"Invasive non-natives ... widespread in Ireland" trap a couple in their 50s

mathie · 17-06-2014 11:11AM #1

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/rhododendron-rescue-hillwalkers-trapped-by-plants-for-five-hours-1.1835371

It took five long hours for two hillwalkers trapped in a thick forest of Rhododendron plants in the Knockmealdown Mountains to be rescued.

The couple, in their 50s, were helped from a treacherous area of steep ground overlooking Bay Lough by the South Eastern Mountain Rescue team on Sunday.

The two are experienced hillwalkers and were able to guide rescuers to their location in the dense Rhododendron forest on the Tipperary-Waterford border near an area referred to locally as the Vee, a V-shaped steep turn on the road leading to a gap in the Knockmealdown mountains.

Cahir River Rescue responded to the last leg of the journey to avoid the “risky and arduous trek” back up the slopes of Knockshanahullion.

Rhododendron plants are an invasive non-native species that are widespread in Ireland.

It was introduced to the country in the early 19th century as an ornament and game cover.

Killarney National Park said they spend hundreds and thousands of euros in an effort to eradicate the “destructive” plant each year.

Rhododendrons .... they'll be taking our jobs soon enough.

Why didn't they just walk back the way they came if they're "experienced hillwalkers"?

MagicIRL · 17-06-2014 11:13AM

The trees Joe, it's a disgrace Joe. Back in my day forests were safe Joe. Can't even hill walk in my country, Joe, ah jaysis.

BeerWolf · 17-06-2014 11:15AM

Them Rhododendrons invaded their personal space.

4zn76tysfajdxp · 17-06-2014 11:21AM

A lot of the key words in that article simply have too many syllables.

CrazyRabbit · 17-06-2014 01:10PM

Those Rhododendron plants are more like trees. It really can be like jungle terrain in a Rhododendron forest.

Any kind of dense shrubbery or trees can be hard to navigate through if you don't have the right equipment.

wazky · 17-06-2014 01:18PM

Can people not just walk around the house a few times instead of trying to navigate the formidable jungle of Waterford and nearly getting murdered to death?

Oink · 17-06-2014 01:26PM

Pesky Rhodo rhodoma Rhodomadrons?

Who you gonna call?

Machete!

The Backwards Man · 17-06-2014 01:29PM

It's the rescue workers that have to rescue these silly buckos I feel sorry for. They should be charged thousands for it.

If you have no business on the side of a hill, stay the fcuk off it.

Pat Mustard · 17-06-2014 01:30PM

mathie wrote: »

Why didn't they just walk back the way they came if they're "experienced hillwalkers"?

I'm guessing that they didn't prepare their route, probably took a chance and made their descent in a particular direction, got trapped on steep ground, and couldn't find a safe route back to where they had been. It's not always the same as being on flat ground, where you can easily see the terrain around you.

It's better to admit defeat and call in the cavalry, rather than be stretchered off with a broken leg.

Remmy · 17-06-2014 01:33PM

also known as Zimbabwe

anncoates · 17-06-2014 01:33PM

Today, Rhododendrons; tomorrow, Triffids.

Just saying.

maguic24 · 17-06-2014 02:13PM

wazky wrote: »

Can people not just walk around the house a few times instead of trying to navigate the formidable jungle of Waterford and nearly getting murdered to death?

Haha but where's the fun in that?

It's all about the adventure, Ted!

Turpentine · 17-06-2014 02:17PM

anncoates wrote: »

Today, Rhododendrons; tomorrow, Triffids.

Just saying.

Or Robo-dendrons. And if it comes to that day may god have mercy on us all.

kupus · 17-06-2014 02:48PM

I saw a comment i think that sums it up nicely, you cannot buy common sense in a northface shop.

Aglomerado · 17-06-2014 02:53PM

Turpentine wrote: »

Or Robo-dendrons. And if it comes to that day may god have mercy on us all.

