January 2020..Out and about.

Sunday January 12th;

After the usual excesses over Christmas I was a little lethargic in getting back to the mountains. I put this to rights by visiting the Reeks to get some mountain miles in. It was a chilly but dry morning and while not a blue sky day there were some breaks in the clouds and I was hopeful of getting some views. I decided to head up Carrauntoohil first and opted for O'Sheas Gully for a change. It had been ages since I had last climbed this route (probably because it is a bit of a slog) so I was looking forward to doing it today.

There had been a lot of rain and the waterfalls in Coumeenoughter were lovely. The spectacular mountain scenery was made all the more beautiful by some bursts of sunlight as I rose higher. The interminable slog from the small lake in the upper coum to the top of the gully was a bummer but it passed OK and soon all that was left was the 400 ft climb to the summit. The summit itself was still in the grip of winter and quite atmospheric. Unfortunately the clear patches of sky had given way to thick cloud and views were limited to say the least. Still I was enjoying myself and relishing the day. I left the usual summit throng behind and set off towards the top of "the ladder". Once here I decided to continue as far as The Bone as this would make it a worthy effort. Usually once past Cnoc na Toinne it is seldom you meet many but today there were quite a few people on the East Reeks. Here the views once again opened up but I cold see that a snow squall was coming my way. In the stiff chill wind it soon arrived and passed and the view to the east of the cloud and mountains was a delight .After the stiff climb to Cnoc an Cuillian it is an easy stroll to reach the elegant top of Maolain Bui. The descent from here is long but straightforward and before too long I was striding back towards Cronins Yard.
15 kilometres covered..1200 metres climbed in 4 hours 20mins.

Still in winters grip

A bit of weather on the way

Sunday January 19th;

I was in the middle of a week of night work and to be honest pretty fatigued but a great forecast for today was too good to pass up so I headed directly from work to the Galtees. The Reeks had had a dusting of snow and I was tempted to head west but time constraints made the Galtees more attractive. It was -4 as I parked the car in Glengarra Wood. Still dark when I arrived the first thing I saw was a couple of deer heading for cover out of the glare of the headlights. The cold air invigorated me as I readied and set off in the still gloom. These woods are a delight in the spring when the many fine specimen trees are complimented by lots of mature rhododendron trees. It was still pleasant to walk easily up through the forest until after a few kilometres more open ground is reached and the gentle mountain slopes were revealed, bathed in the rosy dawn glow.
What a joy it was to be out on the hills on such a beautiful morning. Despite the lack of sleep there was nowhere else I would rather have been. One surprise was the complete lack of snow. I guess nothing in the way of precipitation had happened over the previous few days. It was still beautiful though and with the normally boggy ground frozen solid progress was a little easier. I headed first for Green and which is easily reached via the long spur that drops to the south. It was a delight to stop occasionally and admire the view across the frosted valley to where the Knockmealdowns rose. Further east the Comeraghs could be admired and once on the crest of the spur Slievenamon and even the Blackstairs Mountains were sharp and clear. Once on the broad 800 metre plus summit the views were even more expansive and across the frozen valley the Silvermine Mts and the central plain of the country could be seen.

The going after this was super easy as I passed O'Loughlans Castle and eventually dropped down to the col under Galtybeg. Normally mucky and boggy ground was frozen solid and the biggest issue was avoiding icy patches. The pull to the top of Galtybeg went well and before long I was dropping to the col above Lough Diheen and setting off up for the frozen summit of Galtymór. A wispy cloud clung to the summit and obscured any views so I didn't delay in turning and retracing my steps back from the top. The super hard frozen turf made for tricky going in places and sure enough I had a little spill which was quite painful on the unforgiving ground. Once down a little further I reachd slightly longer grass that made for swift easy progress. I skirted under the south flank of Galtybeg before briefly joining the "Black Road" and then dropping easily southeast and entering the wood again. An easy few kilometres through the trees saw me reach the car 5 hours after setting off. It was a beautiful crisp refreshing day out...just the ticket.

I hadn't been completely idle on other days. I have tried to to get out on the bike when the weather allows and there is a nice 52 kilometre circuit I have managed to fit in a couple of times this month that gives around 600 metres of ascent. Running is a bit of a struggle as my hamstrings are painful after trying to do some speed training. Maybe I'm getting too old for this sh#t.

