Glenwalk Hillwalking

Frequently Asked Questions and General Info

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Membership Notes
Membership Conditions
Constitution and Guidelines
Organisation of Main Sunday Walks
Weekends Away
Alternative Walks and other Events
Social
Club Equipment

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
QUESTION: How can I apply for membership of Glenwalk?
ANSWER: Membership is now open and is available via our online application form. There is a link to it on the Home page. Click on "Membership"

QUESTION: When does the new season start? Can I put my name on a reservation list for when membership reopens?
ANSWER: The new season starts on 1st November 2008. We will be open for applications shortly before that date. There is no reservation list. Just keep checking the Home page on our website, that is where we will announce when membership has reopened. A link to the Application form will then be placed in the Index list at the top of the page.

QUESTION: Even if membership is closed can I go on a trial walk?
ANSWER: No, while membership is closed there are no trial walks.

QUESTION: What is your refund policy?
ANSWER: In exceptional circumstances, a membership refund may be given at the discretion of the Committee

QUESTION: Who manage the club?
ANSWER: The club is managed by a voluntary Committee (max 7 members) who are elected at the AGM in September. The current Committee members are Colm McMahon (Chairman), Yvonne Duffy, Tim Manning, Mary Moloney and Ian Kelly.

QUESTION: What are the different levels of walks and how long do they take?
ANSWER: There will be Slow, Medium and Fast walks on every "Main Sunday". The approx walk duration and walk maxima are:
Slow ................... 6 - 10 km + 500 metres max. ....Duration 4 to 5 hours
Medium Slow...... 8 - 12 km + 800 metres max. .....Duration 4 to 5.5 hours
Medium Fast..... 10 - 15 km + 1,000 metres max...Duration 4 to 6 hours
Fast..................... 14 - 22 km + 1,100 metres max..Duration 4 to 6 hours

QUESTION: I am a Glenwalk member, how can I advertise an event to the other Glenwalk members?
ANSWER: If you are a fully paid up member of Glenwalk you can advertise a charity fundraiser or an unofficial walking event or sailing activity using one or both of the two methods listed below.
(It may take a week or two before your request can be processed so send it in early.)
1) Website Noticeboard Format:
Event / Item: 10 words maximum for title
Description: 50 words maximum to describe the event
Contact: Name, Email, Web Address, Phone Number, Address etc
2) Send us a 1 or 2 line description of your event which will be emailed to members in the general weekly update: eg "Am organising a disco in aid of..........see website notice board for details"

Membership Notes

Please note that no matter when you join, your membership expires on 31st October. Refund Policy: In exceptional circumstances, a membership refund may be given at the discretion of the Committee. Please note that the membership fee inludes membership of the MCI/ 3rd party insurance/ Mountain Log/ Mountain Meitheal contribution/ IMRA contribution etc. Give us 2-3 weeks to process your application before you panic.
When you join Glenwalk you also become a member of the MCI (Mountaineering Council of Ireland) who provide you with a membership card, insurance, Mt. Log, lecture series etc. All their updates will be passed on to you via the Glenwalk Email Distribution List.
You may start walking with us as soon as you get confirmation by Email. The club walks will be listed on the website under "Calendar".
We don't issue "Glenwalk" membership cards, however you will receive an MCI membership card from the MCI about 2 to 3 months after joining. This doubles as a membership card for Glenwalk as well as for the MCI (the club name will be on the card). If you are concerned about a delay in receiving your MCI card please contact the MCI at www.mountaineering.ie
This website is used to inform you of walks and events as well as general Club info. Email will be used to keep you up-to-date on club activities. Please note that HOTMAIL accounts can be very problematic and if your mail box is full it will reject emails from us without even having the courtesy to tell you!! You must also set up your HOTMAIL Account to accept Group Mails from Glenwalk (Go to Home Page and click on Membership Applicaton for details on how to do this). Another problem we have encountered is that some companies block group mails as they identify it as Spam. So if you are using your company's email system check to see what restrictions they impose. (Though the IT guys will often deny blocking group mails at first!)

Membership Conditions

All members must read and abide by the club Constitution and Guidelines.
If you are already an Individual Member of the MCI you may have to rejoin the MCI through Glenwalk. This is because the dates of Individual MCI Membership are rarely concurrent with those of Glenwalk Membership and you might therefore not be insured.
All the Main Sunday walks will be advertised on the website. Please do NOT reply to group E mails unless of course you have a query..
The MCI season and therefore the period of Insurance runs from November 1st to October 31st. Our season runs from Nov 1st to Oct 31st of each year.
All members will be insured under the MCI Limited Insurance Policy. For details contact MCI.
All members will receive the Mountain Log hill walking magazine, issued by the MCI (3 editions).
All members will receive an MCI membership card, issued by the MCI. Note: there are NO membership cards for "Glenwalk".

