is what will be required most often ... and that should be the most accessible. If you divide up the various things into several watertight bags you can simply remove the correct bag without pulling everything out. Get into a routine and the easiest way to do this is to have a checklist. "A place for everything and everything in it's place." The most essential things should be packed last ... "First in last out". This will save you time and effort and give you the confidence that you have forgotten nothing essential. If you can find a side entry backpack, buy it, this saves you pulling everything out from the top. If your essentials are in individual waterproof bags then it is as simple as pulling out the correct bag, just like a drawer.
Once everything is packed tighten up the compression straps and check the rain cover is in its correct compartment. Put the pack on and check that it is comfortable jump up and down and twist from side to side to make sure the body straps are sufficiently tight to prevent chaffing. Try to avoid using the little side pockets they make the bag wider than it needs to be and more awkward to carry. The poncho should be very handy as this will protect both yourself and the contents of the pack even though everything should be in watertight bags. The backpacks are not really waterproof hence the rain cover and the poncho. Do not wash your pack in detergent what little waterproofing it has will be destroyed. Just use a few of those precious soap flakes and a little clean water to rinse it. Every now and again check the zips and Velcro fasteners. The zips should be given a micro smear of silicone grease and the Velcro should be wire brushed to remove the small pieces of material clinging to it.
One other important piece of kit that you do not carry in your backpack is a dry set of clothes and a bath towel. Keep these in the car (base camp) and on your return get out of the wet clothes and into the dry ones. The really smart individual will have a portable stove and make themselves a hot drink of tea or soup. The ordinary walker will have a flask of something hot tucked away somewhere in his base kit. ..... I wish.BACKPACK CONSIDERATIONS
When choosing a suitable backpack there are several points to watch out for the first being comfort as it will be worn on your back for long periods of time. It is recommended that the maximum weight anyone should carry is 15% of your body weight so be careful only to carry the essentials.
With weight and movement there will be friction so choose a bag with broad straps to spread the load. Comfort is perhaps the most important feature. Foam filled shoulder straps with a breathing net sewn in should help wick away the sweat and help keep you cool.
Many modern backpacks have a plethora of straps and bungee chords, I must admit I can only guess what they are for. These packs should come with an instruction manual or a least a features leaflet to tell you what the designer intended. I recently bought a pack from a well known reputable company it was covered with straps, slip locks, slip stops, cam buckles, strap adjusters and loop locks. I spent the afternoon cutting off the unnecessary straps and sealing the ends with my soldering iron. Keep all the parts you cut off and never throw a bag out without removing all these valuable spare parts for possible future repairs as replacements.
Chose a bag which is simple and of adequate capacity for the load you intend to carry. If the pack is a little bigger than you need the space can be taken up with the compression straps. Most modern bags are of reasonably good quality and quite durable, but keep your receipt and take it back if there is any defect. Naturally if you modify the bag you will not get a refund. The chest and waist straps should be wide and comfortable be equipped with slide locks and fully adjustable. We need something it matters not if it is equipped with a frame, if it has a frame avoid a carbon frame as it costs a lot more. If the pack has a couple of outside loops these are good for attaching your walking poles.
A rough Guide to WEIGHT & SPACE. Item Volume in Ltr Weight in Kg Need in % Comment Backpack 20 1 100 must have Clean water 2 2 100 may not need all. padded jacket 1.75 0.65 99 gets cold up there Lightweight fleece / hood 0.9 0.35 99 can't be too careful water proof trousers 0.6 0.2 99 -do- water proof jacket 0.7 0.22 99 -do- map 0.12 0.12 99 -do- compass 0.12 0.12 99 -do- poncho 0.32 0.32 97 -do- space blanket 0.1 0.12 97 -do- mobile 'phone 0.2 0.2 85 -do- whistle 0.1 0.05 80 -do- torch 0.1 0.22 79 -do- survival bag 0.32 0.2 79 -do- Black Balls 0.125 0.125 79 part of food banana 0.29 0.29 60 part of food apple 0.22 0.22 60 part of food kiwi fruit 0.17 0.17 60 part of food camera 0.3 0.375 10 luxury item TOTAL 8.435 6.955 This is only a small part of my list but it lets you see how the volume of your backpack is used and the added weight you will be carrying.
Make up your own chart from Louis's list, prioritise it for packing and carry only essential items not on that list, Survival comes first, comfort comes second, luxury third. Make sure that your backpack is large enough to carry all the essentials, then check that you can carry it with comfort.
Some people may not wish to carry the emergency kit. I say it is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
Everyone should carry their own supplies, no gallant heroes.Lewis has made a training pack for everyone where you record your daily activities so that you can chart your progress towards fitness. This includes many various beneficial activities such as walking, swimming and cycling to get your level of fitness up. I believe he works on the notion that a little every day helps push the boundary of what you can achieve comfortably.
PEDOMETERS
Warning ... With any pedometer make sure that it is mounted correctly otherwise the count will be incorrect. See the instructions in the box.
Although it is not on Lewis's list of requirements I purchased a pedometer from Tesco which cost £6.87. The model is Sportline 345 and can measure the number of steps taken, distance travelled, how many calories burned and it also tells the time. The Tesco catalogue number is 100-4519 and can be ordered online. Inside the packaging is a an informative little booklet which gives some good advice about the advantages of exercise. What I intend to do is to write down my activities for the day as shown on the pedometer and chart my progress. I also will measure my girth and hope that it gets smaller as I become fitter, hopefully another indication of progress. I have used this pedometer for two weeks and it is not as accurate as the one described below.
My own pedometer is a Silva which Marion bought for me about 6 years ago counts the steps taken, the miles walked, the caloris burned, and a timer to indicate the exact duration that you were walking. The pedometer stops timing during inactive periods such as a refreshment break and re-starts again once you resume walking. This is a top of the range machine and the only time it let me down was when the battery was almost flat. Yes, the battery lasted six years and it cost 99p to replace it. The cost of a new Silva is between 15 and 20 quid.
Marks & Spencer are also doing pedometers at £3,50 which is a good price. However on examining the box that they were stored in every pedometer was showing a vastly different count. If they were all set at zero when they were packed then all the pedometers should show the same or similar count.
The Green Gymnasium ©
Get yourself a comfortable pair of shoes or hiking boots, a small back pack,
and a walking pole. Bring the camera, and don't forget a lightweight raincoat
even a brolly which can double as a walking pole. A bottle of wine, some
crusty bread and a good big dollop of Ardennes or Brussels Pâté. A mobile
phone in your pocket is a comfort, but some areas do not receive a signal, so
be careful where you go.
I didn't want to mention that the membership fees to a good Gymnasium can
be over £1,000 per year, ... that's £20 quid a week, membership of the Green
Gymnasium is free, and for life.
Set yourself an objective, such as a mountain, which someday you hope to be
fit enough to walk to the top of. If you don't get to the top on the first few
attempts keep on trying, each time you try you should be able to go further
towards the top. When you get to the highest point you are physically able
stop, rest and have your feast and return home contented and refreshed.
Perhaps you don't want to walk alone, and that is where the local church or
leisure centre can help.
Ask the Pastor or Manager of the leisure centre if you can place a notice
advertising for Green Gymnasium walkers.
DID YOU KNOW
The poor man's hydration pack consists of a Lidl sparkling carbonated water bottle which holds 1.5 litres and costs
about 70p. This bottle contains water under pressure and the top forms a perfect seal which prevents leaks. The
drinking straw is 2 yards of 5 mm plastic fish tank airline which costs £1-50 from the pet shop.
Carefully drill two small holes into the cap of the bottle using a 4.5 mm drill and force the airline through these
holes. The resultant tight squeeze prevents any possibility of leaks at this join. We need two lengths of airline one
for drinking and the other for venting the bottle. We need to vent the bottle because when we suck the pressure
differential within the bottle will resist even the strongest suction and the bottle will collapse. The blue airline must
reach down to the bottom of the bottle and all the way to your mouth when the backpack is being worn. The red
airline only just enters the bottle at the top and should be 6 inches shorter than the blue airline. These generous
lengths of airline stop any possible spillage while you are walking but still gives you a welcome drink on demand.
