Hiking Skills

Course Description:

The aim of this practical course is to prepare people to undertake this healthy and interesting pursuit of Hiking in a safe manner.  

The course will give the basic practical first-hand skills in: 

Map Reading 

Compass Reading 

Time and Pacing 

Equipment needed to safely hill walk. 

Types of food and drinks that you required 

Introduction on Rescue Emergencies Care (REC) first aid 

Phone Apps you can use for hikes 

Understanding how to check the Weather and do a simple weather report for the last hike Creating a Route Card for walks 

Demonstrating the skills learned in the field with some hikes.

Course Content Layout 

Course Day & Time: Tuesday evenings 7.30 – 9.30pm (Six to eight classes in classroom and two to four 4/5 hours hikes)       

Start Date: 04/02/25

Cost: €110

Course Format: In class with tutor for six to eight classes in classroom and two to four 4/5 hours hikes.

Duration: 10 weeks – Maximum of 12 students in class

Enrolment: Enrolment will open on Monday the 9th of December at 10am. You can enrol online then by clicking on the Easy Payments Plus button. 

Tutor: Ed O Donnell

Ed has been a member of Scouting Ireland for 41 years 

1986 – he did, what is known as part of the Anglo-Irish agreement Explorer Belt (Training for a year) carried food, tent, cooking equipment etc with emergency equipment and with one change of  clothing and two pairs of socks for over 2 weeks. 

He continued with the Mountaineering and have been on loads of expeditions including celebrity  climbs to base camp Everest. Sam McQuire Cup on top of Carrauntoohil and all the medals that  people have from all Ireland finals since its fountaion of GAA. The Last expedition I was on, was in Nepal Langtang valley, Mount Baden Powel to celebrate 100 years of scouting,  

He is a REC First aid instructor and teach emergency Care to Mountaineers and Hillwalkers and  anyone who works and plays in the outdoors. 

He is with Mountaineering Ireland, and hold M1 , M2, and MS Assessment. 

In Scouts he holds Level 9 in the hill skill training, and he is on the training team for training scout  leadership in the hills. 

Over the years Ed has hiked in places including

Iceland,

Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa

Everest base Camp, Nepal

Island Peak, Nepal,

Kala Patthar, Nepal

Alps, Saas Grund, Switzerland

Langtang valley, Nepal

Micheal Muicheartaigh with the Sam Cup in Kerry, 16 May 2014. With Alan Kerins from GAA

Tatra Mountains, Poland.

Monte Perdido, Spain

Mount Toubkal, Morocco,  Africa

All over Ireland , Wales, Scotland

Howth Head, Ireland