Yesterday, three of us climbed Slieve Binnian……..third highest peak in the Mourne Mountains…….747m/2,451ft…..
When we left Ballymena it was wet and grey and miserable…….when we arrived at the foot of the mountain it was wet and grey and miserable! Visibility was reduced to about 20-30ft at times……..it was quite amazing………eery in the misty wet atmosphere……but, amazing!
And tough…..it was really tough…….probably a harder climb than Slieve Donard was…….I think…..
My knee really gave me trouble on the ascent………it threatened to break me at one point……I pretty much almost threw up on account of the pain and exhaustion but, after re-fuelling with fig rolls, nuts and lots of water we made it………the tors on the summit of Binnian……the outcrops of granite……..rock formations………they really are spectacular……perhaps more so in such misty grey weather. It was like another world……
This image probably sums up the day – Michael led the way through the terrible visibility, his map and compass was well used………to be on the hills in that weather without a map/compass and someone who can read them would be suicidal!
And here is me recording the new series of Man vs Wild – I really was in pain at this stage….
T’was a great day…………well worth the effort! Physically, one of the hardest things I’ve ever done…
You can see more images here – all photos were taken using my iPhone – hoisting the Nikon in & out of my bag in the wet misty conditions would have been too much of a chore!!
As someone who suffers from bad knees, I feel your pain. Still, can’t beat a bit of hiking!
was epic Jonny – even with the pain!
Well done Ally: I myself had an anti-fig roll policy when hiking
I have hiked on those types of days, they can be both miserable and memorable. Thanks for sharing.
my pleasure Josh…….certainly was memorable