There you have it, a great solution for £2-25 and the satisfaction of making it yourself.
If you want to make one of these kits I will drill the holes for you in the plastic cap and show you how to feed the
airlines through.
35 mm CAN TRICK
ABOUT EXERCISE With thanks to the ARTHRITIS RESEARCH CAMPAIGN.
This is a mental concept rather than a physical one. A
building is not the best place to achieve the correct mental attitude towards
fitness. The best way to improved fitness is not pumping iron or getting
nowhere on a running machine. Get into the countryside or high up into the
hills and walk. There the scenery will take your mind of walking. The fresh
air will fill your lungs, the birds singing is music to the ears, and the flowers
will give you colour for the eye and the delight of sent to the nose. In the
enclosed gymnasium you have to contend with the smell of sweat, and you
must be dressed in all the latest fashion training kit to make you look sexy.
There is the noise of others talking exercises in close proximity to you. I hate
air conditioning, it's never set at the correct temperature, it can be draughty or
the mechanism is noisy or both. I detest the smell of deodorant and cheap
perfume preferring the smell of fresh mown grass and the honk of freshly
spread farmyard manure. Forget about the rotten smell of slurry it goes with
modern agriculture.
©
To read further into taking beneficial exercise follow this link:-
This active link will take you to good information. (saved)
INDEX
THE HEIGHT OF THE MOURNE MOUNTAINS Ref:-OS map 1:25,000
INDEX
850
S.Donard
J358277767
S.Commedagh
J346286747
S.Binnian
J320235
739
S.Bearnagh
J313281
690
S.Bearnagh North Tor
J315283
708
S.Meelbeg
J301279
704
S.Lamagan
J329260
680
S.Meelmore
J306287
678
S.Binnian North Tor
J317245
674
Slieve Muck J281250
656
Chimney Rock Mtn J364257
655
Cove Mtn J336271
640
S.Corragh
J337286
638
Eagle Mtn J245230
626
Shanlieve J240227
619
S.Loughshannagh
J294272593
Doan J303262
590
Slieve Beg J341275
588
Carn Mtn J288260
586
Slievenaglogh Hare's Gap
J328291
445
Slievenaglogh Silent valley J299230
560
Slievemoughanmore J250241
534
Pigeon Rock Mtn J261250
534
S.Croob
J318453
526
Ben Crom
J313259524
Rocky Mtn East J351252
524
Ott Mtn J283 269
504
Cock Mtn J253268
500
Butter Mtn J277287
382
Rocky Mtn West J239182
354
Hen Mtn
J245276 = Done that
1 meter = 3.28Ft
The temperature drops roughly 1°C for each 100 metres ascended.
The wind is 2 to 3 times stronger than in the valleys.
The weather changes very rapidly in the mountains.
The higher you go the more rain, mist and cloud so be properly equipped.
The age of the Mourne Mountains is ± 56 million years
LACTIC ACID
INDEX
When you exercise your muscles begin to ache and you feel like stopping.
This is your body producing lactic acid to power your muscles. Lactic acid
is produced from glucose and usually happens when you are breathless
from the exercise you are doing. This is often called the "anaerobic state"
which means without air, gasping for air. Your normal state of
existence is the "aerobic state" and all things should be "sweetness and
light", without gasping.
With regular exercise, your muscles will adapt to the higher work load
and the muscle pain will become less as you become fitter.
Regardless of how much you train the condition never goes away, but
you will be able to go much further and feel better if you train on a regular
basis. The muscles of your body will adapt and absorb lactic acid at
a much faster rate allowing you to do more than you ever thought possible.
UPDATE:- The pain will never go away because you will become fitter
and not really notice therefore unknown to yourself you will work that
bit harder ending up with the same aches and pains. Because improvement
is often very subtle some people become depressed. This occurs more
frequently in the older person so be warned ..... DON'T GIVE UP.
You are what you eat, ensure that your diet gives you all the nutrition that
it needs. Secondly you are only as good as the exercise appropriate for
your age and physical condition. Older athletes can perform as well or
better than people 30 years younger than themselves providing they do
a little regular exercise to push back that lactic acid boundary.
DRINKS ON THE MOVE
It is apparent from observation that the older walker should pre-hydrate before participation and remain aware that they need to intake water frequently to prevent dehydration, the desire to drink appears to be suppressed in the older walker. Having stated this all age groups must be aware that they need to drink. Do not rely on feeling thirsty before you drink but take the occasional sip to prevent the feeling of thirst which is an indication of low body fluid.
The problem with walking is that you need to drink now and again and invariably many people buy bottled water and
throw the empty plastic bottle away, usually along the mountain paths. The first rule of Hill Walking is that you take
everything that you brought onto the mountain away with you .
The best bottle is the SIGG which has acquired cult status and a price tag to suit, any plastic bottle will work just as
well providing you can live with the stigma.
It is not practical to carry your bottle in your hand and it is better to be mounted in a belt pouch or net.
Unfortunately with the constant pounding of your feet it bounces up and down unless the belt is properly tightened
and you end up with friction burns. Water belts are also available and they hold about two litres but again if not
secured firmly will chaff the skin.
The best place of all is in the back pack but you need to get the bottle out frequently to take a drink. To avoid this
there are devices known as the hydration packs, a fancy name for a bottle with a long straw stuck firmly into it.
This gadget mostly consists of a bag (bladder) and a long plastic tube which you suck to get a drink. As you suck the
liquid from the bladder gets smaller and takes up less space in your back pack. These devices although simple are
grossly overpriced and need to be cleaned thoroughly before and after use.
Louis gave me a good idea to stop the bite valve of your drinking
system leaking. Simply get hold of a plastic 35mm film container and bore
a hole in the bottom just big enough to let your drinking pipe through.
The bite valve is easily taken off by rolling up the soft rubber at the
connection, the pipe is fed through and the valve re-connected.
The valve sits inside the container and the plastic cap can then be placed back on
the container. This stops the bite valve from getting dirty but more important stops
it leaking if your pack rolls on top of it.
|
WARNING It is essential to keep the inside of your hydration system clean and free from microbes which will grow in stagnant water. Oraldene, Plax, Milton or denture tablets are effective at killing the bugs. Before use rinse out the bladder, the tube and clean out the bite valve, although these chemicals are non toxic there will be a mild but pleasant taste remaining after rinsing. The bladder can be filled and stored overnight in the fridge for a more refreshing drink. Do not store your bladder for long periods in the fridge. |
INDEXWATER
It is a little known fact that you need two litres of water per day. If you dont believe me then Google "need two litres"
The imperial pint is 20 fluid ounces. The American pint is 16 fluid ounces.
Don't drink the mountain water, goodness knows if a dead sheep is leaching into it. (Leptospirosis) Weil's (pronounced Viles) disease which can be fatal to man
Go to this address for a long read:-- http://www.cawt.com/uploads_documents/Publications/QuestionsIssuestoConsider.doc
Water is the most important thing you will be carrying with you on any trek, bring plenty of it. Many years ago I was shooting in the British Archery Championships at a place called Tirabad high up in the Welsh mountains at Mynydd Eppynt. We were camped down in the valley and when we awoke the place was covered in morning frost. Everyone put on extra clothing and few of us carried a full canteen of water. As we climbed higher into the mountains the sun blazed down and with the exertion of walking we all quickly ran out of water. Within the space of two hours many of the archers began to show signs of stress. Simple shots became almost impossible as we began to lose concentration and it was soon apparent that this national event had hit a major unexpected problem. Fortunately communications were good and the course Marshals and Judges contacted Control to ask for water to be brought onto the higher areas of the course. Tesco's rallied to the rescue and supplied 1,000 litres of water free of charge, this was transported to the course and distributed using Quad Bikes, Landrovers and Tractors. Never again will I ever venture into the mountains without a plentiful supply of water. Always bring a face cloth which has been dampened, it can be a life saver. Whenever you feel heat stress this damp cloth can be used to wipe your face and hands and the cooling effect is marvellously refreshing. The name Tirabad to me now means Terrible Bad to me, it was worse than my experiences in the deserts of the Persian Gulf. Since then I have always carried a bar towel attached to my backpack .... just in case.
