The Cnoc na Peiste Ridge In Winter Nick

Approaching An Garbh. Copywright Brian Mc Sweeney

Yesterday I went with Denis O'Brien and the effervescent Brian McSweeney for a jaunt on The Reeks. We had had a few chilly days and the recent storms had finally given way to some more normal winter weather and word had it that there was a nice covering of snow on the mountains so I was hopeful of getting a proper winter outing. We arrived into a busy Cronins Yard and we decided to do the Cnoc na Peiste ridge on the East Reeks. The snow was down to around the 500 mtr contour and the weather was actually quite good. The slog up to the lake is as ever tiring and trying but we were in good form and it was just a pleasure to be out. Brian was his usual ebullient self and his obvious delight to get some outdoor time (he is the proud daddy of a baby boy so his spare time is scarce) was a delight to see.

We climbed up to the grotto on Cruach Mhor and had a bite to eat in the cold wind and we donned crampons and set off on the adventure that is one of the best ridges in these islands. In dry conditions it gives an excellent Grade 1 scramble but it offers a sterner test with a good covering of the white stuff and when you take on the rock steps on the way to An Garbh (The Big Gun) and then stick to the extremely airy crest on the climb to Cnoc na Peiste it offers an exposed Grade2 winter day. Thankfully the wind wasn't too strong and it allowed us to stand (carefully) on the narrow sections. The rocks had some rime ice on them but the decent covering of snow was unconsolidated but this only made the going more difficult and required careful crampon placement as it would have been all too easy to trip or twist an ankle. Denis found the going testing but exhilarating and whetted his appetite for more. All too soon the ridge ended and we continued on to Maolan Bui and decended The Bone. Hopefully the cold snap will stick around for a while yet and allow us to get some more winters days out.

Looking towards Carrauntoohil & Benkeeragh

Copywright Brian Mc Sweeney

Copywright Brian Mc Sweeney

Copywright Brian Mc Sweeney

Copywright Brian Mc Sweeney

Copywright Brian Mc Sweeney

Copywright Brian Mc Sweeney

Trying For A Pre Christmas Mountain Run On Tomies

Looking across Lough Leane towards Crohane

I finished my week of nights this morning and as there is yet another storm coming in this afternoon I decided to head back to the Kerry mountains first thing to see if I could get a quick blast of mountain air in before Christmas. The skies were mostly clear and there was nothing more that a stiff breeze down in the valleys so I opted to head for Tomies Wood and I hoped to go up Tomies and from there on to Shehy and around towards the end of Tomies Wood and so back to the car. I set off from the car and shuffled in the track to the wood. I was delighted to see plenty of Deer on the trail and the views over Lough Leane once I gained some height was lovely. I was struggling with fatigue this morning but it still was great to out and about. I was under no pressure and I walked when I felt like it and I certainly had no choice but to walk when I left the forest trail at it highest point and I broke out onto the open mountain. It was steep and out here the wind was becoming more problematic and it was a bit of a struggle to climb into it. The long slog all the way to the summit of Tomies was a chore but I reached the top in just under 70 minutes. As I neared the top the wind really increased in speed and I had to drop to my hands and knees at times to prevent myself being whipped aside. The chance to a nice long high level run was gone so I decided to give up the fight with the wind and I turned for Tomies Rock and I descended the long spur that heads for the road near Kate Kearneys. Once on the road I ran easily back to my car. Just about 7.5 miles and around 2200 feet of climbing in just over two hours and I was well pleased with my morning. Hopefully I will get the chance to return and complete the original route in the near future.

Yhr view across towards The Reeks.

A Quick Blast Up Cnoc an Cuillinn

Working nights is always a bit of a drag but it does enable me to sometimes make the most of the day and today I took the opportunity to travel back to the Reeks once again with Denis O'Brien for a hike. Denis is in training for a winter trip to the Scottish Highlands in the first week of February so it is necessary to take every chance he can get to get some hill-time in. The weather was its usual unsettled self but at least the rain came in swift sharp heavy bursts that left reasonable clear spells between and when we could see the mountains some of the tops were clear so there was a chance we might even be able to enjoy an occasional view. We left the car in Cronins Yard again and I decided that the north spur of Cnoc an Cuillinn 958 mtrs would make a worthy outing. Off we set at a good pace and once we reached the outlet of Lough Callee we contoured up and around the shoulder of the bone and entered the coum. A couple of squalls had come and gone but we could see the spur rising steeply above us so off we set. It is steep but it is straightforward and we rapidly gained height and soon we were on the pleasing ridge that offers a little scrambling to the summit. We reached the top on a very respectable 1 hour 45 minutes and as the wind was fairly fierce we set off towards Carrauntoohil. More bad weather rolled in and after a short debate we decided to shorten our day and we set off down a very wet Devils Ladder and the long track back to the car. The temperatures were a few degrees colder today (but still much too warm for snow) so it was nice to get into dry clothes at the car a little over four hours after we set out. A good lung-filler before Christmas.

Plenty of water in the river and even a little sunlight to welcome us. Our route rising in the centre up into the cloud.

West from the summit.