Focus Ireland Competitors, Carol O’Brien, Karen Murphy, Lorraine Dunne, Marie Dunne, Tipperary, Climb Corrán Tuathail, McGillycuddy Reeks, County Kerry.

Focus Ireland Competitor, Alan Murphy, Listowel, County Kerry.

Focus Ireland colleagues, Neil Forsyth and Niall Keane,with their team ‘Social Climbers, Karen Doyle, Arlane McHugh, Claire Williams.

The Four Peaks Challenge invites teams of between 3 and 5 walkers plus a minimum of two drivers per vehicle to climb the highest mountain in each of the four provinces over one weekend and raise a minimum of €4,500 in sponsorship to help people who are homeless. The next challenge is taking place from September 12th-14th

During the challenge you and your team will discover the breathtaking scenery throughout four of Ireland’s highest peaks: Carrauntoohil (Kerry),Mweelrea (Mayo),Slieve Donard (Down) and Lugnaquilla (Wicklow). The event is kindly supported by 100-102 Today fm.

Gorgeous photos Valerie and a great cause!

-Aisling-

Qoute from Focus Ireland, photos by Valerie O’ Sullivan.

LONDON, UK (Team Geared Up) - Eoin & myself took my London flatmate out for a jaunt in Wicklow (Ireland) 3 weeks ago to give him a first taste of the mountains. We also took the opportunity to wind-test the Mountain 25 by The North Face. This tent has been everywhere with me, but not out of place in a photo of Everest South Col it has never yet maxed out in European ranges - this was the closest test it would face.

We left the carpark in Glendalough at 10pm in dry gusty conditions and pitched in the most exposed place possible on the very summit of Camaderry in gale force conditions at 1am with nothing but a very low peat hag to shelter the stove behind. Unfortunately most of the photos are from the morning but that night we got absolutely battered, shaken, pelted-apon, and the sky pretty much fell on us. The wind really hit the tent to a point where it was questioned would the poles potentially snap.

Nope. The tent held fast like a limpet to the ground. It never lost its shape. Above my head on the seam where the wind was driving the rain through in, I had a drip fall, but nothing much to worry about considering the conditions outside. I expect the silicon fly on the 2007 model would not have experienced this.

What a fantastic tent! Apart from getting this gear test in, the other advantages of sleeping on the summit of a mountain are the morning photos you can snap from the tent door!

You can view the Mountain 25 specs here, also note, a new 2007 model is available.

We also past some Irish MTB riders coming flying down off the Spink boardwalk at about 2pm on Sunday, I got some quick snaps - is this you? do you know them? Looked like a whole lot of fun!

(Photo Credits: All by the author, full Flickr gallery available)