TEACHING YOUR GRANNY TO SUCK EGGS
Whenever you get thirsty drink some water, but you are better to avoid thirst in the first place. (pre-hydration)
Thirst is the first symptom of dehydration which if not corrected can lead to life threatening complications. When we are working the body temperature rises and we sweat to compensate in an attempt to bring the temperature back down again. This fluid must be replaced. As things become more serious we begin to get headaches, disorientation, fatigue and a host of other symptoms including cramp. one that I forgot to mention is yellow coloured urine. Drinking water will help, but you can't continue to drink water on it's own indefinitely as you will begin to lose vital nutrients, salts, and potassium. If you carry a carton of orange juice and a banana together with fruit (even dried fruit will do) should see the vital nutrients replaced. Some modern sports drinks contain a mix of the things you need but they taste bad and the after taste stays in your mouth. If you carry a sachet of dioralite for emergencies a small quantity of this can be added to your fruit juice and drunk. Follow this with your pure clean water to wash the mouth clean. Do not contaminate your main reserve drinking water by mixing it with anything, keep it pure, or mix it in a plastic cup. You may need to damp your face cloth and the contaminants especially sugar will cause your skin to become sticky. Avoid tea, coffee and especially alcohol as these will cause dehydration, alcohol being the worst. Tea is the least harmful and probably the most enjoyable of the three under the circumstances, ... Oh! why not indulge yourself. I am passing on the knowledge gained at Tirabad and there is no point in you having to learn it the hard way.
There are water purification tablets and special drinking straws to remove the harmful bugs from the water they will not remove metal poisons from your drink. These tablets and straws make the water taste terrible and are only for emergency use. All being well we will nip up to the top of Ben Nevis and down again and only use about half of the water we start with.
INDEXCOLOUR OF CLOTHING FOR MOUNTAIN USE
RESULT of net search on colour safety.
Many people think that particular colours are safer because they are more visible but it isn’t as simple as that. The visibility depends on the weather, conditions the landscape and the time of day. In the presence of fog, test stimuli containing a yellow component were given the highest point value of brightness, while test stimuli containing a blue component were given the lowest point value of brightness in fog. The Safety Council noted that white is the most visible colour in uniform lighting, but it has low visibility on a light coloured road in bright sunlight and in snow and fog. All colours are affected by distanceREFLECTIVE SNOW/FOG White Good Bad Yellow Good Fair Lime Good Fair Red Fair Fair Grey Fair Fair Blue Poor Good Deep Blue Bad Good Black, Bad GoodWhatever colour you chose will not work in all conditions, so just wear what you fancy.
INDEXMINOR PROBLEMS
Blisters, chaffing, abrasions, swellings, friction burns and other annoying little problems.
Many problems are caused by breaking in new boots on a long first walk is guaranteed to give one of the afore mentioned problems. I normally buy boots which are one size too big and lace them up tight and wear a couple of pairs of socks to take up the slack. There are special socks which are called sock liners which are worn underneath the thicker warmer walking socks. These liners wick the sweat away from your feet and the thicker socks give your feet additional padding. The top of the boot is where most problems occur. Folding the sock down carefully inside the neck of the boot doubles the thickness in that area. Lace the boots tightly and friction will be reduced to a minimum. The drier the feet remain within the boot the less problems will be encountered. Wet feet will blister faster and chaffing will be worse, so make sure that your boots are fully waterproofed by applying plenty of dubbing. If your boots have got wet dry them and apply plenty of dubbing to soften the leather and help make them watertight. There is an old soldiers tale that you should soak your boots in water and let them dry on your feet so that they take up the shape of your feet. Don't fall for this old yarn it damages the leather, and wrecks your feet, just apply the dubbing and wear proper socks.
Sign on a Podiatrist's office:
"Time wounds all heels."
INDEXSECOND WIND
Definition...The return of relative ease of breathing after the initial exhaustion that occurs during continued physical exertion
I do not understand this phenomena but I have learned to live with it. Everytime I begin to take exercise I soon find that I become breathless and want to stop. I pause for a few moments and my breathing returns to almost normal again. This goes on for some time while my body adjusts to the higher work load. Over the years I have realised that if I gradually work up to the more intense levels of exercise my body adjusts without hitting the breathless barrier. The problem is that when I exercise with younger fitter people I feel that I am slowing them down and I break my own rules about the gradual build up in an effort to keep up with them.
As far as I understand this mechanism is the obvious fact that we need to breathe. Hyperventilation the forced and rapid over inhalation actually makes the problem worse. The best way is to exhale as much air as possible, my idea is to get rid of as much carbon dioxide as possible, then take an ordinary breath and hold it for several seconds, then exhale deeply again. During this time of controlled breathing your lungs will feel as though they were on fire and there is an almost irresistible urge to return to panting. Persevere with this breath control, do not repeat this more than five or six times in any session, before returning to normal breathing. Hyperventilation is the state of breathing faster and deeper than normally necessary will make you dizzy and can be quite disorientating. My old friend Malachy went "walkabout" on Kilimanjaro because he hyperventilated and began to exhibit symptoms of altitude sickness and had to be taken of the mountain. Kilimanjaro is 19,300 feet which is way, way higher than Ben Nevis which is only a mere 4409 feet. Eventually the walking group will get round to walking Donard which is a mere bump on the landscape at 2786 feet which should not be a problem providing we put in the training. Even at these much lower altitudes we need to control breathing and come to an understanding of our bodies limitations. There is another method which can be done on the move and it's called the Pursed-Lip Method or Pressure Breathing.. Purse up your lips and blow out gently and steadily until your lungs are empty then breath in through your nose and repeat. If you begin to feel dizzy return to normal breathing. The secret is to purge your lungs of stale air and carbon dioxide and try not to over exert yourself. Never let yourself get into a breathless state always keep a little energy in reserve. Keep an eye on each other and if someone is beginning to look a little laboured then slow down. A group should only move as fast as the slowest member, but having said that it is up to every member to ensure that they are adequately fit so they don't become a burden.
INDEXMuscle Strength
Walking on the flat is a good way to begin the process of conditioning yourself prior to hill walking which demands greater strength. A brisk walk which makes you slightly breathless and raises the heart rate is better than just ambling along. Repeat these walks for a period of about two weeks, then add in a hill or two. You will find that the hills add a whole new dimension into the work load, but keep forging onwards. Next add a weight into your back pack and continue with the hill walking. This weigh should not exceed 5 kg or 10 Lbs and don't stray too far away from the car when carrying it as you may wish to dump it. If your body weight is 10 stone or 140 Lbs and you are carrying an extra 10 Lbs that represents only 1/14th of your body weight which works out at a measly 7%. That is not much of a load but it will have a good effect in strengthening the muscles. The additional weigh must be wrapped in something such as a bath towel, then taped to hold it in place. The back pack must also be properly secured to prevent it riding up and hitting you on the head should you take a tumble. The idea behind this weight is to make the leg muscles work that bit harder for a walk of the same distance. The second reason is to get used to carrying a heavy back pack and learn how to adjust it for maximum comfort which is important for long distance hill walking. One advantage of the weight is that it is replacing the weight of the body fat that you are going to lose if you exercise on a regular basis. You want the muscles to stay at maximum strength and gain extra strength as your training progresses. If you exercise regularly your strength and endurance will improve almost on a daily basis. At the same time your cardiovascular system (CV) will also improve way beyond what it was before you started these exercises. Gradually build up the distance walked the height achieved and the weight carried. If you train regularly, say three days a week that is enough to get started. The older person should be less enthusiastic and train on two days a week but do it on a regular basis. We are not trying to get super fit, we need to simply improve our condition so that walking becomes easier and more enjoyable. Scrabo or some other good hilly walk such as Redburn Country Park which has some demanding hills. Attacking Cave Hill by full frontal assault is another worthy adversary close to home. Slieve Croob is another good long walk but the hill is hardly a problem to an semi experienced hill walker, but it is a place to go for variety.
