A New Lens

Recently I’ve been feeling the urge to get outdoors and see some of Ireland apart from the residential and city sights of Cork. Last Saturday (10/2) I was making dinner with my good friend Chelsea and told her about my absolute craving to get out and hike or do something outdoors and it had to be fate because she just happened to get an email that day about a club at UCC leading a hike for students the following day. She felt the same way about getting out of Cork and seeing something new so we decided then and there, no questions or hesitations, we were going. Which is how, last Sunday, I became a member of the UCC Mountaineering Club.

Kristin, Carolyn, Me and Chelsea before our first hike

Every Sunday during the school year they meet at 8:30am on campus and bus about 50 students to various mountains around the southern region of Ireland. Yes, there are actually mountains here, not just hills. Usually the bus rides are between 1 to 2 hours and the hikes last around 5 hours with a break for picnic lunch at the top of the mountain. Once we return to the base of the mountain everyone puts on a fresh pair of clothes and shoes and on our drive back we stop at a local pub for dinner and a pint.

Comeragh Mountains

The first Sunday I really had no idea what I was getting myself into. I’ve done quite a bit of hikes in Arizona and a few in Southern California, but climate changes everything. I’m used to dry, dusty gravel and large boulders and rocks, but over here you’d never believe how rugged the terrain can be!  One moment you’ll be trudging through swampy tall grass and the next you’ll me scaling the side of a mountain! I’ve been going for the past three weeks and it’s been an absolute joy. In a couple weeks we’ll be heading to an area called Dingle for a weekend trip. Enjoy the pictures!

Gougane Barra Mountains

Horse's Glen