Carrauntoohil-Physio-Mangerton

Last Saturday I ventured back to Kerry with Denis and Bridie for another blast up Carrauntoohil. What a difference a week makes. After the beauty of the Grey Area last week we were face with strong winds and constant rain today. It was just a case of putting on all the rain gear and keeping the head down and ploughing on. We enjoyed the outing despite (or maybe because of ) the weather but it was still a relief to get back to the car and change into dry clothes and get warm. The wind on the summit was pretty severe and I was at times concerned that one of us could be whipped to one side and onto steep ground but thankfully we were fine.

Since before Christmas I have been struggling with a knee injury and it just wasn't going away. I had hoped that it would get better by it self but if anything it was getting steadily worse and in the high winds the knee got a couple of jarring twists and it was really quite painful that evening and the following day. I had been to the doctor about it and she recommended physio so I bowed to the inevitable and booked myself in for a session on Monday afternoon. I have never had physio before and lets just say it was an experience. She managed to find knots in the knots in my muscles and before she was through I was literally sweating from the pain. Her strength as an Irish rugby international was in evidence and I was sure she was having a bad day. The 45 minutes passed and I could breathe again but it definitely was a huge help. My symptoms were immediately better and the loosening of muscles and hamstrings eased the pain on the torn Medial Ligament I had.

Crohane and The Paps beyond

Looking to the impressive cliffs that overlook The Horses Glen

I went for another session (much less painful) this morning and I felt great afterwards. Walking down the town I realized just how poorly I had been walking of late and it being such a good day I decided to head for a quick up and down of Mangerton. Ruby decided she would like a hike as well so we both set off together. Light and easy was the order of the day and I really enjoyed it. The views into the Black Valley are great but it was my progress on the injury front that really buoyed my spirits. I could still feel it but it was definitely better and I can see light at the end of the tunnel. It was also delightful to have Ruby along for company and it brought home once again how badly served we are here with the access restrictions we face. I can of course understand the need to control dogs but a well trained animal which is kept under close control (not necessarily on a lead) posed no threat to anything and should be allowed. Anyway rant over. I really enjoyed the 2 hours 30 minutes in the wilds. Hopefully I will be able to get back running again soon.

Small dog in big spaces

The frosty nights had wrought their stuff

Heading down

Into the Black Valley

Winter Grade 2 Climb: The Grey Area Carrauntoohil

February 13th,
Today I went with Denis and his sometime climbing companion Bridie for another climb on Carrauntoohil. It had been cold-ish over the past few days and there was some snow lying on The Reeks. I wasn't over hopeful of good conditions but we decided to to bring back crampons and axe and see what the day brought. I thought that "The Grey Area" would be a good option and so it proved. This area is the wide steep area of mixed ground that sits between Curve Gully and The Lick. It offers a great variety of climbing where you can pick and choose the type of ascent you want to make with most of it going at around the Grade 2 or 3 mark (if you pick the spiciest bits). It can offer excellent mixed climbing with a mixture of frozen turf and icy rocks and the enjoyment only ends when you arrive at the cross. The forecast was for rain to arrive around midday so I wasn't expecting great things (bad weather usually arrives earlier than expected hereabouts) so it was a delight to be well into our descent before the rain arrived.

They wouldn't wait for me...

The north spur of Cuillin

Ready for the good stuff

Lots of options

The snow wasn't to be found in any great quantity until we reached the third level and here it was soft and there was nothing in the way of ice to be seen. Anyway we climbed up as far as the shallow middle section of  Curve Gully and here we crossed and made our way up steeply to the first of the steep steps that lay ahead. Here we donned crampons and roped up and I led off. Greasy snow covered rocks and unfrozen turf was the order of the day and it is fair to say that things weren't in good condition which actually made for more tenuous progress as there was precious little in the way of good axe placements to be found. It was still great fun however and as usual when I was in the middle of the climb my I found myself enjoying it immensely. After about 25 meters I brought Bridie and Denis up and then set off up again. The first sixty meters were actually the most difficult in the way of climbing and were touching on Grade 111 and it was a real eye-opener at the belay to look back and appreciate the grave consequences of a fall from here. Conditions started to improve from here (a bit) and easier ground was interrupted by short steep sections. We mostly moved together up here with me giving body belays to the guys on the steeper bits. Up and up and things got better and better and we were delighted to be in this winter wonderland. Bridie and Denis had just returned from a Scottish mountaineering trip and they both professed that today was as delightful (if not more so) than any day the had had there.