INDEXPAIN
If you are suffering from pain do not take any medication before you go for a long walk. The medication will mask the pain and you will end up in a worse condition. Pain is natures way of slowing you down or stopping you altogether. Death is an even more positive indication of nature slowing you down. Ignore pain at your peril. The only time to take medication for pain is prior to going to bed and you need a good nights sleep. Any pain which does not naturally go away within a few days could be the sign of something more serious. Stress fractures, tendon and muscular strain take time to heal, so consult your Doctor about persistent pain, do not go walking and rest until the Doctor gives the all clear.Gradually build up your strength through regular training. Never do any violent or excessively stressful exercise work up to full fitness gradually. This advise is not only aimed at older people but people of all ages. Warm up the muscles first and get the blood flowing should you find something nasty happening then back off immediately. Test your physical condition incrementally and work up to the more exhaustive levels later. It is by working up properly that you are going to detect problems early and avoid serious problems. The less damage you do to yourself the faster you are going to heal naturally. We are going to walk Ben Nevis so we set our target fitness higher than our objective in that way we will achieve success without damage.
At the end of exercise you should be tired not knackered if you are knackered you are overdoing it. You will also feel mild pain in your muscles and in places you didn't know you had. This is normal and good as it shows that you are exercising correctly. The following day you may feel a little stiff, again this is good. Do nothing to treat the pain or stiffness let nature do it's work by the third day you should be bouncing with energy if you are young. The older walker will need an extra day before the bounce kicks in but it's worth it. If you have persistent pain which does not go away, think, did you give yourself a wrench during the walk. This could be the most likely cause, if the pain persists then seek medical attention and have it sorted before continuing with exercise. Remember do not treat minor pain with anything to make it go away artificially, you may be masking problems.UPDATE
On Monday 23rd July 07 I was out walking with the "Trekkers" on Scrabo Hill. We had just walked up the steep zigzag path ( marked A on the drawing ) leading directly to the tower. I was not in any rush, as usual, but as I crested the hill I had to extend my step to avoid a tussock of grass and immediately I crashed to the ground in agony. Would you believe I had pulled a muscle in my right leg, simply stepping over a tussock. Thankfully there were members of the group who came over to see what had happened. He's been shot, he's had a heart attack, more like acting the maggot someone said. This muscle went suddenly without warning, normally you can feel the fibres in the muscle giving way like cobwebs breaking and you know to slow down and get the weight and stress of the affected limb. Not on this occasion it simply went twang and my instinct took over faster than my mind. There I was on the deck like a beached whale, as helpless as a baby. Had there been dogs dirt or glass I would have been in the middle of it,...yeuch!
The pain was very intense immediately it happened but it immediately eased off when I became inactive. Thankfully members of the group pulled me to my feet but walking was agony, needless to say there was no alternative but to face the music as I walked to the car. It was not until August 4th 2007 that I was able to venture into the mountains and managed to get to Hare's Gap without any difficulty. I could not walk for three days and on the fourth day I was able to get about using a crutch. Believe me I did not put the leg under any pressure and if I felt pain I rested. The leg improved very quickly because I took it easy. What's changed.? I hear you say.
I was given advice from many different sources. R.I.C.E. an aide memoir and acronym for REST, ICE, COMPRESSION and ELEVATE it really does work providing there are good TV programmes and a few fine bottles of Chateau Plonk, for medicinal purposes only, ... you do understand, don't you?. One thing not to do is rub the damaged part with ibuprofen or any other gunge of the said ilk. This will only mask the pain and you could be doing more damage. The only time to use gunge is at bed time to get off to a good nights sleep with relief from the pain. All is well, and at the time of writing I am suffering no ill effects, but the thought of the pain is still very much in my mind so I continue to keep taking it easy.
FOOT CARE
So you have problems your poor old foot, the nail is hanging off, turning black, and the pain ... Oh! the pain.
Another self inflicted injury caused by ill fitting footwear and poor foot maintenance thrown in, to boot. Bring it on baby, I want to hear all about it.
The best solution to foot problems is prevention. By soaking the feet first in warm salt water will soften the nails and make cutting easier. The first precaution is to make sure that your toe nails are cut properly by cutting straight across your toenails. Avoid cutting the nails too short as you may cut into the quick and cause bleeding. Another reason for not cutting too short is that you may cause what is called an "INGROWN TOENAIL". This is a condition where the corner of the nail grows into the skin at point "A" on the diagram. Filing the nail is often a better option to cutting. Where possible file the edge of the nail to smooth the rough edges and to lower friction between socks and the toe.Badly fitting shoes or boots can damage the nail bed and the condition is painful and can last for weeks, so don't cause this problem in the first place. Ensure that your toes have room inside the toe box of your footwear and the nails are not in contact with the hard material of the footwear. Ill fitting shoes can also cause abnormal pressures points that can cause corns and calluses. On downhill places make sure that your boots and shoes are properly laced and tightened to prevent the toes from colliding with the front of the boot. This repeated colliding between the toe and footwear will do damage and may well exacerbate an ingrown toenail.
ATHLETES FOOT
is a fungal infection of the skin and it is very easily spread from one person to another. It usually starts of between any or all of the toes at point "B". This infection just loves warm moist places. It can often be recognised by the skin being dry and peeling. Sometimes the skin may split and in bad conditions can lead to the wound opening and a more serious infection get into the foot. Apparently athletes foot has a distinctive smell caused by the microbes. Prevention is always better than cure always dry the skin thoroughly between the toes. Do not soak the feet for prolonged periods as this apparently removes the natural oils which are part of the skins natural condition. If you do get this infection any type of antibiotic cream will probably fix it but consult the chemist first and get the best possible cream from him.
BLISTERS
INDEX
There is nothing more troublesome than a blister on the foot.
The most likely cause is constant rubbing between boot, sock and skin.
Wet feet whether caused by the ingress of water or sweat aggravates the
cause so plenty of polish and dubbing on the boot is a place to start.
The night before going for a walk wash your feet and cut any long toe nails,
remove any hard skin from the heals and dry your feet well.
Upon arriving at base camp remove the everyday socks that you travelled in
and put on fresh sock liners. Then put on fresh and dry walking socks and
take time to tie on your boots properly. This simple precaution should see
you through the walk without any damage being done.
During the walk if you detect any small stones or the sock gathering up stop
immediately and remove the problem from the boot or from the fibres of the
sock. These little devils can get into the sock fibres making them difficult
to find, but finding and removing it, is a must.
There is no medication for a blister. Rule No 1 is don't puncture it, simply
cover it with a suitably large plaster. If the blister persists or coloured pus,
other than the natural clear liquid begins to leak from it seek medical
attention immediately. Keeping the blister clean and applying a simple
ointment such as germoline from time to time should do the trick. It takes
about a week for the foot to be fully cured.
SNIFFLES
INDEX
When you are out in the fresh air an irksome problem of the nose starting to
run. ...... and it always happens in mixed company. Regardless of how hard
you sniff the problem remains. Men out on their own just do what comes
naturally. I don't want to describe what men do, ... ladies just use your
imagination. Remember the face cloth or bar towel that's another use for
it. Grief, ... this web page is going downhill rapidly.
The important point about mentioning sniffles is don't use anything to
prevent it. Simply take your normal medication for hay fever if you are a
regular sufferer. Those who do not suffer from hay fever should not try to
prevent the sniffles. There are several spray applicators such as Otrivine,
Vix and anti-histamines tablets for hay fever they must not be taken simply
to hide the sniffles when walking. There are side effects to all of these
products and the anti-histamines in particular will make you drowsy. The
sprays will dry the lining of your nostrils and prevent the normal flow of
mucus which protects and cleans your upper air ways.