Thursday and Friday January 23rd&24th;

After a week of nights I took advantage of my few days off to head back to Killarney and stay overnight so that I could get two good outings in.
First up came a cycle. Arriving in the town at midday I booked into my accommodation and once I was suited up I set off on the bike. It was quite foggy at home and remained so until I was about 5 miles from the town. It was a relief to see that, in Killarney, while the cloud was quite low down things at ground level were quite clear so it would be safe to go for a ride. I had plenty of time to fit a decent outing in and it was all down to how I was feeling en route that would decide how far I would go. The route I had in mind was to do a circuit of The Reeks which wouls give a round over 80 kilometres long and would pass over the Ballaghbeama Gap. If I was struggling I could opt for the easier circuit of Caragh Lake which would be shorter and doesn't have any big climbs.
I went back into the town and the traffic for a while but but soon I was heading out for Fossa and once I turned off the main road it was a blissfully quiet ride. Easy and fast going was the order of the day and I must say I was enjoying the outing despite the lack of any views. On past the turnoff for Cronins Yard and Lisliebane and before long I was passing the Hydro Road car park and after a short pull I was speeding past Lough Acoose and heading for Glencar. This was a delightful section which is downhill and through a woodland. It was an easy decision to dismiss the turnoff for Caragh Lake and continue on the longer route. Once past Glencar the gloom lifted a little and some of the wildness of the landscape became more apparent. It was beautiful even in these conditions. I turned for Ballaghbeama and enjoyed several miles of easy going before the finally the climbing started. I was somewhat trepidatious about the climb as it is really quite steep and I wasn't at all sure I would be able to stay in the saddle. It is gradual enough for a fair old while before finally I turned into the spectacular gap itself and set off up. It was a case of bottom gear and head down but I managed it and I think that it is actually a tougher prospect coming from the other side. A brief rest and a bite to eat at the crest and a rapid if careful descent followed. Once I reached the Sneem road I turned left and a long gradual climb saw me eventually reach Molls Gap. Now I was feeling the effects of the two big climbs and my relative lack of prowess on the bike and lets just say Killarney couldn't come soon enough. Up here I was in the fog but soon I reemerged under it and enjoyed the descent all the way to the lake. The remaining road all the way back intotown seemed to take forever and I was really tired when I eventually arrived at the B&B. Straight up the stairs and two cups of warming tea and some biscuits followed by a long hot shower were restorative and I enjoyed a long relaxing evening.

Towards Glencar

Towards Kenmare

82 kilometres 3 hours 38 minutes and 850 metres of climbing.

After a fine old breakfast I headed for Cronins Yard to have another outing on The Reeks. On Twitter I had seen some pictures of the day before and it seemed that the most perfect of temperature inversions had been enjoyed on the mountains and I was hopeful of similar today. It was something of a surprise to see a lot of clear sky this morning so it seemed that the inversion would have to wait for another day. I parked up in Cronins Yard and set off into the glen. As the day was so good...warm with no wind I decided I would try and make the most of it and do the full Hags Glen Horseshoe. There is no easy way to climb Cruach Mhór...not in a dangerous way but it is a long long slog to reach the lake and a stiffer slog to reach the grotto at the summit. I was feeling the effects of yesterday but I stuck at it and reached the summit 90 minutes after setting off. I was sweating loads but boy oh boy was the effort worth it. While the glen was free of cloud the mountains had acted as a barrier and a beautiful sea of sunlit cloud stretched away to the east. WOW. It looked stunning. The cloud kissed the Cnoc na Péiste ridge and the view to the Big Gun was magical. I rested a while in the surprisingly warm sun and just enjoyed being there.

I set off across the ridge but I didn't stick to the crest and I stuck to the paths, first on the right and after the big gun on the left. This made for easy going but it was still wonderfully atmospheric and enjoyable. Easy going was the order of the day all the way to the top of Cnoc an Cuillian and it was a pure pleasure to walk. The drop towards Cnoc na Toinne saw me drop into the mist and boy oh boy did it make a difference to the temperature. As I headed to the Ladder I had to stop and put on gloves and hat as the real seasonal temperatures reasserted themselves. It was only temporary though as I once again emerged above the clouds as I climbed to Carrauntoohil. I sat and enjoyed lunch on the warm and windless summit and it felt more like spring than January. After this came the crossing of the Beenkeragh ridge and the climb to the second highest in the country. Once there all the climbing was over and I descended via Knockbrinnea. I had been fairly slow today but what was the rush on such a spectacular day. Temperature inversions are indeed special.

