Fauscoum, Slievenamon, Galtymore & Knockmealdown

I've been hill walking now for just over six months and recently had a notion that I'd like to try and climb these four peaks in the one day ie touch the Trig stones or Cairns on each. I wasn't sure about how long it would take and only mentioned it to my daughter. Her response was "You're crazy!!".

I set off to do climb Fauscoum from Kilclooney Wood at 07:30 yesterday morning and was back at the car at 09:25. Headed over to Slievenamon and was walking at 10:00 and was back down at 11:15.

I was on the Black Road at 12:15, after having a bite to eat, and made it back down to the car from Galtymore at 14:35. Left the car at The Vee at 15:00 to head up Sugarloaf via the Grubb monument for Knockmealdown and was back down at 17:40.

I don't have a GPS so I'm not sure what distance or height gain was involved. Judging by the way I felt at the finish and a very rough guess from the map, I'd say it must have been about 2,200m ascent. The weather was great on the first three climbs but cold, windy and foggy on the Knockmealdowns.

Update 13th March 2013 - A club member informs me that the height gain on this challenge is 2,339m (approx)  and distance is 28.5km.

Conversion Option & Smoking

In a previous post I reported that : With  Aviva/Hibernian Life - If you were a smoker when you took the original policy out but qualify as a non-smoker now, full underwriting (new proposal) is required to change the policy, during or at the end of the policy term. 

I am currently dealing with a case where the person converting is now a non-smoker, for a good number of years, and wants to 'covert' the policy with Aviva.

I've questioned the logic of charging a non-smoker smoker-rates on conversion as it just doesn't make sense, to me, that a healthier person should be penalised i.e. Complete a full new proposal to avail of non-smoker rates or pay the rates of a smoker.

So, I asked for the original policy terms and conditions to establish that it was clear from outset.

This is the relevant page: (click to enlarge)

Frankly, I just don't see how they can make this interpretation. Is it one for the Ombudsman to adjudicate on? 

Curiously, Aviva's current policy conditions state:

The new policy conditions will be issued in accordance with Aviva standard premium rates and policy conditions applicable at the time and the premium will reflect the smoking habits of the Life or Lives Insured advised by the application for the new policy

Walks in West and North of Tenerife

I’ve been over and back to Tenerife for the last 10 years and I’ve never ventured far from the usual haunts. Last month I walked up through the ‘middle’ of the island and I went back last week to do some walking in the North and West of the island.    

It blew me away. The walks were well marked, the weather was great, the public transport was very good and the scenery was fantastic.

Tuesday

Garachico to San José de Los Llanos to Erjos - This was an early start for me as I had to get 3 buses to reach Garachico. You’re climbing for 3/4 hours and there was a bit of frost on the ground near La Montañeta. I missed a marker near Arenas Negras and was a bit lost for 10 minutes but I traced my way back to the previous marker. The book walk was to San José de Los Llanos but I decided to walk to extra 4kms to Erjos as the Icod/Adeje bus passes through it.

21kms
Start 08:08 Finish 13:26
1,400m Ascending
400m Descending

Garachico

Arenas Negras

                                                     
Wednesday

Santiago del Teide to Erjos (via Montana del Estrecho) to Masca - Got the same bus from Adeje to Santiago as previous day and the first part of the walk is in a horseshoe out near Chinyero. Much of the walk from Erjos towards Las Portelas is on a forest track but when it opens up, boy!! is it worth it. Final destination was Masca, which *is* as beautiful as they say.  

30kms
Start 08:37 Finish 14:35
975m Ascending
1,165m Descending 

Erjos

On Route to Masca

Thursday

Punta del Hidalgo (via El Batán) to Cruz del Carmen (via Chinamada) to Punta del Hidalgo - In the walk book I had, both of these walks started in Cruz del Carmen (highest point). Finding the start was tricky from the bus, and I was fortunate to see the marker. I found the 12km up via El Batán tough going in the heat but was glad I did both walks in a loop. It’s always worth it when you get to the ‘top’.
 
22Kms
Start 09:11 Finish 15:20
1,250m Ascending
1,250m Descending

El Batán

From Cruz del Carmen

Saturday

Iguesta de San Andrés to Chamorga to Faro de Anaga to Almáciga - This was the most eventful walk. I met lots of other walkers, probably because it was a Saturday and the natives were out in force. Also met three lads carrying bags of cement and other building/repair materials in relay along the coastal walk, not far from El Draguillo. I didn’t see any ‘warning’ sign at Faro de Anaga that the coastal path was officially closed but it seemed a tad overgrown and there was good bit of rock debris. Beautiful walk though.

25Kms
Start 09:15 Finish 15:15
1,165m Ascending
1,225m Descending   

Faro de Anaga

Roque de las Bodegas

NB : The times will depend on your own pace but I was walking at a very brisk pace.