Some of the components of these drugs are banned by the International
Olympic Committee ( the I.O.C. ) and while this will not affect you it
applies to me.
INSULATION
INDEX
In normal circumstances we want to vent off excessive heat and allow
evaporation to dry our clothes as we walk along. However in the
mountains weather is always unpredictable and we must be ready for
anything nature decides to dump on us. One minute we could be
trudging merrily along in bright sunlight and the next we get overtaken
by a light shower, accompanying the light shower there may be in
increase in the wind strength. If you keep an eye open for showers and
see one coming throw on the poncho or your waterproofs, this will
protect your under layers from getting too wet. This layer will also
lessen the effects of the cooling wind. The combination of a cooling
wind and wet clothes brings the body temperature down to a level where
you may begin to feel uncomfortable. Once the shower has passed, off
comes this extra layer and on goes a dry woollen pullover to warm
yourself up again. Shake the damp clothes free of water and pack them
away again.
At either end of the year it is advisable to carry a good quality insulated
jacket for extra warmth. This jacket should be kept dry even if it is sold
as waterproof, storm proof or whatever. If you begin to feel cold then
on goes the woollen pullover followed by the jacket if necessary and that
should bring your temperature back up again. If there is a threat of rain
then get the poncho on before it actually starts falling. The drier you can
keep this jacket the better as it is your main insulation against heat loss.
The rain and wind layer always goes over the top of the winter jacket, a
poncho is the easiest and fastest to put on. It can also double as a survival bag.
The idea is to keep as dry as possible regardless of how wet the weather
is. If you are wearing jeans then you will really begin to suffer as they
stiffen up and really conduct away heat at a dangerous level once they
get wet. In the warmer summer conditions a soaking may be
uncomfortable but in low temperature conditions it can become very
dangerous. Hypothermia probably incapacitates more people than other
mountain accidents. If you can keep your clothes dry you will be warm
and safe, if they get wet the insulation will fail and you will get cold and
miserable.
MODERN MATERIALS
You pays your money and you takes your chance. Manufacturers of modern clothing are sometimes very discreet and careful about giving out technical information regarding their products.
Unless they supply me with accurate information other than what is on the label I will not give any opinion regarding the quality of their products, unless asked. Those manufacturers that have taken the trouble to reply to me I would feel confident in giving an opinion. It must be borne in mind that I do not advertise to do so would give the impression I favour one product over another.
Gore-tex ® is made from synthetic material with a thin film of PTFE
(polytetraflourethylene) on its surface. This layer of PTFE has millions
of pores allowing the very small molecules of water vapor to pass through it
but not the very much larger water droplets to penetrate. On its own Gore-tex
has very poor insulating qualities and should be worne as an outer garment for
rain protection.
Target Dry ® from the blurb attached to these clothes it would appear that the material has been treated with Du Pont Teflon which has roughly the same characteristics as Gore-tex for considerably less cost.
Sympatex ® is a polyester membrane that is waterproof, windproof, and breathable it functions in much the same way as the materials above.
Thinsulate ®3M is an ultra fine synthetic fibre used for thermal insulation in clothing trapping air and holding the body's radiant heat. It is not waterproof and is used to keep warm air close to the body.
Marino wool, Cashmere, Pashmina, Oiled Wool and Fleece..
There are many wonderful products on the market with manufacturers extolling the virtues of each and
every one of them. The more expensive the product the greater the accompanying hype to entice you.
How have we managed to survive so long on this earth without them.
The Marino, Cashmere and Pashmina products are high status fashion items, which look and feel beautiful
and indeed can be used for hill walking. If you read any hiking or walking magazine they are full of adverts
for this stuff, but is it any good.? The simple answer is yes, however there are alternatives, and fleece is a
good choice as it costs very little for good thermal insulation with very little weight. The tighter the fleece is woven
the better quality it is and at the top end of the range is quite expensive particularly if it has a big brand
name attached to it. The EWM has fleece good enough for hill walking and they are reasonably
fashionable without costing the earth. It is not as good quality as the top of the range products, but why pay
£120 plus when you need only spend £20.
Oiled wool is the exception, traditionally used for knitting fishermen's pullovers, which over the years has
almost gone out of fashion. If it were not for the efforts of the island peoples round our coast this clothing
would have vanished altogether. I need only mention Aran, Orkney, Guernsey and Shetland to start
memories floating into your head. Some of the traditional patterns are quite amazingly beautiful and complex and were
handed down from generation to generation. Such a pullover is correctly known as a "gansey" in fact any article of clothing knitted for someone in the ancient tongue is a gansey.
Unfortunately real hand knitted pullovers cost a fortune and difficult to get hold of but they will last a
lifetime. If anyone knows where I can get a zip necked gansey in grey flecked oiled wool please let me
know. Such a garment will turn the rain keep out the wind and make you feel really comfortable.
In colder weather wear a woollen hat, up to 40% of your body heat can be lost through your head
©
The feet cool down very quickly whenever they are wet. To keep the feet dry make sure that your
boots are well protected by applying plenty of dubbing to seal and protect the leather. Dubbing is a
wax which has been softened in turpentine and it penetrates the leather much more deeply than ordinary
shoe polish. Dubbing does not need to be polished but when it is dry to the touch you can polish it if you really
must.
Sock liners can be used under the walking socks to wick away sweat and help dry the feet. This also
provides a little extra padding for the feet.
INDEXUNMENTIONABLES
This next problem is difficult to talk about in mixed company, ... but I'm going to anyway.
During hot weather mixed with exercise we all sweat, under the arms, down the back and in another place. With the constant motion of your legs rubbing against cloth rapidly produces a painful redness at the top of your legs.
Cotton is not good as it holds the moisture close to the skin and the problem gets bad very quickly. ( Chinese Burns ). Washing powder (DETERGENTS) aggravates the condition if it is not fully rinsed out of the unmentionable garment. Lycra is a much better material as it conforms well to the contours of the body, moves with the legs giving much needed protection to your skin. The correct pants to get are the shorty type with legs at least 4 inches long and tightly fitting.
Ok! Ok! I know the ladies, won't like me mentioning that the frilly things they are used to, they are a definite no, no.
UPDATE 13th July 2007
Lux Soap Flakes was the traditional thing to wash these special garments in. Doing them by hand guaranteed that they were in prime condition for walking. Unfortunately the idiots at Unilever has withdrawn Lux from the market but others have taken their place.
Dri-Pak (dp ) manufacture these virtually identical Soap Flakes under their own brand Name See:- http://www.dripak.co.uk or
On the dp carton it specifically mentions that washing powder will damage waterproof and breathable fabrics. The dp soap flakes are available in Sainsburys at Forest Side.
All of the above products are recommended by the Woolmark standard.FEEDBACK
Dear G10 SMU
Boot's Chemist N'Ards have Soap Flakes which look suspiciously like the old Lux Flakes so give them a go.
Just seen this on your web site, firstly may i say this is a top tip, however as we both enter the twighlight years we find it increasingly difficult to get to ards, can you reccomend any soap flake emporium's in the east belfast area????
Kindest regards
N15 DRM
Anyone with a Radio call sign as young as yours should be able to jog into Ards.
Whenever you purchase new undies wash them in soap flakes before wearing. If you have sensitive skin the chemicals used by the manufacturers could cause sensitive skin to react badly. Make doubly sure that all of the soap is washed from the garment and that the water runs clear before drying. Apart from the Chinese Burns that you get from the incorrect detergent there is another reason. (See below)
WARNING
Household detergents, washing powder will destroy your waterproof walking clothes.Can someone please explain this joke, as I don't understand why football enthusiasts find it so funny.
