Windy days in the hills

Although the weather wasn't great, we decided to head out into the Mourne Mountains. We headed off to Slieve Binnian, aware that the wind and rain weren't the best conditions to hike in, but still thought we'd give it a go.

Starting just above Annalong, we walked up the path passing some lonely houses and this horse which seemed less than impressed with the weather conditions! The grey sky and gusts of wind should have been a good indication of what was in store further up the mountain.

The snow and ice at the top of the Mournes had melted and the ground was thick with mud and slush which made progress slow. The wind gusts stopped us in our tracks but we were out so seemed crazy to turn back.

At points we were forced to hunker down in a bit of shelter. This photo of Oonagh Thompson might give some idea of the strength of the wind. Being somewhat more diminutive than the others out this time, it's not surprising she had to find shelter, but even the larger of us (no names) had to find cover.

The highest peak in this photo is Slieve Binnian. You may be able to see the pass between the two rocks.  As we climbed over this we were met with winds in and around 90 miles per hour. We didn't last long on the other side before having to turn around and head down the way we came. We lasted just long enough to get this photo which doesn't come close to doing the conditions justice. 

We were all pinned down and had to wait for a break in the wind and make a dash for shelter. Still time for a cup of tea before heading down and back to a warm house! Also the turkey and stuffing sandwiches were exceptional! 

The team decide to take the direct route down Slieve Commedagh

Winter runs

While in Manchester some of the team decided to go for a run, not the nicest of conditions for it but not bad enough to stop them. A few miles of woodland, open fields and flooded paths while chasing the dog got the heart rate up and the kept the cold air at bay. Eventually they caught the dog and presented him  as prize to their loved ones waiting in the warm, dry, tea and coffee filled house. Surprisingly a wet, muddy dog wasn't quite the gift they were hoping for.

5 little things to make those winter hikes a bit more comfortable

Winter out on the hills might not be everyone's idea of a good time but there are some people who just can't resist the outdoors, even when the weather tells us to stay in. Here are 5 little things which we found make those winter hikes just a little bit more enjoyable!

1 - Rubber Crampons

We have to admit, we were dubious about using these. The rubber frame which slips over your boot or trainer has a number of small metal studs attached to it which are designed to improve grip on snow and ice. When we first saw them we shared a collective sceptic glance, only to have our doubts banished. These little gems are cheap and come in a various forms but we can't claim that they're are all as good as the Veriga City Track Pavement Crampons. They are not designed for heavy duty weather and you won't see these on Everest but they do make you a bit more sure-footed on your day-to-day hikes. 

2 - The Buff

The little tube of fabric comes in all sorts of designs (we like this 7 summits number) and can be worn in at least 12 ways, so claim the makers. Beanie hat, face mask, hair band, bandana, scarf and loads more variations mean this simple little tube of fabric is useful almost all of the time! There are Buffs for all conditions, fleece Buffs for the cold, UV resistant or the good old original. We like the original, it's warm in the cold, cool in the warm and there are designs to suit everyone's tastes.

3 - Reusable Hand Warmers 

For those of us who feel the cold more than others these little packs of heat could be just the trick. The hand warmers can fit inside a pocket or glove (depending on the size) and give off heat for a few hours fending off the chilly air and keeping those hands warm. They can be reused thousands of times and cost as little as 3 pounds. 

4 - Thermos Flask

We all know the importance of a hot drink on a long walk, especially in the winter time! Tea, coffee, hot chocolate or whatever your tipple, these little beauties are one of the essential pieces of kit for a winter hike. Coming in all shapes and sizes at a range of prices there's something for everyone.

And last but not least...

5- Snickers! 

You might have your favourite treat on a walk, ours is the good old Snickers. Not any of these artificially coloured, fluorescent, e number ridden rubbish. Just good old fashioned caramel, peanut, chocolate and nougat, that's what does the trick for us! 

The Mourne Mountains 10th December 2011

After an week of rain, howling winds and a bit of ice on the roads Saturday came and with it a day make for hiking.

A bit cloudy and not exactly warm but even sun shine to make it worth while getting into the Mournes. The wind had dropped a touch but it was still strong and cold enough to chill the face when it peaked out from the coat.

We started walking through thick woodland which sheltered us from the worst of the wind. The generous rain and melting ice further up the mountain swelled this little waterfall which we passed early on. The woodland finished pretty quickly and the extra layer that had been discarded gradually got put back on.

Apparently the Mourne Mountains were the inspiration for C. S. Lewis' Narnia and reaching the saddle between Slieve Donard and Slieve Commedagh you can see why. The layer of snow which covered the ground really did make the place look magical.

Of course not everyone was savoring the moment and soon snowballs started fizzing through the air. Luckily we're all terrible shots and not a single one landed, must do better next time!

As soon as we left the shelter of the Mourne wall we found that the wind hadn't in fact dropped and was pushing pretty hard. A few sideways steps and with the cloud closing in shortening visibility to a few meters we decided to head down.

Ruud decided that he'd had enough of walking and when the grip on his boots failed he let gravity take over. He zipped past on his backside, arms flailing and giggling like a kid in a sweet shop. Seemed like a good idea so I quickly followed. It was all fine and good until Ruud's giggles turned to a howl of pain. Turns out the snow not only makes the place looks great, but covered sharp rocks which Ruud has a habit of finding with his elbow and arse. I started walking after that.

Great to be out in the mountains again and looking forward to getting out there again!

Suggestions welcome

So far we have spoken to Compassion in World Farming and Operation Smile. Both charities are delighted to support the 3 Peaks Cycle Challenge and will be helping in every way they can.

Training is going well for the team and each member is working on fitness, something that's pretty tricky this time of year.

Plenty of events coming up for certain members, half marathons, marathons, half iron man triathlon and plenty more random but fun filled ways to get ready for the challenge. If you come across any events that you think would be a fun way to train / to get ready for the event please post on this blog.

Assault causes, endurance events, triathlons... all suggestions welcome!

Charities...

We have decided to support 2 charities.

Operation Smile and Compassion in World Farming. Both are worthy causes and deserve as much support as we can give them. There'll be more information about each charity and how to donate soon.

Thank you.

The Team...

We are proud to announce the team for The 3 Peaks Cycle Challenge!

Each has a page dedicated to them and a small amount of information about them. We'll be telling you a bit more about each person as we go along and they'll be keeping you up to date with fund raising, training and any other information you might need!

The Challenge...

The reason for this blog is so friends, family and anyone else who likes a challenge can follow the progress of the 3 Peaks Cycle Team.

Our aim is to raise as much money for charity as possible. We know that people are bombarded with requests to give money to charity, so we decided to earn it.

The 3 peaks challenge is a popular money raising activity and rightly so. It involves climbing the 3 of the highest mountains in the UK, namely Ben Nevis (Scotland), Scafell Pike (England) and Snowdon (Wales). Well deciding that this wasn't tough enough we decided to make it just a bit more difficult. We decided to cycle between the highest 3 mountains in the UK.

Simply put this will involve climbing 3 mountains and cycling 450 miles in 5 days.

Please check back, there's lots more information to come...