A simply sensational October day on Ireland's Highest

This was definitely the best day we had so far on the Reeks. We were a little bit afraid about the weather while driving to Killarney as the fog was very thick and it looked like was going to stay with us for the day giving us no chance  for the good views. But then it suddenly disappeared and by the time we got to Lisleibane car park the day turned out to be the most beautiful warm and sunny and it felt more like July than October. Absolutely unbelievable...

Heavenly Gates

We decided to climb up the Heavenly Gates and go down the Devil's Ladder.

The Sun shining all the way up and no breeze made us all feel very warm and at some point all the spare layers of clothing we wore came out and landed in our backpacks. It was a day for t-shirts and shorts. 

Heavenly Gates is a nice route and a good alternative to two other popular ascent routes: Devil's Ladder and O'Shea's Gully. The other two routes can be very busy at times especially when the weather is so good. There's a mountain rescue hut on that route just in case somebody has to stay overnight when the conditions are too bad to make a safe descent. We always show it to everyone doing that route for the first time and so we did this time too. 

Heavenly Gates

But our best place is definitely a ledge at the Heavenly Gates where you can get amazing views of the Hags Glen. And the views today were amazing!

At the top you could still stay in your t-shirt. Sunny, warm with no breeze... So unusual in that place even in the summer... There's no words to describe the feeling and the clarity of the views. 

At the top

The view towards Hags Glen and Eastern Reeks

Beenkeragh

Beenkeragh Ridge

Going down the Ladder

We descended via Devil's Ladder this time as we don't really like the long Zig-Zags route. Always remember to be careful and take your time while going down the Ladder.

We did our hike in 5 hours and 20 min including our lunch break which was a good time. 

Trip to Strickeen & Cruach Mor

 On Sunday Sept. 24th six of us set out on our latest trip, this time our destination was Strickeen & Cruach Mor which lies in between Carrantoohill and Purple & Tomies as well as overlooking the Gap Of Dunloe and the Black Valley.
 For most of the day we had good enough weather with some nasty showers thrown in but overall taking in the time of the year the weather was good with a lot of clear skies which leads to great scenery. The rain we did have came in heavy bursts and also there was very little cloud or fog overhead.

 I think this trip was probably one of the most spectacular we have been on in that the views and scenery on all sides of us all day were spectacular with the clear views of the Magillycuddy Reeks on one side and Tomies & Purple Mountains on the other side.
 The walk itself started at Kate Kearneys Cottage and then out the road towards the Gap Of Dunloe and after a while out taking a turn right up a mountain pathway which leads onto Strickeen Bog, I suppose we were lucky here in the day we had in that even though it is a bog there is ways through in not too a mucky way, you just had to pick your way.

  This pale is somewhere overtime people have got lost on their ways but now because a fence has been put up, all you have to do is follow the fence and it will lead you straight to Stickeen Mountain and from here you can look across to Cruach Mor. When you get up to this level it is important to have good guides as it would happen quite easy that the fog could come down on you and you could lose your way. We were near here a few months ago and even with an experienced leader but with the fact the fog came down on us we found it hard to find our way, so it is important to be prepared.

  One slight bad thing about this day was as we progressed along our way we found the rocks could be very slippy in places , so you really had to mind your step.

  As we got to the top of Cruach Mor and with the fact we had a clear day you could see for miles in all directions from back to Kenmare Bay to North Kerry and North West Cork and even though it was a bit cold it was dry and clear and that made it all worthwhile.

 As I said already this was probably one of our best trips or maybe that was just because it was a new and different route, but it was a great day out with the usual good company.

 

Support a Charity Mountain Climb Up Kilimanjaro by Caroline O'Riordans In Aid Of Irish Cancer Research

Support Caroline O'Riordan on her Charity Mountain Climb Up Kilimanjaro for Irish Cancer Research

My name is Caroline O Riordan, I am from Mallow, Co. Cork. On the 17th of October 2016, I am taking on the challenge of climbing Kilimanjaro in Africa in aid of Irish Cancer Research. I am fundraising for cancer as my mother was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in July 2016. My young cousin spent 4yrs battling a tumour. I have lost friends and other members of my family because of cancer. I wanted to fundraise to help find ways to cure this dreadful disease.

