Solo hiking Slieve Donard Part III

We are dreamers. We love imagining someday we will go and explore places. Some days never come. We were too busy. We did not have a group of friends to accompany us. We did not want to leave the comfort of our home. It is not the right time yet. Perhaps, next year. Excuses. All excuses while life goes by and our time slowly runs out. What will it take to make you go fuck it, just fuck it? Time doesn’t wait. Out the door, on to the adventure!

I did not have the company, I did not have the right gear, I did not have the full confidence that I know what I was doing or that I could do it even, and the weather wasn’t perfect either. So? I don’t care. I will hike the mountain. I am going! Don’t be silly as I was though. Sleep well before the hike, have a good breakfast fuel and wear better shoes, the kind that will protect your feet on rigid, rocky surfaces. I messed up all three of those since I was too excited and nervous to sleep, had cheese strings for breakfast and my hiking shoes were so uncomfortable I decided to switch to my regular gym shoes the last minute.

Every adventure is an experience we collect. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Sometimes those imperfections are just perfect.



_{Halfway down the Saddle. Should have saved these for the Boulder Sunday?}
On my way back I took my time to capture some more details since I was a bit more anxious and in a hurry on the way up. Even though you barely can spot anyone else in these photos, the mountain was now crawling with other hikers of all walks of life and their four-legged companions. I greeted almost everyone I met, and even though they were just hellos and how are you’s, it somehow felt lovely as everyone seemed to be in good spirits, smiling ear to ear there on their mountain adventure.  



<sub>Definitely the Boulder Sunday material. Perhaps, giants got bored of playing catch?



The sheep seemed to enjoy the vegetation on the mountain. I could hear them happily ‘beee’ halfway up Donard by the rocks off limits to people. The mountain is mostly covered with heather, moss, and grass.




The Glen River</sub>
If you have ever played a game called Heroes of Might and Magic (I’ve mostly played III), the place reminded me of Rampart, my absolutely favorite town with creatures such as unicorns, centaurs, elves, dwarfs, dendroids the walking trees, and dragons. It matches almost perfectly. Where are unicorns, pegasus, and the golden dragons hiding? Come out, I want to pet you!







<sub>The Eagle rocks, one of the most dangerous parts of Slieve Donard




Strange rock formations




The fog seemed to get only thicker up there. I felt slightly sorry for people who were heading up at this point, but perhaps, they were pleasantly surprised as I was by the magic of it.




Can you imagine wind speeds in the valley to take down these powerful trees? Or, maybe some massive creatures decided to take the forest route this time?








Yes, very Rampart! ^^</sub>




Hiking Slieve Donard was one of the most amazing experiences in my life so far. A bit scary and challenging as well since I was on my own for most of the journey, but all worth it. I am beyond happy I got to do this and I am so grateful for the mountain which blessed me with all the magic and the beauty I got to witness out there.