Hiking club to take on North Africa’s highest peak next month
Robert Kindregan
Mullingar Hiking Club are jetting off to Africa next month to take on their toughest challenge to date – Mt Toubkal.
The 4,167m peak is the highest point in North Africa and the greater Arab world, renowned for its panoramic views and beautiful scenery.
Some 40 locals will be flying into Marrakesh on February 1 to take on the climb, and preparations are well under way, according to group founder Kenneth Delaney.
“Our guys are out on the hills every week getting ready for this, training and clean eating,” he told the Westmeath Examiner.
“It’s going to be cold, but we have all of the proper gear like boots, jackets, and equipment to deal with snow and ice, if needed.
“We have lots of groups of friends who haven’t met before who are coming together for it and it’s going to be really fun.”
Mullingar Hiking Club was formed during Covid and has since amassed over 200 members.
One of their most notable climbs to date came last July when 11 members of the group successfully reached the summit of Mont Blanc, the highest point in Western Europe at 4,809m.
Mr Delaney said there are lots of ways to train for some of the world's highest peaks while living in Ireland.
“We would usually go to Connemara, Wicklow, or the Dublin Mountains and these sorts of places – trail running is great too,” he said.
“The main exercise you could be doing in the gym is the step machine; I go in with a fully loaded backpack and go on the stepper for an hour.
“It’s a really good way of simulating the movement of going up a hill.”
Preparing for high altitude can be a trickier affair, according to the seasoned hiker.
“Altitude is something that is very unpredictable as each body responds to it differently,” said Mr Delaney.
“I have been to high altitude a number of times and it can be uncomfortable, to be honest, but it has no effect on some people.
“If you do get it, it’s horrible as you feel terrible and have a banging headache – but because we’ll be up and down in two days it won’t be the end of the world for us.”
Mullingar Hiking Club also has a number of other exciting trips coming up, including Scotland’s highest mountain Ben Nevis in March, a return to Mont Blanc in June, before taking on the Munros on the Isle of Skye in October.
The group are also in the early stages of planning to climb a 6,000m peak in the Himalayas in 2015.
Mr Delaney is encouraging anyone who wishes to join the group on an upcoming trip to reach out and don’t be shy.
“It’s great for meeting new people and staying fit,” he said.
“A lot of people come on their own and they’re apprehensive about it, but I tell them that most people we have here started out on their own. “After the first hike or two they are fully initiated and it doesn’t make a difference at all.” The group also organise regular hikes around Ireland that cater for all levels of ability.