The Mourne…Seven Sevens !
Posted by Glenn
Last Saturday I had the pleasure of taking part in the Spartan Red Sox annual Seven Seven’s Challenge. (some would debate whether or not it was a pleasure!)
There were approximately 185 entries this year, with the aim being to climb the seven highest peaks (>700m) in the Mourne Mountains, starting at sea level, in Newcastle.
Being intent…this year…on enjoying the walk, and not minding too much if we didn’t complete them all, a couple of us settled in to a more pleasurable pace, completing 5 of the 7 (plus the long trek back to Newcastle!) in 12½ hrs (which is still a long days walking) and most of the rest of our lads finished in around 13½ hrs, with one of the Kilimanjaro team completing it in 11 hrs 33 minutes! Well done Irwin Adair ! A list of all entries, with times, can be downloaded from the Spartan Red Sox Walking Club site here.
We had a Pasta Party in a caravan at Cranfield the night before, which was great, but, thinking about the day ahead meant there wasn’t much sleep to be had…not in my bunk anyway!
We had a very wet start to the day, as you can see from the cloud behind Stephen above. I quickly realized that it was too warm for what I was wearing (my Páramo jacket, with a base layer) and yet it was too wet, to do without a coat. I took off the base layer, and put the coat back on (next to my bare skin)…and it worked perfectly for the rest of the 12½ hours. It was total comfort…highly recommended!
The scenery was stunning, when it wasn’t raining, and you could see it!
I don’t think the fell runners seen much of the scenery!
The views were amazing!
Still smiling at the finishing line!
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10 Responses to “The Mourne…Seven Sevens !”
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Great photo’s - I was too tired to take any by the time it faired i.e. after the first five hours! I think that after that toughie walk we’re all ready for Kili now.
Well…I don’t think any single day on Kili will be any tougher than that, as far as walking goes, so if we can maintain this level of fitness it will be good. The altitude will be the problem!
There are just under eleven weeks to go now!
Hey Glenn!
Lacking net access, so just seeing this now. I’m glad you’re still looking forward to Kili after your 12hr trek through the damp and mud!
We’re only 15 mins away from Mt. Wellington here in Tassie, and it would be an excellent training ground for anyone wanting to do what you guys are doing.
Mt Wellington sounds great Armen, have you been?
Great photos mate (especially the last one). It was an exhausting day even doing the 5 + the walk back; there was no way I was for getting the bus back to Donard….!!! Thanks for your company over the day; i felt we achieved something and we know after 12 and a half hours in that weather we are ready for anything.
Looking forward until 8 weeks time God willing when we’ll be heading for Tanzania.
PS: What camera settings did you use for the photo of the castles… great effect on the running water. Also; i look a bit tired and depressed in the second photo down….!!! I’ll have to remember to keep smiling :o)
Hi Stephen! That definitely was a memorable day! What do you mean “especially the last one”…the only one I didn’t take!!! LOL!
8 weeks….I still can’t believe it!
The Castles photo was shot at 1/10sec,f/11, ISO100, to give the blurred water. I don’t know if you noticed, but I was right in the stream, down at the water, with the back of my hand on a rock…to allow the slow shutter. That was not a day to carry a tripod!
I would think there will be many a tired face in the photos from Kili!
Yeah, I have been. However, I drove up! [shock horror]
Wow……[sits down, in shock...] [wait a minute...I already am sitting down...well, you get the picture...]
…there was me, thinking that you and Mel would be slogging up Mt Wellington…suffering altitude sickness etc, and now you tell me…you drove up?
Only kidding!
From your comment in the other post, it must have been quite an experience!
A little off-topic here…are there any exotic birds in Tasmania? Like the ones you photographed in Oz?
Well, maybe it’s the time of year (the start of Spring), but I haven’t seen many exotic birds here yet. Kookaburra’s are fairly common in the right places, and Cockatoo’s seem to be a bit like Gala’s in SA: common, and a serious contributer to ‘noise’ polution!
Maybe if I actually attempt to walk up the mountain, I might see something else.
Believe me Armen, Kookaburra’s & Cockatoo’s are exotic alright! LOL!