DWR
This is the DWR problem. DWR stands for Durable Water Repellent. Standard household washing powders destroys your water proof clothing. It will allow water to penetrate into the insulating material of the lining and destroy its thermal properties. Your close fitting undergarments must wick away the sweat and your outer clothes must keep out the rain. By using the gentler soap flakes which are vegetable based the qualities built into your fabrics will last much longer providing you rinse the clothes thoroughly. A word of warning ... Do not put your outer layers of waterproof clothing into a washing machine there will be sufficient contamination within the tunnel of the powder tray of your machine to damage your outer clothes. Less than one part of detergent per million is sufficient to break down the waterproofing qualities of these expensive garments and let water in. Even simple items such as gaiters must be washed properly, if you can't get the correct soap then just brush off the dirt rinse them in clean tepid water.
There you have it 100 years of science has gone into modern washing powders and we must use a powder designed for hand washing at the beginning of the last century, ..... How things have progressed. Hand washing is a chore for those of us used to chucking everything into a machine and turning a knob. If you want to be comfortable then start hand washing,..... the instructions are on the packet. Oh! stop your complaining, In the desert of the Middle East I had to wash my kit in cold salt water with a bar of special soap and then rinse in soda lemonade, drinking water was far too precious. We even had to shave with this soap in cold salt water, what a wonderful time that was.
Even using gentle soap flakes the DWR will eventually fail and need to be replaced. Fortunately this is easy to do but not if the clothes are contaminated with washing powder. Wash the garments in soap flakes and rinse clear. Select only those garments which are to be waterproofed you don't want to be waterproofing your panties, do you.? Golly... there is no accounting for some people. Base layers are designed to wick away sweat ..... What fun it would be if you waterproofed yours.
It's just the outer garments that needs proofing, not the undies.
When we get together for a talk Louis and I will tell you how to do the re-proofing without advertising here.
I called into a local dry cleaners and they quoted me £18 ..... Yes Eighteen quid to re-proof just one of my hiking jackets,. That's more than the jacket originally cost.PONCHO
Adrian, what's that stupid thing you've got on, is it Speedy Gonzales's ..???.
You look like a big splash of custard. A ghost with jaundies. (jaundice)
The experimental poncho made its technology test appearance on Saturday 2nd June 2007 high up in the Mourne Mountains between Donard and Slieve Commedagh. The weather that day was suitably grotty to test out the poncho. I have been using this material for about 10 years to build kites, it is totally waterproof and much stronger than rip-stop for very little extra weight. For the last 40 years being involved with the RAF, Archery and other outdoor sports I decided that my Army issue poncho had reached the end of it's useful life. It was too heavy, and could not be packed into a small enough space even though it was still 100% waterproof with a lot of useful life still left in it. Do not confuse the dampness found inside waterproof jackets as a leak or defect, it is probably condensation.
The advantages of a poncho:
Very light in weight.
Takes up little space.
Easy to put on.
Protects your upper clothes.
Keeps your back-pack dry.
There is no condensation on the inside.
Keeps out the wind.
Arms can be drawn inside for extra warmth.
Doubles as a survival bag.
Can be used as a bivouac.
Useful as a ground sheet.
Very low cost.
High visibility yellow.
Disadvantages
Larger surface area to catch the wind.
Does not cover the lower legs.
Can blow upwards over the face.
Must be worn with equipment belt in high wind.
Frightens the hell out of kids.
Can be target for comedians.
Airline pilots think it's a wind sock.
The poncho worked better than expected my back-pack was dry as were my upper clothes and I was a s warm as toast protected from the wind and rain. Only my wrists and cuffs got wet. Even with all the hard work I was doing there was no condensation on the inside. One further improvement would be to add a draw string to the hood to stop it flapping about in high winds.
The current issue of poncho's available in the shops are a strange leopard skin pattern / design and are not suitable for men, however the ladies may think otherwise.
NOTE There is a very expensive fabric being sold under a well known brand name it can be found in most mountaineering and hill walking shops, just read the blurb on the labels. This fabric will deteriorate unless it is cleaned properly and re-proofed on a regular basis. From experience there is a much cheaper and brilliantly designed alternative North Face Venture Jacket but it must also be looked after carefully to preserve the DWR. Even the material in my poncho needs attention to keep it waterproof the Urethane Fabric Coating will both wear off and break down under UV sunlight.
INDEXWHITE OUTS
Nothing is ever predictable on the mountains and the higher you go the further you are away from safety. I have said before that you must always know exactly where you are on the mountain and it is advisable to be able to read a map and give your position as a grid reference. As you walk along look at the various features and translate them onto the map so you always have a point of reference.
Should the snow begin to fall, think very carefully about returning to the safety of the car and go home. There is nothing to be gained by forging on towards the summit. We are essentially out for an enjoyable walk and as such safety is of paramount importance. There is no shame in cutting the walk short and it is the responsibility of the leader to call a halt and return to base. There is nothing macho and there is no kudos in being an idiot. I have been caught in snow falls and the distance that you can see is seriously shortened. In relatively light snow the visibility can be cut to as little as 100 yards. In heavy falls of snow that distance drops to as little as 10 yards. I have never experienced conditions where I could see less than an arms length, I think that condition is called an avalanche. In really bad conditions it is impossible to determine where the snow ends and a long fall begins. When visibility drops below 10 yards retreating back to base is made very difficult as the track is rapidly buried in snow and you begin to lose your reference points. If you leave the track, and you probably won't even know you have left it, can lead you into dangerous terrain. Now you have two choices hunker down and weather the storm or try to return to base, possibly into mortal danger. Hunkering down is not a good option as you don't know how long the storm will last or how deep the snow is going to be. Walking downhill is really only an option if the snow has not hidden the track only continue if you are on an obvious path or are certain of the route.
It also helps if you have global positioning but in poor conditions any movement could be dangerous. Your first priority is to minimise heat loss and minimise energy output. Sometimes in white out conditions individuals can develop vertigo which is another complication to clear and rational thinking. I hope that you remembered to tell someone where you were going and the time you should be back again. It is equally important to tell your contact that you have returned safely.
The loss of daylight adds a whole new dimension of complication to being caught in a white out as your progress towards safety will be slowed down. If you can find shelter use it, and get a fire going, however I have only found shelters on two occasions in the mountains and I didn't need it either time. If you are simply delayed and your 'phone still works give your contact a ring and update him as to your new time of arrival. It is not an easy matter to decide whether to stay on the mountain during the hours of darkness unless everyone has adequate clothing to ward off the cold and wet conditions.
Snow white-outs are much more dangerous than cloud or mist, in cloud you can still see the path even if you haven't a clue where you are.
ICE stands for In Case of Emergency. An ICE number is therefore the telephone number of a friend or relative who should be contacted in an emergency situation. Phone users could have more than one ICE number, storing them in priority order as ICE1, ICE2, ICE3, etc.
Another consideration is to call the Mountain Rescue, they can be contacted by calling the Police. The problem is that you will be calling these volunteers out in bad conditions to rescue you. On the good side these Rescue Teams know the area very well and they have proper equipment to survive even worse conditions than you are in. It may be that your contact has already 'phoned the Police to tell them that you have not reported back to them. Two hours is the maximum time your contact should wait before contacting the Police. Remember the Mountain Rescue teams are all volunteers who freely give of their time to perform these rescues.. If we do our part and watch the weather then we can descend safely to base and not trouble these excellent people. NOW !, If you need to call them out, then they should be thanked by inviting them out to a sumptuous meal at your expense and every member of the team should be given a free bottle of whiskey and free drinks all night and you should also pay for the taxi's to take them all home safely. They have probably just saved your life, so don't be tight with the money. About £1,000 is about right for a rescue.
EXAMPLE:- 27th May 2007, Snow reported falling on Ben Nevis.
EXAMPLE:- 2nd June 2007, Visibility in cloud reduced to 45 yards, Mourne Mountains, we know, we were there.
