Hikeling Ireland

So good
To come back
To The Gap!
Glencullen Adventure Park - The GAP

1st trip to the mountains on a bike this year to reach the highest peak of Wicklow mountains – Lugnaquilla. Thought its going to be a great start of preparation before hitting Kilimanjaro and to check how good or bad my fitness level is and where to improve. It was also a matter of principle after last years ‘’loss’’ when I went there way too late, but because of my stupid temper (all or nothing) decided to reach the very peak but got lost in the clouds and had to climb down in complete darkness and carry my bike. So this time I went earlier, counted the time and thought all trip is going be smooth and nice.. but well...
Trip plan was pretty simple and seemed very right - start from Glenmalure Lodge, head to Baravore Car Park, then all way up and after reaching the peak, easy way down passing Corrigasleggaun Hill then through forest roads back to Glenmalure down. Once did it opposite way, so from my memories I was expecting an easy and joyful downhill on bike which will take not more than 1 hour. Sooo...
Once jumped on a bike and started to ride it felt so damn good! Fresh weather, nice views, I’m pedalling up and not getting tired at all. Stopped to make some pictures, admire those views and instead pushing myself up just enjoying.. Easily and nicely, bit by bit moving forward until reached that beautiful Fraughan Glen Waterfall. Was in this place for so many times but every single time I’m stopping and just staring around. All surrounded by beautiful hills you can feel the beauty and power of nature and how small you really are..
As well it was steepest part of trail so had to put bike on my shoulders and simply climb up. It wasn’t first time for me to do that but hikers I met on the way up never seen anybody before who would be climbing up with a bike. Many of them were so damn surprised that had to stop for few times, have a quick chat and just to explain wtf and why am I doing that. Well, I’m calling it Hikeling. Just mixed hiking and cycling together. So basically you’re still hiking but you do have a bike. Of course tricky places becomes trickier but going downhill you can have way more fun. Well.. in most cases. And well.. depending how good you’re biking skills are.
So after that climb with bike on my shoulders realised that I’m way better physically prepared then thought because after first 10 kilometres didn’t felt tired at all. So simply kept going and didn’t stop but very soon realised that sun goes down earlier than I thought. Straight away came back thoughts from last hike when I was trying to climb down from hill in complete dark and if it will happen today I even don’t have a torch. So had a choice – to turn back or to keep going with zero f*cks given what’s happening next.
So made a decision to go and simply rush because really didn’t want to get stuck here in the hills in complete dark. If it would be summer - why not. Could sleep under the sky and not give a f*ck. But not in damn winter when it’s minus degrees and I am half wet.
So I’m just moving, enjoying those beautiful snowy sunset views and hoping that sun won’t hide behind horizon too quick. It isn’t too cold while moving on foot just legs getting tired and starting to cramp but I don’t have time to stop even for short while. Silly thoughts starts to come into my mind, like – wtf am I doing here so late in that cold, that couple kilometres distance around there is no one else alive. Only me, mountains, sunset and cold. But as well it felt so damn right!
So few couple steps and I’m finally here on the very top of highest peak of Wicklow mountains and highest peak in Ireland outside Co. Kerry – Lugnaquilla.. and it feels so f*cking great! But wait.. there’s no time to enjoy and have to go down because sun is so low and I still have around 10 kilometres to go finding way down. Clouds came around and most important thing for now is to choose the right direction or otherwise.. I’m getting lost somewhere in cold mountains, where many places don’t even have phone network coverage. Think wouldn’t be too much fun especially when shoes completely wet and I dont have proper clothing. But less thinking – have to keep moving!
Was hoping that downhill on bike will be easiest part of this hike but.. in about minute once hopped on my bike and started go downhill because of cold foots and hands became frozen and couldn’t feel or move them at all. But still had to rush going down and really didn’t want to get stuck here in dark. As well my plan from Lugnaquilla go down and then up through Corrigasleggaun Hill and then to Glenmalure fell apart when after going downhill had to climb up. My legs were so tired and started to cramp so badly that couldnt do any uphill anymore and had no time to rest. So found one little footpath beside which doesn’t go uphill and doesn’t go down. So thought I will walk that mountain around and then through the forest roads easy way down. But.. once did halfway that mountain around this little footpath simply just gone..
Then was standing and thinking – so which way go now? Was getting dark and harder to see anything around and I was staring straight down to the forest and on one of its sides looked like I see forest road down. So through all the bushes decided to go straight down. Those bushes were bit over my knees but it was so tricky to walk through them as every step you never know where are you stepping on stones or on flat ground with frozen foots. As well was pretty steep so had to be careful and not to fall down.
Sooo… all body exhausted, gets really dark and I’m trying to brake through all those bushes and reach place where thought I have seen forest road. But when finally reached what thought it’s a road realised that there is only little damn river and I have no more strenght to keep going and just willing to fall. But once stopping moving it's getting cold so have no other chance but only to go. So throwing my bike across that river, getting over it and then moving forward. As I do know that damn forest road is already somewhere close. But then reached another river. So throwing bike across again. Crossing it again. Moving forward. And then another damn river and then another. Still thinking there was four or five of them. Or maybe even six? Already was pi**ed off so badly, it was nearly completely dark, barley could see anything and still had to keep moving forward through all those damn bushes, stepping on stones, nearly falling and still carrying my bike... but finally. Finally found that damn road! Now feeling way better and inside do know that only couple kilometres left by bike through forest road and I may safely reach destination – home. I was very lucky that weather is clear and the moon brightens up my way through dark forest road. But still can’t speed up and do have to slow as on dark road could hit some tree or a big stone. But bit by bit, through the dark forest, all completely wet and without feeling my foots and hands I’m finally reaching the point I began. Feeling completely exhausted but exited AF!

Having some fun on windy day Glencullen Adventure Park - The GAP last Sunday.

That long downhill to Glenmalure..

First touch of first snow 2019 in Ireland 18/11/2019

Some beatiful views from Djouce on sunny but breezy Monday morning.