Sunrise or sun up is the instant at which the upper edge of the sun appears over the eastern horizon in the morning. The term can also refer to the entire process of the Sun crossing the horizon and its accompanying atmospheric effects.
I like the early mornings. Sure, you have to get up. But in the middle of the summer this lets you feel as if you're the only person in the world. In the mountains, at dawn in the summer with only deer and birds for company? Thats something that has to be experienced.
At 5:31am on the 26th July 2015 the sun will appear over the eastern horizon in the general Dublin area. So this is going to be a Geocaching event with a difference. You can only log this event as "attended" if you are present at the above co-ordinates, at the summit of Kippure on Sunday the 26th of July 2015 between 05:31am and 06:01am.
Its about a 7.5km round trip on paths and rocks with approximately 250m of ascent, so I'm going to be starting my hike at 4:30am sharp to give absolutely plenty of time to get up there. You don't have to accompany me and the inevitable group, but its recommended.
The views on the summit are amongst the best in the hills and you get a 360º panorama from the Sugarloaf, to the Sally Gap, across to the Blessington Lakes and round to Dublin. Remember we leave the carpark at 4:30am sharp. Be ready.
It may be stupidly early in the morning but the Kippure carpark I reckon is one of the dodgiest in the mountains for break-ins so to-be-sure-to-be-sure, I'm asking for a volunteer to stay in the carpark to keep watch. Please contact me via my profile. That person will, of course, be allowed sign the logbook.
So come join me for this rather unique event. I've always said, you have to go outside of your comfort zone occasionally and do something no sane person would do. I think this fits the bill nicely. As I said last time around: "Sunrise in the middle of the summer is a wonderful time of the morning... you're groggy but the air is very fresh, the dawn chorus is a cocophany of sound overhead and there is absolutely no-one around. You feel quite close to nature and wonder how other people can miss out on this. Sure, they might be in bed for another five hours, but I know where I'd rather be once in a while."
Bring plenty of water, some food to keep you going, and a sense of madness and adventure.
Schedule: Leave carpark 4:30am. Event on summit: 5:31am to 6:01am.
Note: A flashlight and plenty of warm clothes are an absolute must, despite the fact that its summer. We'll be at the summit for thirty minutes and you'll get cold. Remember, with Kippure being 757m high, it will be approximately 7º colder than at sea level in Dublin. That brings a (6am) "heatwave" of 15º down to a comparatively cold 8º. Not to mention the significant wind-chill also.
Note 2: I'm not going to say we'll go up in any weather, but we will endeavor to make the hike even if conditions are poor. I'll update via an announcement nearer the time.