There was a written report in the VMRT Log Book that three Boy Scouts were missing on Ingleborough Mountain, VMRT who were in the Keswick area and others at Skiddaw were contacted and despatched to the area. The mountain and surrounding area extensively searched in thick mist. VMRT, Police and others spent about 10 hours searching. Scouts found at home they had taken the bus without telling anyone. This incident which happened about August 1965 fortunately had a happy ending. It must be stated that many man hours were wasted in a fruitless search and even more servicing equipment and drying clothes. The aftermath of this episode caused the VMRT to be ineffective for a period of three days. If an aircraft had been lost there was nobody to go and try to find it. Bear also in mind that this was No 4 FTS Flying Training School and we had aircraft go down from time to time.
NOTE :- The year is correct.
Lightning Detectors information click hereLIGHTNING
Is not uncommon during the summer months here in the British Isles. It is possible that a group of walkers could be caught exposed on the mountain and we need to have some idea of the danger that we could be exposed to and what to do. Lightning in general takes the line of lowest resistance to ground. If it finds a tall sap filled tree it will usually discharge down through the tree exploding the sap under the bark. That's why you do not shelter under or near trees, ... unless you want to be converted to instant toast. If you happen to represent the lowest resistance to ground then your highly conductive salt filled body will probably be the discharge path. In addition to the discharge path there is a highly charged field in close proximity to it, secondary discharges can take place between trees and trees as well as groups of people close by. Very few people are struck by lightning in the British Isles but the possibility is real and should not be ignored. There are no hard and fast rules but common sense can go a long way to help. If you see a flash immediately seek cover and as you go start counting in seconds until you hear the thunder. Dividing the number of seconds by 5 will give you the distance in miles to the source. The shorter the distance the more danger you are in. Use the flash / bang calculation to work out whether the danger is getting closer or receding. If you feel your hair standing on end or have a tingling sensation or hear crackling sounds it means that a charge is building up close to you. If the flash / bang happens almost together then act immediately, you may have only seconds to dump the metal framed rucksack, brolly and walking poles and any other large metallic objects. Do not gather together, spread out, get down as close to the ground as possible so that you are not acting as a discharge path. Stay out of puddles, as the lower resistance of the water will act as a discharge path. Get into a dry gully, or between boulders, long grass, or heather and stay put until the danger is passed. Lightening strokes travel both upwards and downwards until the charge is equalised between cloud and earth the energy involved is colossal and can actually fuse sand into glass, a direct strike on a human can be quite nasty. I know it cost my insurance company several thousand pounds when my home was struck about four years ago.
The Belfast Newsletter of Tuesday 11th April 2006, page 4 EXTRACT
A man thought to have died after being struck by lightning 6th April 2006, in the Mournes his body was found at the top of Slieve Donard on Saturday by a group of walkers at the entrance to a stone shelter. The body, was partly covered with snow. Police said a post-mortem examination had found "no suspicious circumstances".
On the 8th June 2007 Stefan and myself went for a stroll up Donard and we came across a plaque to the unfortunate victim Carl Stephenson. Requiescat
INDEXWALKING POLES
I was recently asked why do you not use your walking poles, I did not answer the question then as the reason I was going to give was not thoroughly thought out in my mind. Here is the answer I should have given at the time. I want to get my leg strength and endurance built up first as I am totally out of condition. Once I feel that I am getting up to the correct level then I will start to use them. There are advantages and disadvantages in their use. Going downhill is perhaps top of my list as they give you that extra stability and confidence. Experienced walkers usually attach them to the back pack and only begin to use them whenever they are thought really necessary. On the flat level paths they are unnecessary and can even get in the way of progress. Most modern poles are telescopic and can be very easily adjusted to whatever length is thought necessary for the conditions. Generally speaking short for uphill places and long for downhill. The poles are manufactured from really exotic tempered aluminium alloy or carbon fibre and are designed for thrusting along their length. The aluminium poles do not like to be bent, they will resist bending to a certain extent then buckle so don't be abusing them. The carbon poles cost a fortune and are no better than the aluminium and while they resist bending and are much lighter they will fail immediately if they get an impact from the side. Aluminium will show a dent but keeps on working. The advantages of poles are that they can reduce knee pain on down hill sections and help to increase endurance give you improved stability on scree and moraine slopes. On slippery muddy sections they can be stuck into the mud to provide extra breaking effect and increase safety. The down side is that they weigh something ( not much ) and that they keep your hands full. You must learn when and when not to use them as bad technique can actual expend more energy. They provide stability and improve your confidence. Walking poles are not extra legs (two legs bad four legs good ) so don't be leaning forward on them as the upper part of your body will be expending excessive valuable energy. Walk upright, shoulders back, head held up the way you would walk normally and swing your arms naturally. The poles should make contact with the ground and give you a gentle push, do not force yourself along with them this wastes energy. The wrist straps should be attached and you can let the pole dangle for short periods when not in actual use. The big question is, are they worth buying ?. The answer is yes, if they make you look like an expert, sexy, really technically advanced and you impress everyone you meet. However if they don't cost too much, and you learn the proper technique, gives you that extra confidence with increased endurance, with a better safety margin, then the answer really is yes.
The tubes used top quality aluminium poles are usually sourced from Easton in America, they also make the best aluminium arrows. Walking poles can get dirty inside and need to be cleaned at least once at the end of the season before storing them away. Remove dirt and moisture which may cause corrosion on the inside. Do not use oil on the locking mechanism as the assembly may fail under load conditions.
While the poles will give you more confidence and make descending easier they are not a substitute for an ice axe to arrest a serious slide on ice or scree.
GROUP PROGRESS
This section has been rendered obsolete as we achieved our objective in walking to the top of Ben Nevis on 6th October 2007. Although the chart was just for fun it proved to be accurate in all major respects except that we would have reached the top sooner had we not been impeded by slower moving groups.
I will review this section later.
This is just for fun to chart our progress to a fitness level good enough to walk Ben Nevis. Check it every now and again to see how we are doing. There are two possibly three members of the group capable of running to the top of Ben Nevis they are not included in this rough estimate. The sharp eyed members of the group will notice that the shape of the progress line has changed since the last update of this page.. The line now represents more accurately the changes in a persons physical capabilities as training progresses. Some of you may feel that you are not making good progress. Nothing could be further from the truth. At the start of training almost everyone will make the most rapid progress, but not everyone because we are all different. Age, previous fitness and attitude all contribute to progress. Enthusiasm and motivation works wonders but this can be offset by seeing others bounding along undaunted by anything. Don't be daunted, just keep your spirits up in the certain knowledge that you will get to the top if you have the resolve to do the base work. This is not a race, and there is plenty of time. I am not anything like as fit as I want to be but I will keep on slogging away and I know I will achieve anything I want to. We are slowly becoming a team and a good team supports each other mentally and that gives us the incentive to keep going. There will come a time whenever you feel that you are not making good progress, don't worry it's the same for everyone. There comes a time when progress appears to be slow and this is the plateau, everyone gets the blues on the plateau. I know that even now, if everyone can if they push themselves hard, can get to the top of Ben Nevis. I don't want to push myself, I want to do it with a reserve of energy so that I can enjoy the moment. Progress is slow on the plateau, but don't let that get you down. The difference between someone being able to walk to the top of Commedagh and Donard is very little and the group have been on the top of Commedagh the hard way. Ben Nevis is not any more difficult in relation to what we have already done. My old friend who was taken off Kilimanjaro which is 19,300 feet got to 18,000 + before he retired was no fitter than any of us. He, ( I hope he doesn't read this, ) is not an athlete, he is built for luxury, a scrawny smoker, who did not do any training beforehand, highly intelligent, too much money, you know the sort. If he can get that far there is hope for the rest of us. I have trained kids and elderly men to do things they never thought they were capable of. Lewis is a sensible guy and I have no objection to following him and trying to do as he asks. He is experienced, and I am enjoying the challenges he sets. He reminds me of myself many years ago setting challenges to others. Regardless of how you feel now, apparently stuck on the plateau, don't give up, the difference between someone who can walk Donard and Ben Nevis is minimal. Progress on the plateau is slow and the changes are measured in small amounts, but keep trying and improvement will come, not in great quantities, but it will come.A... The very first walk together 31st March 2007
B... 1st Mourne walk 28th April 2007
C... 2nd Mourne walk 2nd June 2007.