Organisation of Main Sunday Walks

Our Main Walks take place on average every second Sunday and start at 12.00 (Summer Time) and 11.30 (Winter Time)

A typical Sunday walk (Summer Time only!!....see below for Winter Time starts):

08.05: Get up!! Wash, put on gear, have breakfast, make sandwiches, kiss cat goodbye.
10.15: First car pool (for Northsiders and City folk) meets outside O'Dwyer's Pub on Mount St.
11.00: Second car pool (for Southsiders etc.) meets at designated meeting point (consult Walk List on website).
12.00: Walks Start: A Walk Co-ordinator will introduce the walks and leaders (stating: height, duration, distance, route, difficulty). Please select a walk that matches your ability and fitness level on the day.
17.00: Groups return to walk start and head to designated pub. Buy leaders a drink!!

A typical Sunday walk (Winter Time only!!....see above for Summer Time starts):

08.00: Get up!! Wash, put on gear, have breakfast, make sandwiches, pack torch, kiss cat goodbye.
09.45: First car pool (for Northsiders and City folk) meets outside O'Dwyer's Pub on Mount St.
10.30: Second car pool (for Southsiders etc.) meets at designated meeting point (consult Walk List on website).
11.30: Walks Start: A Walk Co-ordinator will introduce the walks (stating: height, duration, distance, route, difficulty). Please select a walk that matches your ability and fitness level on the day.
17.00: Groups return to walk start and head to designated pub. Buy leaders a drink!!

Main Walk notes:

On every Main walk day there will be 4 to 6 grades of walk: slow, medium, medium fast and fast etc.. Please choose a walk that suits your fitness level. If in doubt, err on the side of caution.
All walks start and finish at the same place (see Walks Start on the Walks List).
Walks last on average 4 hours (slow grade) to 6 hours (fast grade) depending on time of year, route, group speed, grade, weather, terrain.
The various walks will stop for lunch at about 1.30.
To protect the environment and to avoid congestion we insist that members use one of the two Car Pools provided (see Walk List). Only in exceptional circumstances should a driver arrive at the Walk Start alone. Note that it is safer to leave your valuables at the car pool.
Our leaders are volunteers and bear a lot of responsibility for people's safety. Please be as co-operative as possible and buy them a pint or a cuppa in the pub afterwards!!
Sorry no dogs: we love animals and since walks sometimes may involve the crossing of farmland dogs cannot be permitted.

What to bring

If it is your first time hill walking please choose your equipment carefully. See: Advice on Equipment
Rucksack.
Boots. No runners!!
Tracksuit bottoms will do if you don't have dedicated walking trousers (recommended). No denims or cords.
Fleece, waterproof jacket and leggings, hat, scarf, gloves (even in Summer).
Water/soft drink, hot drink in unbreakable flask.
Sandwiches, fruit, chocolate. Lunch is eaten at about 1.30pm.
Torch with a spare battery.
It is strongly advised to get a 1:50,000 map Discovery Series Sheet 56 (laminated) and learn how to use it.
Change of clothes for pub after walk.

Weekends Away

We organise weekends away in other parts of Ireland on most long weekends. See Walks and Events List for list of weekends.
NB: Please note that Weekends Away often take place in Connemara, the Mournes, Kerry etc., where the terrain is much steeper and as such are not suitable for slow/unfit walkers. Such walkers are of course welcome to take part in these weekends but must be prepared to organise their own daytime activities.
Cancellation Policy: 1. Full Refund: if cancellation is made 4 weeks before weekend or if a replacement is found at any time.
2. 50% Refund: if notice of cancellation is given between 4 and 2 weeks prior to weekend.
3. 0% Refund: if cancellation is made within 2 weeks prior to weekend (unless you get a replacement).

Alternative Walks and other Events

From time to time various members organise walks/events on alternative days during the week/weekend. Please note that as these are NOT official "Glenwalk" activities the Club accepts no responsibility for them. Examples of such walks are walks on alternate Sundays; Saturday Walks; Wednesday Walks organised during the Summer etc. These and other events are usually e-mailed by the organiser to the Chairman who then forwards them to you. There are NO CAR POOLS for alternative walks.

Social

Club members organise various social events throughout the year such as the Xmas party, Barbecue, Mulled Wine Walk etc. These events will be advertised on the website and you will also be sent Emails informing you of the details. We also meet with our friends of Glenans Sailing on the last Wednesday of every month in Doheny and Nesbitt's, Baggott Street (upstairs).

Club Equipment

The club has a pool of camping gear and climbing gear for use by its members, click here to see the full list. We also have digital cameras for use by members. Deposit required. Note that "all equipment is used entirely at the member's risk and that the club accepts no responsibility for faulty equipment or for any accident that may occur while using this equipment."