I think they were enjoying it.

Conditions getting better

For the final seventy or eighty meters we climbed lovely iced up rocky ground and a nice little ridge until we suddenly found ourselves almost level with the summit cross. There wasn't a puff of breeze and we were almost entirely cloud free. It was proving to be a pet day and we walked to the cross and enjoyed a well deserved rest and bite to eat and reveled in the glow that comes when you finish a lovely climb. In the still air it felt quite mild and there is no doubt that the temperature was above freezing. We contemplated going across the Benkeeragh ridge but when we reached the top of O'Sheas gully the rocks on the ridge were completely snow and ice free so we turned and headed down from here. The rain stayed away until we reached the first level but it wasn't too heavy. We arrived back in Cronins Yard and enjoyed excellent refreshments and were very happy bunnies. If only we could get some proper frosty nights then the Grey Area would offer truly excellent sport. I look forward to returning there soon.

Actually a bit steeper than it looks

Lovely mixed ground

And there's more

I'm not sure Bridie knew the danger :o)

The Hags Tooth--Beenkeragh to The Bone

The ridge to Beenkeragh from the Hags Tooth

Yesterday I went with Denis O'Brien for a climb on The Reeks. The weather has been utter rubbish this winter with storm after storm bringing wind and rain with only the occasional short cold snap bringing any snow which quickly disappears in the face of the next sweep of mild weather. So it is proving to be again this week but the forecast for yesterday wasn't too bad and with chilly temperatures in the offing as well we took the chance to gulp in some mountain air.

Approaching the Hags Tooth

Denis "Hot Hands" O'Brien

Denis is heading to Scotland next weekend for a winter mountaineering course so he was anxious to get a top up to his fitness and I have been carrying a knee injury since before Christmas which has prevented me running so I was looking to get a good days hiking in as well. We left Cronins Yard and set off in the chill breeze and we were pleased to see the dusting of snow down to around the 350 meter mark. Not what you would call winter conditions but this year we would accept it gratefully. We decided to head up the back of the Hags Tooth (or Stumpa an sTiamh in Irish) and follow the entertaining ridge to Beenkeragh summit and take things from there. Amazingly I have only been up behind the tooth once before and it was nice to see a slightly different perspective as we followed the stream up. We crossed the stream and climbed steep ground and reached the tiny little summit of the tooth. The wind wasn't too bad and we were able to stand in safety and enjoy our surroundings. On the remainder of the ridge we climbed or turned (whichever felt right in the snowy conditions) the various pinnacles up towards Beenkeragh. Denis took the opportunity to get in some "dry tooling" practice with the ice axes prior to Scotland. As we rose we were sometimes assaulted by hailstones and at times soft snow drifted around us. It made for a lovely ascent.

Nice and airy to the summit

In better weather the direct route on the ridge gives a great scramble

Carrauntoohil

Getting in some practice

Some steep scrambling

Looking back towards the East Reeks

From the top of Beenkerach we crossed the ridge to Carrauntoohil where we enjoyed our lunch. Once again we marveled at the ability of the wind to "find you" once you have settled down to eat. Our calm oasis was suddenly blasted by wind and snow and it made for a chilly change of clothes for Denis. We were in good spirits and we decided to continue along the range as far as The Bone. The pull up to Cnoc na Toinne is always a bit of a pain but once on the flat ridge it makes for a joyous passage. Here we were blasted by spindrift  but the views more than made up for that. Down again and the long pull to the top of Cnoc na Cuillin was dispatched and most of the climbing for the day was now behind us. We could see another squall heading our was along the Brida Valley and it wasn't long in reaching us. We headed along the ridge to our final top Maolan Bui or The Bone and descended easily back to our car. It had been a fine outing and gave another little taste of winter. Hopefully we will get a decent spell of cold weather soon.

Looking out the Hags Glen

West towards the Brida Valley