Preparation for Mountain Skills #2

kerry4sam

Well I done my Mountain Skills#1 course last week-end with Nathan & Jason and looking forward to completing my Mountain Skills #2 before year ending.

~ Can anyone advise how they prepared for the next stage?
~ Anything you feel you would have liked to have covered before you done MS#2 but didn't for some reason?
~ How many routes did you take on and any linkies to them online on mapmywalk or anything?
~ Any tips or general advice?
~ Anyone take on any routes solo?

I know I need more confidence with descending - fact! so any advice for that too would be a nice added bonus.

Just trying to start planning now.

My next few weeks will be cycling-based preparing for completing the Ring of Kerry for my 1st time, but after that I will be focusing on both (along with swimming some evenings too for my water aerobic-exercises that help my sciatica).

Thanks so much in advance,
kerry4sam

duckysauce

I know I need more confidence with descending - fact!


Hiking poles helped me with this

acorn

MS2 is a training course, you shouldn't feel under any pressure to have specific knowledge before the course, that's what the course is for- enjoy it !
Plenty time for logging walks and practicing as you prepare for your MS assessment.

As with any course on the hills it helps to be reasonably hill fit because you can concentrate more on learning if not struggling to keep up.

Poles are great for descending but can be tricky to juggle with map and compass while learning to navigate, will be easier as you gain confidance.

Nothing better than spending as much time as you can out there on the hills. You'll gain confidance with every outing.
Have you joined a club or have you a group of people to walk with ?

Arawn

I had to do my ms2 as part of my training. I hated every second of it. It's just not my thing. I still passed. So if you have any interest which you clearly do just calm down and you will be fine

kerry4sam

Thanks to all above ^^^

Well my preparation commenced today & Delira and Proud of myself so I was.

I actually had a chuckle before setting off today when I thought back at the treks; trails; walks and climbs I undertook in the past both solo and with others. We/ I would set off with little to no planning and would rely purely on basic knowledge; our instincts and common-sense at that time but without the actual skills I now possess. Some were impromptu with barely even a banana in our/my possession and looking back I wonder how in Gods’ name I ever actually made it home !

For today I planned; was organised; completed my check-lists and wore my proper gear/attire and was thorough in my prep-work. This is all very new to me so I didn’t want to get straight in there and land myself in trouble/injury but I enjoyed it. Not entirely sure this route today would satisfy the requirements for the assessment as it was below the 4hr marker for me but I had to start somewhere. I might log it anyway though as it was a mountain climb.

I climbed Torc Mountain, Killarney today for the first time in years! I’m having back trouble so have to stay off my lickle racer and I am finding the walking and climbing fantastic with the stretching; twisting and turning all taking away the pain in my back and I feel refreshed afterward.

This truly is a lovely little island we have here. I’ve explored this country on my racer; but after completing my MS#1 course I’ve found a new element of Ireland has been exposed now to me with the hills and mountains and with me now having the knowledge and skills to confidently get adventurous in another sporting aspect. I am truly happy about that and cannot Thank Outdoors Ireland enough for that!

I might use this thread as a log for myself to gauge my prep before MS#2 and ultimately my assessment if the local mods’ are okay with that.

Preparation for Mountain Skills#2 has commenced for kerry4sam.

Torc is nice, nice views for a short outing. You can bag two very quickly, Torc Mountain West Top is the outcrop between the main summit and looking towards say the Long Range area as you descend and is only a few minutes over and back across a boggy enough area.

http://mountainviews.ie/mv1/summit/550/

The eastern Mangertons and the old road is where I kinda started pottering about, more towards Knockanaguish and Peakeen at the Kenmare end.

kerry4sam

Deleted User wrote: »

Torc is nice, nice views for a short outing. You can bag two very quickly, Torc Mountain West Top is the outcrop between the main summit and looking towards say the Long Range area as you descend and is only a few minutes over and back across a boggy enough area.

http://mountainviews.ie/mv1/summit/550/

The eastern Mangertons and the old road is where I kinda started pottering about, more towards Knockanaguish and Peakeen at the Kenmare end.

Thank You for this. Their really are so many options available out there; must really get studying my maps

kerry4sam

kerry4sam wrote: »

Thank You for this. Their really are so many options available out there; must really get studying my maps

Oh loads in Kerry/W Cork.

Have bagged all the Reeks, Mangertons, Cahas and Dunkerrons and a lot of the Shehy/Knockboy and Paps/Derrynasaggart ranges, which is over 200 just in this part of the country. And the beauty is you can do each of them again and again, different approaches, incorporating longer and longer walks etc. etc. I keep going back to Hungry Hill, Carrauntoohil, Mangerton (can walk there from where I live), Mullaghanattin etc. so have done some dozens of times. Still lots to do in Dingle, though have done almost all the Brandons.

kerry4sam

btw: If anyone reading here in similar position to myself, please feel free to add in where you are at this point and any ambitions you may have before your assessment

Just a word of Thanks and an update also

I completed Tountinna Mountain, but not without some 'errors' en my route (see here). Tountinna will be added to my log now also, yey!

When I checked into my accommodation on the Wednesday 26th, it was overcast but lovely n dry. However, the following day I could not even see the back wall of the place the fog was down so low.
I went anyways to Doonane carpark but the weather and visibility was simply shocking for me. Still in pain from previous day; little to no sleep on the Wednesday night with same pain; all in all not a great start to Keeper Hill.

