Mission: 4.0 miles
Terrain: 3/4 prepared 1/4 other
Time: 2.3 hours for Lough and Summit Trails
including a visit to the Summit of Black Mountain
My first hike in Northern Ireland on my first day in my new home was a pleasant one
and the weather held fantastically, even permitting the sun to shine most of the adventure.
I stayed warm with the exercise, a long sweatshirt with 'glove-lets' and a hood, plus a scarf.
I went solo, as usual, though I'm still holding out hope for company one of these days,
and remained so along Lough Trail and the unprepared portion of the Summit Trail.
Considering how much rain is expected to fall during every month I would suggest completing
this loop in a trusty pair of Wellingtons because my trainers were submerged multiple times
despite my best efforts at keeping dry.
The stock of the nation seem to enjoy the fresh air and a walk as I do. They came out in droves after work while the sun was still remarkably high in the sky. This latitude is further north than I've ever yet had the pleasure to spend an appreciable period of time in soaking up the long hours of daylight. On the paved section I was joined by many natives throwing a friendly "hiya" toward me
(not to be confused with the karate chop "hi-ya!" as there is no emphasis on the 'y').
The shrubbery reminds me of muskeg: lumpy surface with standing water, almost imperceptible hiding beneath. Most of the low foliage is heather which is due to bloom purple in the summer months. I saw an archeological formation of rocks representing a gathering place dating to first early AD said to have been used by hunter-gatherers and not so long after came upon a flint stone. There isn't a tree in sight on this hilly area however I did pass alongside quite a few cows.
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