2011-12 Walking Season

Spring Walking News
The March Walks` Schedule is now posted on the site. The Map Reading classes have commenced in Rathgormack and will continue for the next 5/6 weeks. Our trip to the Burren in April seems very popular, with over 25 people going. I will post up more details of the walks and the area in early March (above is view of Knockanes and Turloughmore Hills from Mullaghmore). We have about 16 going on the trip to the Lake District in June (view from Haystacks` summit below). More details about that after the Burren trip. From April to June most of our hill walks will be in the Knockmealdowns and Galtees. Mountaineering Ireland have their Spring Gathering in the Comeraghs this year on the second weekend of March. Look up their website to check it out.

Older Posts: Why not click on "older posts" to have a look at some of the walks and trips we`ve done over the last few years.
20010-2011 Walks: Most of the walks we did over the last twelve months are now listed on the web site.

New Members New members are welcome. Please contact Mick (club chair) at 087-2927077. Club rules allow 2 walks with the club before making a commitment to joining. Suggest intending members start with a couple of C walks to acclimatize. Club rules and guidelines are posted on the site.

Grading of Walks
Grading walks can be very subjective. For our club purposes they are:
Grade A: 5-6 hours – to the plateaux and ridges. Strenuous. May be some scrambling.
Grade B: 3-4 hours – to the coums and lower hills. Rarely above 600 metres.
Grade C: 1-3 hours – on forest paths and back roads. Rarely over 10 km long.

Meeting Points and Times
All walks will start at 10.30. Car pooling is encouraged for environmental reasons.If we meet for car pooling we will allow for travelling time.Most walks will be looped/horseshoe walks. Posted on the site using this formula: Date/Area/Meeting Point/Time and Length/Grade.

Rathgormack Ramblers` Walks` Schedule - 2011-2012

Sunday Feb 19th
Lachtnafrankee
Meet Rathgormack at 10.00
4 hrs and 11 km
Grade B

Sunday March 4th
Knocksheegowna and Glenanore stream
Meet Rathgormack at 10.00
4 hrs+ and 11 km
Grade B

Sunday March 11th no walk
MCI have their Spring Gathering in Clonmel. They have walks in the Comeraghs on Saturday 10th, check out their website.

Sunday March 18th
Croney Hill
Meet Rathgormack at 10.00

1.5 hrs and 7 km
Grade C

Sunday March 25th
Crotty`s Rock from Coumshingaun
Meet Rathgormack at 10.00
4 hrs and 7.5 km
Grade B

Rathgormack Ramblers

Rathgormack is a small village situated in County Waterford in the foothills of the Comeraghs about 10 kilometres south-west of Carrick-on-Suir on the R678. Rathgormack Ramblers Hill Walking Club was founded in 2008. The club provides it`s members with an opportunity to partake in rambling and hill walking, mainly in the Comeraghs and Knockmealdowns. The club particularly urges it`s members to be aware of the need for safety on the hills and of the need to respect the communities and environments of the mountains.
We are a small club with a membership of about 40. We are affiliated to the Mountaineering Council of Ireland. All our members are insured both for personal accident and personal liability insurance.

Rules/Guidelines for club members of
Rathgormack Ramblers

1 Introduction
Rathgormack Ramblers Hill Walking Club is totally committed to the safety of its members and
considers it good practice to operate in accordance with the following guidelines.

2 Club Activities
(A) Club activities are recognised as being those which:
Are published at a club meeting.
Are published on club notice boards.
Are funded by the club.
Require group transport through the club.
(B) Organisers of Club Activities are bound by the conditions of the Club`s Constitution and Rules.

3 MCI Warning
(A) The Mountaineering Council of Ireland recognises that mountaineering and climbing are activities with a danger of personal injury or death. Participants should be aware of and accept this and be responsible for their own actions.
(B) Each club member is insured under the same insurance as all MCI affiliated clubs. If you require further information please contact the MCI.

4 Grades of Walks
Grading walks can be very subjective. For the purpose of our club walks:
Grade A Walks: 5-6 hours duration and over 12 km in length. Will reach 700 metres in elevation and traverse ridges and mountain tops and may involve some scrambling. A good level of fitness required.
Grade B Walks: 3-4 hours duration and 8-12 km long. Usually on lower hills or to the mountain lakes, rarely reaching over 500 metres. A reasonable level of fitness needed.
Grade C Walks: 1-3 hours duration and less than 10 km long. Usually on forest tracks,minor roads or along river banks with the odd moderate climb.

5 Club Rules/Guidelines
Car pooling is advised.
Respect private property and observe the Country Code.
Park carefully and don`t obstruct laneways, gates, traffic etc.
Members are responsible for their own actions.
Members are advised to select a walk that matches their fitness level.
If you are on medication or suffering from any condition that might affect you on the walk, you must inform the walk leader before the walk starts.
Walkers should bring with them the following essential items:
strong walking boots with good ankle support; gaiters; a hooded waterproof coat with waterproof trousers; plenty warm clothing including gloves and a hat (don`t wear jeans); sufficient liquids and food.
Walkers should consider the following recommended items:
relevant map; compass; whistle; watch; torch; first aid kit; some form of personal I.D. and the name of someone who can be contacted in the event of an accident.
All members must comply with club rules.
All members must sign walk registration form prior to each walk.
All members must follow instructions of leader at all times.
For everyone`s safety the group should stay together for the duration of the walk. A group should travel no faster than the speed of its slowest member.
Accidents should be reported to the leader immediately.
The leader has the right to refuse anyone not adequately equipped.
The leader may extend, curtail or alter the route. He/she sets the pace and walkers are expected to follow at this pace.
If you go ahead of the leader you are no longer considered to be part of the group and you are responsible for your actions and for those who follow you.
Inform the leader if you are feeling tired or if the pace is too fast for you.
Inform the leader if you wish to stop for whatever reason.
Prospective members may participate as guests on two walks.
By signing the Walk Registration Sheet at the beginning of each walk, participants-both members and visitors-agree to abide by these rules.
The Committee of Rathgormack Hill Walking Club asserts that no walk leader can be held responsible for the welfare of individuals who ignore these rules.
Week-Ends Away: Only members and their families and friends may take part in our club weekends away.

6 Insurance
As a members of Mountaineering Ireland all members of Rathgormack Ramblers have Public Liability and Professional Indemnity Insurance in Ireland and Britain and within the European Union. This gives protection to members from being sued for negligence.
Members also have some Personal Accident Insurance - 75.000 euro to cover permanent loss of a limb or an eye, permanent loss of hearing in one ear, permanent loss of speech, permanent and total disablement from employment.
However, members do not have accident and emergency cover under our MI Insurance. We are advised to get this insurance if travelling on a walking holiday. The MI does organise a Travel and Activity Insurance through the British Mountaineering Council. At the very least members should carry their European Health Insurance Card with them on holiday within the E.U. This entitles you to free emergency and medical care in any public hospital in the E.U.