D... 3rd Mourne Walk on 30th June 2007.
E.... 4th Mourne Walk, notice the marks are beginning to get close together. This is expected.( plateau )
6th Mourne Walk no report.
F.... 5th Mourne Walk, 21st July 07
G... 7th Mourne Walk 25th August 07
H.... 8th Mourne Walk 1st September 97This is the final assessment before we go for Ben Nevis and the purple smudge represents a reasonably accurate estimate of the spread of abilities within the group and how we will fair on the day. The exceptionally good walkers are not included. The only thing that will stop everyone getting to the top is severe weather conditions such as snow and ice or very high winds.
After the walk on 25th August we have reached point "G" on the training gradient which is ahead of schedule. Some of you feel that you could take Ben Nevis at this stage and most certainly you could. The marker shows the group average and not the "stars" that is why it looks as though I am marking us down. Everyone in the group can now do Ben Nevis if they push themselves on the day. I don't recommend this as it is better to do the extra training and have a reserve of strength at the end of the day to celebrate. Please don't think I'm being hard on you, a good walker always has something in reserve to enjoy at the end of the day.
REMEMBER
The older you are when you start walking the longer it takes to achieve fitness. However if you have maintained your fitness into more senior years then you should find it less difficult. On the other hand if you are young and train too hard and don't rest sufficiently between training sessions your muscles just won't do what you want them to. The secret is to back off from intensive training and let your body recover. This is what we will all do when we get to the required standard of fitness so that our bodies are rested and ready to take on Ben Nevis.
Given enough time and dedication to training everyone will catch up on the "stars" eventually, but not before we attempt Ben Nevis. If the group stays together after Ben Nevis then it will happen and that will be good for everyones health and well-being. However we must remember that in the future there will be others wanting to start walking with us and we must be mindful of their limitations and do everything to encourage them as we have encouraged each other thus far.
Don't worry about me always being the last one to the top, I pace myself as I know my limitations which I try never to exceed. I will arrive only minutes later, that's the way I do things. I am in my element in the mountains and always keep a reserve of energy and have no worries. I usualy carry everything I need to survive overnight. Believe me if I get into trouble everyone within a couple of miles will soon know about it. I will never leave anyone behind as that is not my way, if it takes someone a little longer than myself, that takes the pressure off me and I enjoy the walk even more in good company. The less pressure you put yourself under the further you are capable of going and the more you will enjoy yourself. The only problem is the amount of daylight remaining by the time you intend to finish your walk, so start early and finish early to be back long before dark.
INDEXOBJECTIVES
Whenever you want to do something which at the first attempt seems to be beyond your grasp requires a plan. Such a plan requires you to break the problem down into its component parts and see which of the parts it is possible to realistically achieve.
The first problem we face as a group is getting up and safely down very steep hills.
The second problem is doing it in a reasonable time.
Most groups starts off, as not as a team, but a motley crew of individuals with different skill levels and varying degrees of fitness.
The fitter people find it difficult to restrain their enthusiasm and slow down while the old crocks like me find it equally difficult to keep up. On the good side is that when we get to know each others limitations we begin to blend together into a co-operative. This is the beginning of esprit de corps ( the spirit of a group that makes the members want the group to succeed ) and is the beginning of team building so essential to success.
Providing we start training early, as we have done, and work together, as we are doing, there is no reason to doubt that we will achieve any reasonable objective we set ourselves. We need to believe in ourselves and in each other. Each member must be self reliant and at the same time watch each other giving words of encouragement. I have yet to hear anyone being discouraging towards anyone else, and that is the second rule of creating a good team.Let me state quite categorically, I have no doubt that we will walk to the top of Ben Nevis even though we are not yet fully a team at this stage.
I would even go so far as to say that if we maintain the progress we have made thus far Ben Nevis will not be a problem. Then we are faced with the problem of finding other challenging objectives to achieve.
Take it little by little and as you grow physically stronger gradually extending the range and endurance of what you can achieve. Do not try to accomplish everything all at once, build up gradually and methodically. As the group becomes a team the mutual respect and encouragement between one another will inspire you to higher things. There is still plenty of time to recruit new beginners starting from scratch. This is a good group which is beginning to work well together and we are beginning to achieve much but there is still work to do. In the meantime our strength, endurance and team spirit will grow stronger with every passing training session. There is no reason for anyone a member of the group to be discouraged, I know, I'm the crock, and I know I will succeed, ... providing I don't bust something.For an example of good team building you don't need to look too far. The local Archery Club called Lough Cuan Bowmen went to the World Archery Tournament in 2002 with a team of six and returned home with 8 World and European Gold Medals and two Bronze. Not bad for a small backwater club. Take a look at Comber Rifle Club, Olympic Gold, International Gold, and a massive collection of Silverware. Now! I wonder just who has to polish it?
MAP READING
To give a grid reference to the nearest 100 metres using the Irish Grid System. This example is to the ( triangulation ) Trig pillar on Slieve Donard. Give the letter identifying the map. The Mourne map is "J" J First quote the EASTINGS.
Locate the vertical grid line to the LEFT of the point and read the LARGE figures labelling the line either in the top or bottom margin of the line itself. ALONG THE HALL35 Estimate in TENTHS from this grid line to the point. 8 Next quote the NORTHINGS.
Locate the HORIZONTAL grid line BELOW the point and read the LARGE figures labelling the line either in the left or right margins. UP THE STAIRS27 Estimate in TENTHS from this grid line to the point. 7 The full 100 metre reference to the triangulation pillar on Donard is:-- J358277 Where is, J328:305 ? To the nearest word or number located there. Where is, J283:269 ? Where is, J372:188 ? Where is, J334:145 ? Answers by E-Mail to Adrian. My Apologies I gave a reference of J04 which of course dose not exist in this map.
Map reading is not rocket science and all hill walkers should have some knowledge of it before setting out. It is not a bad idea to study the map and plan a route, then leave a written message with someone so that they know where you are going. To give a grid reference you need to find your position on the map.
Turn the map so that it's orientation is correct, Ordnance Survey maps are always printed so that North is at the top of the sheet, use your compass to do this. Use the physical features you can see in the landscape about your location and determine where you are on the map. Then translate this into a grid reference.FIRST Give the EASTINGS by working from left to right "Along the hall". This will be the vertical line to the left of the square that you think you are in. In this example 35. Then divide this square into tenths and estimate how many tenths from left to right to give your best estimate, which is 8. Note this down as 358.
SECONDLY give the NORTHINGS which are read by the horizontal lines from bottom to top "Up the stairs" we are in 27 and our best guess is 7 when we divide this square by 10. Note this down as 277.
The entire position should now read J358277. " J" refers to the map we are using. The two groups of coordinates can be devided with a colon to make it less confusing Eg J358:277.
For this explanation I have used the triangulation pillar on Slieve Donard, so you can check my work for errors.Each of the large squares on the map represents 1 Kilometre and the squares you visualise roughly 100 metres which brings you within shouting distance. This is really kid stuff and to prove it there is a very good lesson to be had at:-
http://mapzone.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/mapzone/PagesHomeworkHelp/docs/easypeasy.pdf
This will give you everything you need to know plus a lot extra.Modern maps specify height in metres to convert a height to feet 1 meter = 3.2808399 feet Use your computers calculator to do the work then
Ctrl + C to copy the answer and paste the result using Ctrl + V.
Therefore 200 meters times 3.2808399 = 656.16798 feet
There are four cardinal points on a compass North, East, South, and West, ( Naughty Elephants Squirt Water ) however for the more adventurous explorer or sailor will want to use the inter-cardinal points NNE, ENE, ESE, SSE, SSW, WSW, WNW and NNW as we are not one of these intrepid types we keep things simple. For simplicities sake any point between North and East we simply call North East and give it a number between Zero and Ninety, In fact the compass is divided into 360 divisions and each division is called a degree which is also referred to as a beari
Click there
Boots are best but need not be expensive
