Great tips and advice for anyone who is planning to Climb With Charlie in Donegal

There is  just a month to go until people take to the hills of Donegal in solidarity with Charlie Bird, who will climb Croagh Patrick in Mayo on April 2.

The event is a fundraiser for Motor Neurone Disease, from which the former broadcaster suffers, and Pieta which supports those at risk of suicide. 

There is no doubt that the hundreds - or perhaps even thousands - of people taking part across Donegal will be joining an amazing, nationwide event, the likes of which is rarely seen or experienced.

With this in mind, we take this opportunity to look at how best to prepare for the local climbs.

Hillwalker and guide John McGroary from Drimarone shares his wealth of knowledge and experience so that everyone taking part has the most enjoyable day possible.

He himself is organising a climb of Carnaween in the Bluestacks, and has seen the huge reaction to the event. 

Choose Your Walk

With such a variety of walks available in Donegal, Mr McGroary’s first bit of advice is: “Choose the walk that is right for you.”

Organised walks range from gentler road walks to serious mountain hikes.

“It is about getting people out and getting people active,” he said. 

Among the walks already registered or planned in Donegal are: Carnaween, Leghowney Loop, Sliabh Liag, Errigal, Muckish, Arranmore, and two in Inishowen.

In Charlie Bird’s emotional and inspirational Late Late Show appearance in early January, he urged people to “climb your own mountain.”

For some people, this is a case of literally climbing a mountain. For others who may suffer physical or mental health problems, getting outside and doing a short walk in their own area - or even their own garden - could be their personal mountain.

Whatever people feel able to do, Mr McGroary said: “Enjoy being part of what is going to be a phenomenal national event. It is all being done for the right reasons. 

“People will each have their own reasons for taking part but it is about joining together and supporting each other.”

Training

Mr McGroary said: “You might want to be part of the event and don’t want a challenge.

“But if you want a challenge there are things you need to look at.

“Don’t just turn up for one of the more challenging walks on the day. You have a month now to get out and get a bit of strength in the legs and air in the lungs.

“Get a bit of practice done. Start by getting out walking and build up to 5K twice a week, especially if you are looking at the hill walks. If you are wanting to do one of the very serious hill walks you would want to be increasing that amount.

“Look at not just walking on flat ground. Include hills in your walk and vary your terrain.”

Footwear

Mr McGroary stresses that the importance of the correct footwear cannot be emphasised strongly enough.

“If you are going into the hills you are definitely going to need footwear that has ankle support,” he said.

“Runners on the hill just won’t be allowable. You have to have good ankle support.

“Also, don’t be putting new footwear on for the first time on the day of the event.”

No matter what the weather on the day, the chances are that the hills are going to be wet underfoot and the ground will be rough.

“You will need something that is reasonably waterproof,” said Mr McGroary.

He added that a good pair of socks is absolutely vital.

“That is almost as important as anything else,” he said. “If you are putting on a pair of boots you need good socks inside them.

“And whatever footwear you use, make sure that you are well used to wearing it in advance.

Clothing

The weather on the day will of course have an impact on people’s choice of clothing. But Mr McGroary points out that the weather higher up the hill could be very different from that at the bottom. 

“The best way to dress for mountain walks is to put on layers,” he said. “They are easily taken off.

“The weather on any of the mountains in Donegal can change very rapidly. It can be nice and warm on the way up  and when you get to the top there could be a breeze that, as the saying goes, could cut corn. Then there are days when it is the other way around.”

He recommends that people bring a backpack with snacks, bottles of water and  a small pack of blister plasters. 

“If it is one of the more serious hill walks, you will need a packed lunch,” he said. 

He also recommends a change of clothing and weatherproof outerwear for the longer walks if the weather is looking poor.

Communication

People will be responsible for themselves and their own safety on the mountain. But Mr McGroary is encouraging participants to ask questions of more experienced walkers in advance or on the day. 

He also stresses the importance of reducing the risk of injury or accident by responding to aches and pains during the walk.

“If you are walking and you have twinges, tell someone,” he said. 

“Don’t just push on. Listen to your own body. 

No Dogs

The event falls within lambing season and for that reason, dogs will not be allowed on the vast majority of walks, even if they are on leads. 

Fear of dogs can cause a pregnant ewe to abort her lamb, and so even a controlled dog can have a huge negative impact on a flock.  

Mr McGroary said he was contacted by a number of farmers who asked him to tell people to please not bring dogs with them on this occasion.  

Phenomenal Experience

Mr McGroary has been enjoying the experience of hill walking in Donegal and around the world for many years. He is delighted to see the response to ‘Climb With Charlie’ and is optimistic that people will have a wonderful, memorable day, especially if they have never climbed a mountain before. 

“The experience of being up on the top of a mountain is near impossible to explain,” he said.

“To get a panoramic view around the whole area and realise that you are way above the sea level is just incredible. 

“If you get a good day on Carnaween, you get views out as far as Sliabh Liag, St John’s Point, Sligo, Leitrim, Mayo, 

“The feeling of being so high up and getting such a view if you have never experienced it, it is just phenomenal. That is what keeps taking you back each time to do it again.

“There are walking clubs around the county who go out and do this on a weekly basis so the option is available to continue hillwalking if you really like it.”

Donations

A full list of events is available on the website climbwithcharlie.ie with new climbs still being added.

Mr McGroary says that for the Carnaween event, he is guiding people to the website to make their own donations. Other events may have different arrangements which can be confirmed with the organisers. 

Further information and updates can be found at climbwithcharlie.ie

More information on John McGroary’s tour guide services can be found at www.walkingireland.ie and on his Facebook page JohnsIreland & WalkingIreland