In my last few weeks in Ireland, I managed to get out to touch the highpoint of this beautiful island.
I’ve been here for three months in Cork for business, and I have been fortunate that European cities are compact such that I am within walking distance of everything I need in life—except of course for mountains. They are far away, and public transport doesn’t go anywhere near them.
We had an announcement late in the week last week that our laboratory space would be closed on Saturday and Sunday due to utilities work. I immediately reserved a car, and my business partner and I headed out to Macgillycuddy’s Reeks on Saturday.
absolutely miserable conditions with almost no visibility, but I clearly chose the wrong camera setting...
We drove out first thing in the morning on Saturday. My business partner slept in the car on the way out there, then decided that she should probably continue sleeping while I ran up Carrantuohil.
I made quick progress through the mist and rain through the valley from the Cronans Yard trailhead, and then I hit the Devils Ladder.
Devil’s Ladder is a 45 degree waterfall that rises ~750 feet from the valley. It was sloppy and tiring, but it wasn’t worse than some of the approaches to LoJ peaks I’ve hit. Except that this was a waterfall.
Once up on the ridge, it was short work to hit the highpoint, and I managed to run into three Corkonian mountain men on top. I teamed up with them on a much nicer route down the mountains with rock scrambles and some 4th class descents. I can’t find any description of it or map reference—a locals-only route perhaps?
the weather started improving at the end. Hags Tooth on the right, Carrauntoohil lost in the clouds on the left
When we rejoined the main trail in the valley, I found my business partner picking her way along the gravel trail in her flip-flops, so I turned her around and we went back to the car to enjoy the rest of our weekend in Kerry County.
We finished off the day camping on a totally deserted Inch Beach
Carrauntoohil
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- nikolai
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- Brian C
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Re: Carrauntoohil
Very cool! I really wanted to do this when I was out there a few years back but the weather was crap the whole time. Beautiful area!
- tobiasfunke
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Re: Carrauntoohil
Glad to see I wasn't the only one who had whiteout conditions on that mountain. Granted, I climbed it in November. It's a shame too, because on a clear day I'm sure the view is spectacular.
- 12ersRule
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Re: Carrauntoohil
Hard to time that one as far as the weather goes. It was really socked in when I did it as well. I did catch a glimpse of it on another occasion. Gorgeous area.
- bergsteigen
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Re: Carrauntoohil
The locals know a lot of good routes. One includes crossing a farmers field on the back side, which cuts off a lot of distance. My friends jaws dropped when they heard this. I had pretty decent weather, if a bit windy, but my camera battery crapped out on the ascent. Thankfully some Kiwi's had the same battery type as me, so I could snap summit photos. Too bad it was just an old P&S back then. The photos never did the views justice.
"Auto racing, bull fighting, and mountain climbing are the only real sports ... all others are games." - Ernest Hemingway (or was it Barnaby Conrad?)
Your knees only get so many bumps in life, don't waste them on moguls!
“No athlete is truly tested until they’ve stared an injury in the face and come out on the other side stronger than ever” -anonymous
http://otinasadventures.com @otina
Your knees only get so many bumps in life, don't waste them on moguls!
“No athlete is truly tested until they’ve stared an injury in the face and come out on the other side stronger than ever” -anonymous
http://otinasadventures.com @otina