Comeragh Challenge Review 2007

Coum Iarthar

 Comeragh Crossing

“If you can’t see the mountains; then it’s raining. And if you can; well then the rain is on its way!”

    ‘Tis true the rain doesn’t appear to want to ease up just yet, at least not on this part of the globe and as such, many a bog-trot this year has within a time frame of less than an hour turned on itself just to show you who’s the real boss!

…..Driving rain had me pondering all this on the North approach to Carrigagower whilst participating on the Comeragh Challenge on Saturday last. This and that how the wonderful people from Dungarvan Hillwalking Club cant stop themselves from feeding you (I honestly hadn’t eaten as much since Christmas, delicious......and many, many thanks to all) and how this ridge was starting to feel like the Col of Despondency…!!! What incredible views even with the smell of rain in the air…….mmmm…..not sure if I should have eaten that last snapjack...quite yummy though….Wow “big views” to be sure….

Speaking of the Col of Despondency isn’t it curious how every one of the challenge walks all seem to have their own individual and unique “Heartbreak Ridge”. It’s probably Binn Bhan on the 12 Bens and it might be Tonelagee on the Lug Walk, especially if you’ve just slogged through Barnacullion (seek ye out the elusive Easterly ridge it’s grassy and dry and yes it does exist, not just in legend and/or in myth!). Who thinks up these walks? Do they secretly meet to discuss new forms of torture? Still I do appreciate they no doubt probably do mean well…..mmmm….most of the time anyway!

One truly brilliant thing that I believe separates the Comeragh Crossing from many another walk is that it is a real occasion for a great day out and FOR ALL. What do I mean by this….?

Well anyone who has ever ventured a marathon run will be all too familiar with how frustrating it can feel just to get to actually start the run. Unless you’re a strapping young lad from the belly of darkest Africa or a young lassie who’s built like a stick-insect and from Ballydehob, chances are you’ll be at the back with the masses and it will take you half a day just to plod up to the starting line and by the time you do get there, the young lad is already on his way home looking to share a relaxing bath with the young lassie….as water is scarce at the moment in Africa but they can’t give it away in Ballydehob! This is fairly akin to the really painful knowledge that just as you are about to tackle the Col of Despondency on the “Turks”, news comes through that at that given moment in time, already there is many a “fit-fecker” sinking a “skinful” of “the plain” in a cosy shibeen with a roaring fire........it’s true, cruelty is very much alive and well in our world of Hillwalking!

Well with the Comeragh Crossing there is anything up to five different variations of the walk all going on in the one day! So what happens is that if you’re up to the “Challenge” part, you will at various sections break off from the trail, tear up to some summit for a coded checkpoint and then rejoin others who have their own missions on the day. As everyone tends to keep bumping into each other all through the walk, it is indeed comforting to know how all are feeling pretty much the same pain!

And sure come the evening and the Blister Party it always amazes me to see how well tired legs still have a dance in them…….whisst!.....who’s that over there hoppin’ and boppin’….? You know I think I’m starting to fall in love with the “stick-insect” from Ballydehob…..ah if I was only five years younger and I had my own teeth…..?

Many Thanks,

Jim Holmes. Standing Stone at the foot of Suí Finn