Need some advice please...
Please read the scenario first...
I headed into the mournes yesterday...supposed to be for a few nights but Im back and all for the following reasons....
The mountains were devoid of visitors but I met 4 DOE groups...
Yesterday...I had been resting at Hares Gap...its was rubbish free...DOE group of about 12 and 2 leaders arrived so I made my way up Slieve Bernagh then doubled back later to camp lower due to nasty wind brewing...back at Hares Gap...rubbish everywhere and a few does of human **** with browned wipes blowing about in the wind. Moved down Trassey Track to set by the stream for the night...more fresh human **** and the same wipes lying about. A trail of rubbish the whole way down the track.
To be honest I was almost ready to come off the hills as it was pretty disgusting but pitched for the night anyway.
Today...passed 2 DOE groups at Brandy Pad...eventually passed their trail of fresh litter and gues what...spotted more Human **** scattered at base of Slieve Donard with more fresh rubbish blowing around Donard Bog.
It was disgusting!
Then I came across 2 lone DOE teenagers that looked pretty miserable so I gave them my flapjack supply and my water. They had been left well well behind and were not best clothed for the persistant 'fog drizzle.'
So by 11am my supplies were diminished so I decided to come off the mountains and walk to Newcastle Town to resupply but by the time I got there I was knackered as I had covered 33 miles walking since yesterday.
Surely the leaders are supposed to be responsible enough not to allow this? Who would I contact regarding this?
Oh and just to top it off...I came across a group of foreign walkers...Mum, Dad, Young Son...dressed in jeans, trainers and sports tops...trying to find their way to try to summit Slieve Donard...in 20m visibility, constant cold drizzle and a pretty icy wind!!! They were completey lost but still determined to continue...Mum asking me if the Mountains were signposted!!!I refused to give them route directions and persuaded them to follow me down to Bloody Bridge Carpark. The little lad was so cold I had to give him my Jack wolfskin Microheat & Paramo Core...I really thought he looked to be getting on the verge of hypothermia...I mean, I was feeling the chill from the constant wind and rain...and I was dressed for it!!! But Dad was furious...I swear he was cursing me in his language.
Buy anyway...is DOE regulated or is there a bodie to complain to???
