Central Gully Carrauntoohil

I went with Frank ( who hadn't been out in two months) for a hike on Carrauntoohil. It was nice to return to our comfortable routine of me heading back on the train and hooking up in Killarney before the usual coffees and then heading to the hills. We decided to head to Carrauntoohil as whatever the weather it is worth a visit. About the weather, the forecast was for rain in the afternoon but it was dry this morning but cloudy with a stiff breeze blowing. We departed Lisliebane at about 11am and set off in good spirits. It seemed initially that most people had heeded the poor forecast and stayed away but as we entered the glen lots of people were heading up as well. We decided to go up O'Sheas Gully as one of the ridges wold be too dangerous in the wind. Frank was feeling the effects of his layoff but we made reasonable progress nonetheless. Things were very dry after the good spell of weather we have been enjoying and the waterfalls on the second and third levels were little more than trickles. We had a change of mind due to the conditions and decided to head for Curve Gully. The lower section offers a stiff Grade 2 scramble if you take it direct and we enjoyed it. All too soon we were past the good stuff and going up the loose chossy central section. Just before we entered the upper section of Curve Gully I decided to cross to our right and go up central instead. It had been years since I was here and it was a nice short (if somewhat loose) scramble to its top. Up to the summit and the crowds where we enjoyed a welcome lunch and we descended via the Heavenly Gates. 5 hours in total and the bad weather that was due didn't arrive so we reached the car dry, if a little windblown. It was great to get out with Francis again.

The lower section of Curve

In Central

The final section