BHGL #01 – Break Fast on Knockbrinnea N Plateau Traditional Geocache
BHGL #01 – Break Fast on Knockbrinnea N Plateau
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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This is the opening cache of the Big Hag's Glen Loop, just over the Lisleibane car park. Even inexperienced parties who could not make the whole loop can make the 1st three on a nice day..
This is about 2km from the Lisleibeanne car park, BUT more than 500m higher and some sharp ascent too. This part of the loop is rather a rough hike than a scramble and is therefore relatively safer than its latter parts.
This northern plateau offers a good overview of the other arm of the loop over the Hag's Glen. You can clearly see Maolan Buí, Knocnapeasta, The Big Gun and the Cruach Mhór with its grotto. You will need to make another 140m elevation to get to the lower of both Knockbrinneas..
I've put in some kids friendly swag, as this is doable by sturdy kids on a nice day, I did not dare however to make it one of the Family Friendly Reeks series, I started some weeks ago..
On the plateau, you will notice from far a solitary boulder that invites you to have your breakfast. Oh, yes, this loop is best started with the rising sun if you are serious about completing it.
The cache is a small transparent freezer box with a transparent lid. Beware, the holes in those outcrops are deeper then they seem, so be careful not to slip the cache too far at rehiding.
General advice to the whole loop
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Print the spoilers in advance to speed up your search. All caches either small or micro are masked with smaller loose stones, usually under a larger boulder or slab.
Safety warning regarding the whole loop.
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The loop contains extremely dangerous portions that require scrambling (levels 2 to 3) and should not be taken at all by inexperienced parties.
Numbers #01, #02, #03, or even #04 can be collected by sturdy Reeks rookies, but they should definitely back up before #05 to remain unscathed, unless led by someone very experienced.
Moderately experienced parties can make #1 through #10 or even #11 BUT then they should get back to #7 and get down to the valley via zig zags, which is the safest way down in this part of Reeks.
I myself though that the way down from #10 via the ridge called The Bone is safe, yet very nearly killed myself on The Bone after placing #10 of this series..
Beware, there is no direct safe way down to Hag's Glen except from #1 #7 and #13. If you have crossed the arete between #11 and #12, you should continue to #13 for safe descent.
Descent through O'Sheas' Gully, Heavenly Gates or Devil's Ladder is not advised. Descent from #10 via the Bone is valid although not as safe as the advised descent routes from #1, #7, and #13. Please remember that descent is always more dangerous than ascent and that 90% of injuries happen on descent.
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The Big Hag's Glen Loop
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BHGL #01 – Break Fast on Knockbrinnea North Plateau (visit link)
BHGL #02 – Knockbrinnea East Summit (visit link)
BHGL #03 – Knockbrinnea West Summit (visit link)
[BHGL #04] – Coomloughra Horseshoe #4 – Beenkeragh (visit link)
[BHGL #05] – Coomloughra Horseshoe #5 – The Bones (visit link)
[BHGL #06] – [Coomloughra Horseshoe #6 – Honorary Member] Corran Tuathail (Ireland's Highest Cache) (visit link)
BHGL #07 – Cnoc na Toinne (visit link)
BHGL #08 – Cnoc an Chuillinn (visit link)
BHGL #09 – Cnoc an Chuillinn East Top (visit link)
BHGL #10 – Maolán Buí (visit link)
[BHGL #11] – [Honorary Member] Serpent Hill (visit link)
[BHGL #12] – [Honorary Member] An Gunna Mór (visit link)
BHGL#13 – Cruach Mhór (visit link)
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
frr fcbvyre cvpf