:D:D:D

hmmm · 17-06-2014 02:56PM

Better to call mountain rescue than walk off the edge of a cliff if you can't find a way out. Everyone makes mistakes, it's better to see people out enjoying themselves rather than sitting in the pub giving out about bondholders.

Pat Mustard · 17-06-2014 05:49PM

This article was linked to in the Outdoor Pursuits forum.

"The married couple were two experienced walkers and they were very well equipped," SEMR team leader Ray Bradfield told independent.ie
"They had walked to the summit of the Knockshanahullion. But instead of taking the normal route down, they attempted to take the Bay Lough route. This brought them into steep ground and essentially impenetrable forest."
"They basically got in a position that they could neither go up nor down. They then contacted Mountain Rescue for assistance," he added.

Looks like they just got into difficulty. Bad luck to end up splashed all over the news.

Good publicity for the Mountain Rescue people though. They were on telly recently, looking for more funding. http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0613/623620-mountain-rescue-funding/

darkpagandeath · 17-06-2014 06:03PM

Triffids !!!!

Karl Stein · 17-06-2014 06:11PM

Rookies.

Back in my day you were sent to the shop for milk and had to avoid multitudes of terrifying Triffids.

Edit: Darkpagandeath got there before me.

Fred Swanson · 17-06-2014 06:22PM

This post has been deleted.

sunbeam · 17-06-2014 06:42PM

anncoates wrote: »

Today, Rhododendrons; tomorrow, Triffids.

Just saying.

We have those in Achill already, more commonly known as giant rhubarb.

They have taken over entire fields and stretches of bog, grow down the side of cliffs, in cracks in walls-even out of old chimney pots.

At least the rhododendron looks pretty for a few weeks a year.

Grab All Association · 18-06-2014 08:45AM

Sadly I couldn't find the clip

Marge: Oh no! It's eating us!
Homer: Not a chance!
Bart: Wow, dad, how did you do that?
Homer: It's a flower...

Cookie_Monster · 18-06-2014 10:49AM

just burn them down, great firewood and 'good' for the environment to get rid of the invasive species. may be a bit tricky to not get burnt yourself but worth the risk IMO.

Cookie_Monster · 18-06-2014 10:51AM

also what's with 'non-native', why can't it simply be described as foreign?

Philo Beddoe · 18-06-2014 10:57AM

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

also what's with 'non-native', why can't it simply be described as foreign?

Because they were born and grew up here.

Philo Beddoe · 18-06-2014 10:59AM

sunbeam wrote: »

We have those in Achill already, more commonly known as giant rhubarb.

They have taken over entire fields and stretches of bog, grow down the side of cliffs, in cracks in walls-even out of old chimney pots.

At least the rhododendron looks pretty for a few weeks a year.

My mother used to make rhubarb tarts out of the rhubarb growing in our back garden. I'm not sure if she actually planted this rhubard, she grew up in in Phibsboro so I don't know where she'd get such an agricultural notion.

Could you make giant rhubarb tarts out of this giant rhubarb?

whisky_galore · 18-06-2014 11:20AM

Philo Beddoe wrote: »

My mother used to make rhubarb tarts out of the rhubarb growing in our back garden. I'm not sure if she actually planted this rhubard, she grew up in in Phibsboro so I don't know where she'd get such an agricultural notion.

Could you make giant rhubarb tarts out of this giant rhubarb?

It's not closely related to the ordinary rhubarb so I doubt it.

CrazyRabbit · 18-06-2014 03:10PM

Personal Flamethrower: Never leave home without it.

syklops · 18-06-2014 05:04PM

hmmm wrote: »

Better to call mountain rescue than walk off the edge of a cliff if you can't find a way out. Everyone makes mistakes, it's better to see people out enjoying themselves rather than sitting in the pub giving out about bondholders.

Bondholders...Rhododendroms... I've got it! I've got the answer to all our woe!

"Invasive non-natives ... widespread in Ireland" trap a couple in their 50s

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