You can support Caroline by donating through the Kanturk Hillwalkers & Mountain Climbers Facebook Page by clicking on the link below

Facebook Link For Donations

I hurt my back in a car accident and had back surgery in 2013 and I broke my left ankle twice.  I was told I was not to exercise for longer than 20 mins a day, which played havoc with my mental health as I was always a sporty person. In 2015, I had a turning point, in which I met a personal trainer who told me "no one can tell you what you can and cannot do, that's in the power of your own mind." Since that meeting, I turned everything around and I am back in the gym twice a week, I run plenty of races and I have signed up with Kanturk Hillwalkers this year and through this club I have climbed Carrauntoill twice, Mangerton, The Paps, Tomies & Purple Mountain, Gougane Barra and MacGillycuddy Reeks.

I have trained as a Life Coach and N.L.P Practitioner and I now teach people the power of their own minds and that they can achieve anything they put their minds too.

Trip Up Tomies & Purple Mts. -- Where are the Clear Skies & our Summer

On Sunday ane of the most beautiful place in the world . The starting point was the world famous Kate Kearne total of 11 of us set off on a trip up Tomies & Purple Mt. . On a fine, clear and sunny day this must be oys cottage and from there we headed a small bit back in towards Killarney before taking a right to start our climb.

The one thing great about our day out was as we started our ascent we got a great view over Lough Leane and the other parts of the Lakes Of Killarney & on a morning like this you get a great chance to appreciate it.

The first step up to little Tomies was not that little at all but a long gradual but strenuous climb but at no actual point overly severe but the quietness in the bunch told its own story. The legs & the lungs were feeling the effects. Our first aim and peak was little Tomies but the only thing by this stage the cloud and fog was down on top of us limiting our view.

After a pit stop and a group photo we headed on towards Big Tomies and as made our way across the top you could see its outline in the cloud with a few whispers of do we really have to go up there but as we progressed all of a sudden we were half way up and when you kept your head down for a bit more and looked up again, sure you were at the top !!!

The disappointing thing of this day was that by this stage was the clod and fog were right down on top of us and you could only see a glimmer of the view raising the question Where was our Summer and the clear skies because if you really wanted to be anywhere to consume the Lakes and surrounds it was right up here but we only got a glimmer.

We headed on our way again towards Purple Mt. and the one thing you notice about this section was the colour of the stone and you find out where this place gets its name. The stand out feature was the amount of loose stone there was . On reaching the peak we were at our highest point of the day but still in the cloud and fog.

As we made our way down below the clouds the views appeared again. To the West of us was the Black Valley and we could out towards Kenmare on one side and Inch Beach on the other and our left were The Reeks and the really Big One .The other noticeable thing as we came down the level of chatter was increasing as the severity decreased.

We finally got down to the road at the Gap Of Dunloe and from here we had to head back towards our cars at Kate Kearneys cottage and as we strolled along the one thing you would notice was the amount of different nationalities that visit this place from Irish, Germans, Indians, English, Russian, Swedish and all other parts. On a clear dry day it really is a spectacular spot and this made the last leg of our journey bearable as most of the legs were feeling the day at this stage and the fact that we turned up a chance to leave a car at the top of the Gap to go back as a taxi to retrieve the others. Even the jarveys were having no pity on our bones when we stuck out our thumb looking for a free lift.

We also got the chance to see a young deer grazing away and taking no notice of a few photographers.

Back to Kate Kearneys and a few refreshments at the end of a long day which everyone really enjoyed even though it did take over 5 hours but in future we may leave a car at the top of the Gap Of Dunloe but overall  a great day out but next time here God will you give us a few more clear skies especially when we are the top. 

Trip To Cnoc Na dTobar

On Sunday 10 of us went for a trip up Cnoc Na dTobar just on the eastern side of Cahersiveen. It is one of the ancient Pilgrim Paths with the Stations of the Cross on the way up to guide you. There was one thing great about this route was between the Crosses and white waymark poles you plenty to guide you all the way.