Went up by Eagles Nest but after the previous day and the above combined; I felt that I made the correct decision to admit defeat to Keeper Hill that morning and just complete Ballyhourigan Loop instead, but it was something. I won't be adding that to my log for several reasons, but ill definitely be back to complete Keeper Hill one day to add to my log.

With regards to the walking sticks above; I went in to purchase my maps in the outdoors store but just forgot about my sticks. Anywhoo, I just ended up improvising on the day with fallen branches I found en my route, nice strong n sturdy branches that I was fortunate to find (and even suited my height too)

That's where I stand thus far with my preparations:
~ Torc Mountain complete @ 535m
~ Tountinna Mountain complete @ 457m

FrostyJack

kerry4sam wrote: »

That's where I stand thus far with my preparations:
~ Torc Mountain complete @ 535m
~ Tountinna Mountain complete @ 457m

I am open for correction but I believe a "quality walk" must be above 600m and over 4 hours minimum. I can't remember where I heard that. And trail walks, like Wicklow Way don't count either. I did Ballinastoe to Djouce yesterday, even though it was over 700m and 4.5 hours, it was all trail and board walk so it didn't count. I did take lots of learnings though, for example never use a forest trail again, the walk from the carpark to Lough Tay took about 1 hour and a half of non-stop harassment of flies and midges and mind numbing boring scenery. From looking at the map I thought I could just cut through the forest but it was so thick it was ridiculous. I managed to cut through some of it, saving some time. I used it to practice tick off points etc and timing, which worked well.

kerry4sam

FrostyJack wrote: »

I am open for correction but I believe a "quality walk" must be above 600m and over 4 hours minimum. I can't remember where I heard that. And trail walks, like Wicklow Way don't count either. I did Ballinastoe to Djouce yesterday, even though it was over 700m and 4.5 hours, it was all trail and board walk so it didn't count. I did take lots of learnings though, for example never use a forest trail again, the walk from the carpark to Lough Tay took about 1 hour and a half of non-stop harassment of flies and midges and mind numbing boring scenery. From looking at the map I thought I could just cut through the forest but it was so thick it was ridiculous. I managed to cut through some of it, saving some time. I used it to practice tick off points etc and timing, which worked well.

Thank you for this

"Before attending a MSA you should complete and log at least 14 hill/mountain walks in a variety of upland areas of Ireland. At least 4 of these walks should be within 2months of the MSA."

So so by that direct quote from mountaineering.ie ; my log thus far is okay I'm going to log them anywhoo as they were a challenge for me (if nothing else) and has helped with my confidence; composure and experience. That's all good in my eyes too!

kerry4sam

My ideas for Tipperary came from my thread here

NathanKingerlee

Here's a little more quality walk info.

1. Six plus hours.
2. Not on paths/trails/way-marked ways; unless used for initial access or descent.
3. Proper hills and mountains, so above maybe 600m.
4. To play a active part in navigation and to use your map/compass over the route fairly seriously.

There can be a little give and take with this; like if you had an epic day in bad weather and learnt loads but were on lower hills or only out for 4 hours, etc.

Do log everything to show the amount of your experience, but only the above will count for the 14 quality walks.

FrostyJack

NathanKingerlee wrote: »

Here's a little more quality walk info.

1. Six plus hours.
2. Not on paths/trails/way-marked ways; unless used for initial access or descent.
3. Proper hills and mountains, so above maybe 600m.
4. To play a active part in navigation and to use your map/compass over the route fairly seriously.

There can be a little give and take with this; like if you had an epic day in bad weather and learnt loads but were on lower hills or only out for 4 hours, etc.

Do log everything to show the amount of your experience, but only the above will count for the 14 quality walks.

I knew I wasn't imagining this.

kerry4sam

I know I need to show proof of completing my First-Aid course but it is looking very unlikely I will ever see that cert!

I have the course complete and was supposed to receive that cert last year and even with recent contact I have not received my cert and does not look likely that I will either.

Can anyone inform me what my options actually are with regards showing that I have this course complete before I undertake the MSA?

Many Thanks,
kerry4sam

NathanKingerlee

You really need the cert; however the logbook should have details for fill in, in relation to the first aid course; that you can do yourself. You could also add some extra details about the course and make a note that you are having problems with getting your cert.

Maybe you'll have another course done also by the time of your assessment. This guy is really good if you are looking: http://remotemedicine.ie/

kerry4sam

NathanKingerlee wrote: »

You really need the cert; however the logbook should have details for fill in, in relation to the first aid course; that you can do yourself. You could also add some extra details about the course and make a note that you are having problems with getting your cert.

Maybe you'll have another course done also by the time of your assessment. This guy is really good if you are looking: http://remotemedicine.ie/

Thanks Nathan! Appreciate this

kerry4sam

Can a mod please lock this thread.

Due to an on-going spinal injury and subsequent consultations with Surgeons, my Mountain-Climbing has been terminated (along with any un-necessary sprinting and running; swimming; kayaking and rock-climbing).

I'm curtailed to cycling, hill-walking and tracks n trails which is okay as I love my lickle racer & hybrid bikes and my mountain-climbing gear can still be used for the others so always a silver lining

Was informed I could climb up the mountains fine but I would encounter issues on the descent. No iffs's or maybe, but I would encounter issues on the descent and I am not going looking for trouble to just going to stop all Mountain-Climbing.

Thanks to everyone who offered any and all tips, support and advice and of course Outdoors Ireland for MS#1,
Thanks again,
kerry4sam