First Walk of 2014

Slieve Gullion  from Forkhill
Slieve Gullion
Sunday 19th of January is our first walk of 2014 and in keeping with club tradition it will be Slieve Gullion. Meet as usual at the Gap for registration at 10 am, bring a packed lunch/drink, as always a waterproof jacket and deep tread walking boots are essential- under club rules no  one walks  with us without these basics. Gaiters and walking poles are always recommended. Expect to be out for 4/4.5 hours. New comers are always welcome, but for your own enjoyment please note that a reasonable level of fitness is required to walk even with our C group.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Walk

 

It looks like this storm will have blown over by Sunday, just in time for our Christmas Family Walk, so dig out your Santa boots and Christmas hats and come join us, for a ramble,  you never know who you might meet!!!

 Banbury-Santa

                               All are welcome, remember to bring a waterproof jacket and a packed lunch, registration from 11.30 in Gap O’ the North, Jonesboro’. Depending on the weather the walk will last for 2/2.5 hours and will be on rough tracks so not suitable for push chairs. (An alternative route will be in place if the wind returns and festivities will go ahead even if we can’t walk!!!)

Join us afterwards in the Gap for Christmas festivities with entertainment for all the family including a prize for the best Santa Hat!

Christmas Walk

Banbury-Santa

Join us for our Christmas Ramble on Sunday 29th of December, setting off at noon from the Gap pub Jonesboro’. The walk will last 2/2.5 hours and will be on paths (although not suitable for push chairs), bring a packed lunch and join Santa for some hot chocolate and mulled wine in the forest! Entertainment and refreshments for all the family back in the Gap until late!! All are welcome.

Ravensdale Walk

Our walk this Sunday, 1st December sees us staying local, in the Ravensdale area. We will have 2 groups out a B and C, both walks will be 4/4.5 hours and routes will vary with the B Group taking in a few extra climbs!!

There is plenty of history along the way as groups follow routes taking them from Callan’s sawmill, to Ben’s Rock, then along the Cadger’s Pad to Clermont Cairn and finally B Group will stop off at Cairnawaddy, (translated as cairn of the dog and reputedly the burial place of Cuchulainn’s faithful hound Bran).

Carnawaddy

We can’t guarantee the same weather as when this picture was taken at Cairnwaddy on one of our past Family Summer walks!

The Cadger’s Pad according to local tradition is the route taken by the herring girls of Omeath who carried creels of herrings on their back over the mountain to meet fishmongers from Dundalk at Ravensdale.

As usual we meet at 10 am in the Gap pub Jonesboro’ for tea/coffee, to organise car pooling and meet with our walks leaders for a safety/route briefing. It is Club policy that all walkers are properly kitted out with deep tread walking boots and a water proof jacket as a minimum, walking poles and gaiters are always recommended. Bring a packed lunch, hot drink and water. It is advisable to carry an extra fleece/layer of clothing.

In line with Club Policy all new walkers or those returning to walk with us after an absence must walk with the C Group.  We hope to see all those who joined us for their first time on our Forkhill walk back this Sunday, if for nothing else but for the delicious bowl of stew which always awaits our return to the Gap !!

 

Bracket Fungi

Bracket-fungi
Bracket Fungi?

This picture was taken last Sunday on our walk on Shean Mountain. It appears to be a Bracket Fungi which feed on wood, either living trees or dead logs, the brackets are the fruiting bodies.  These form shelf-like structures singly or in groups and normally stick out from the trunk or branches though some can develop from infected roots and appear at ground level.

There are many different species of bracket fungi and they can vary in size from a few cms to a giant polypore (Meripilus giganteus) which can reach 1m across. Some species are specific to a particular host, ash and beech trees are both very susceptible to specific bracket fungi. Some of the other more interesting specimens include the gruesome “beefsteak” fungus that looks like raw meat and produces red juice when cut and the more attractive “chicken of the woods” which is bright yellow and a gourmet delicacy.

(But don’t take my word for it!!!)

Bracket fungus causes severe damage to trees. The first external symptom of infection, (often the appearance of the bracket fruiting bodies on the trunk or main branches), may be preceded by visible crown thinning and die back. By the time the bracket appears there will already be extensive internal heartwood decay. Decay usually leads to weakening and eventual breakage or wind fall of the tree.