There was one thing great about this trip was the fantastic views on all sides, To the west on our left side you see right over the town of Cahersiveen and out further was Valentia Island and in the distance was the world famous Skellig Michael. To the west on our right side you could see the Dingle Peninsula including Mount Brandon and all the way out to Ventry & Slea Head and the Blasket Islands.

The trip itself was not that hard and we did it at an easy going pace taking in the views along the way as the weather on the way up and down was good and clear. After taking a break at the top we went across the top for a while to a peak overlooking Glendalough Lakes ( The Kerry Ones ) . By this time a heavy misty fog had come down on top of us and stayed with us until we descended a bit where we got clear views again.

As a day out this was a good day out with good views and mostly good weather and the route was well waymarked and suitable for all. This is somewhere we will visit again as the only bad thing you could say was it is a bit of a trip down.

We finished off the day out with a cup of coffee and a few biscuits in a local house belonging to someone we knew and as we caught up with a few things.

Gougane Barra -- A great trip but only for (!!) the foggy weather

On Saturday we went to Gougane Barra and did a big loop on the mountains around the lake and took over 5 hours. This trip could have been fantastic but for the weather. The cloud and the mist stayed right down on top of us all day long. When we started I think everyone had jackets on but not too far out the same jackets were not long coming back off, as even though it was misty and mucky it was still quite warm and the sweat was beginning to flow very early so all the jackets came off.

The conditions were very overcast, foggy, misty and a slight drizzle and you could hardly see a 100 yards in front of you for most of the trip and underfoot it was mucky and with all of this the going was slow as at all times getting the right co-ordinates was high on the list. 

The climb itself was not that hard, after about an hour long gradual climb up all the rest is quite easy and almost level but wet ground and high grasses in places can make the walk very tough.

Lunchtime :)

The picture tells the story about this walk...

The second half of the route might be very challenging in poor visibility as there's no defined path and good navigating skills are essential. Flattish Bealick top with no defined and clearly visible high point gives you an illusion that everywhere you look it's all the same. It's just a very high boggy upland covered with long grass and it's very easy to fall into a bog hole so keep your head down and mind your steps.

As the Club's training officer, Denis O'Mahony had his chance to give the others a little navigation training. Map reading, compass using and measuring the distance as you walk are the three most important things. If you're not familiar with them, always go with an experienced leader especially in poor visibility. 

All the route was navigated with map and compass with a little bit of GPS help just to confirm the position in some tricky places like Bealick top.

Coming down back to Gougane Barra Lake may be a little bit tricky in wet conditions as some rocks can be slippy.

We had a group of 11 and we had good Craic and the banter was lively as usual and we all agreed some other day we would have to come back here again as guaranteed on a clear day this trip would have been spectacular as in the distant at odd times you could see glimpses of places from Bantry Bay to The Paps and with the fact that there was so many nearby lakes this would be a great trip. We took some photos by the lake and had some refreshments in the cafe.

The Importance Of Proper Gear

 On Saturday I went to Carranutoohil which is probably one of the best & most popular places to go for a climb as it is the highest in the country with great views and scenery on a good day leaving you breathless with the beauty this country has, There are a few things great for climbers on this mountain is that there are always a load of people around especially at the week ends and that are defined paths on the way to the top. Yow will get to the top at your own pace, remember it is not a race. The most important thing is to get there safely, if I can get there believe me anyone can. But there is one thing you first of all learn to do is to respect this mountain because if you go looking for trouble you will find it and the most basic thing is having the proper gear. Hiking is an activity you can start for very little money but it is important to get a few basics.

  Carrauntoohil is a place often used for Charity Climbs, the first thing you should have is BOOTS !! BOOTS !! BOOTS !! even a cheap pair to get you started but have something to support your ankles. This was relevant on Saturday as someone did twist an ankle near the top and the rescue Helicopter had to call out as well as about 10 of the Mountain Rescue Crew had to bring the person down. This person may have had proper gear on and just had an unfortunate slip which has happened us all at some stage but your chances of getting injured are increased by not having proper boots.

  All I can sat is there is always a lot of people going out and sometimes getting injured all because they do not have proper BOOTS. This means others have to leave there daily work to bring people down.

Padraig