16 kilometres..1650 metres ascent in 6 hours 35 minutes of bliss.

Bookending Christmas..Tomies and Purple...A Fine Round in The Galtees

December 22nd;

The mighty Gap of Dunloe...famed far and wide for it's rugged splendor and spectacular scenery. One can only wonder at the power and size of the glacier that gouged out this huge cut in the mountains. Two distinct mountain areas are thus created but both are classed as The Magillycuddy Reeks. To the east of the gap lies Tomies, Shehy and Purple and to the west lie the many tops that make up the rest of The Reeks.
I had intended to go for a quick up and down Carrauntoohil but at the last minute I turned and headed into Kate Kearneys where I parked up and suited up and headed for Tomies. There are two main ways to reach Tomies...One.. head into to gap until after the skew bridge and head up to The Chimneys. This allows more direct access to Tomies North Top (568metres) but it is steep. Two..use the north spur that allows more gentle access to the mountain but it is longer and you begin by walking back out from the gap for half a kilometre before turning onto a lane, passing some houses before a mucky wet track allows you to reach the crest of the spur and here you follow the trail upwards. This was my route of choice today.

Early views into The Gap

Height is gained gently but the rewards are immediate as the views into the gap and towards Lough Leane and more are wonderful. Cruach Mhór peers above the shoulder of "The Bull" and looked moody and menacing in the black clouds that swept across its top. It wasn't long before I was suffering the consequences of those black clouds as frequent showers of horizontal rain swept through and as I got higher, hailstones, ensured I didn't forget it was winter. It was invigourating.Before long though the gradient steepens as you near the North Top and a steep 200 metres is needed to reach the bleak broad boggy summit. The views are amazing though and the full grandeur of The Reeks, The Gap, Lough Leane and more is a sight to behold. Mind you the strong chill wind ensured I wasted no time before heading for the main top of Tomies. This arrived and the wind up here was really strong. Not enough to blow you sideways but not far off. Easy going for a while before the next drag up to Shehy. Again the strong wind kept me moving so Purple wasn't long in coming. The 100 metre climb passed easily enough and I was able to keep in the lee of the wind right to near the summit. Not so on top though and here the wind was inclined to sweep me sideways. I retreated into the summit shelter and ate a bit here. All was sheltered except for the top of my hat which buffeted comically in the wind.

Getting better

Away to the east

Once out of the shelter the assault resumed but it wasn't long before I was descending rapidly towards Lough Glas. The descent went easily and well and it wasn't too long before I reached the head of the gap. As I went down the view into the Black Valley was simply gorgeous and as if that wasn't enough once I reached the road I had the beauty of the spectacular gap to come. The walk back to the car was really nice except for the frequent heavy showers that ensured I arrived soaking at the car. I changed in the public toilets into my dry clobber and drove home one very happy bunny. Incredibly I had only met one family group on the entire mountain walk. Twas all the better for that.

Spectacular or what?

15 kilometres 1100 metres ascent and 4 hours 25 minutes.

 

December 26th;

Overindulgence on Christmas day meant it was all too easy to curl up in bed on Stephens Day morning and listen to the rain. It was a pretty miserable morning (what I saw of it) and I was seriously thinking of ditching my previous plan to head to Galtymore today but eventually I resigned myself to a drenching and shook off my lethargy and left home at 10.30. Drizzle and low cloud shrouded the whole of the landscape all the way to Kings Yard where I parked up before setting off on my walk. It was after 11.30 by the time I started so I couldn't be too ambitious with regards to the length of outing I could tackle (not that I really felt up to too much anyway) given the short days but there was still enough time left to do a decent horseshoe. Another good thing was the weather was showing signs of real improvement and some of the tops were clearing.

The weather lookin up

I walked into the glen under Monabrack and crossed over the river before climbing the steep 300 metres to reach its summit. While it was still pretty grey it was wonderful to be out and as it was dry and I had views I felt fortunate indeed. This is one of my favourite areas in this compact range and in here you feel quite remote and removed from anything. It was a mere stiff breeze today and it was also very mild and frankly could have been an autumnal or spring day. After Monabrack a 100 metre drop to the col before the long slog towards the crest of the main ridge adds another 270 metres to the outing. Up here the breeze was a little stronger but still not too bad and it was still mild. One of my most favourite spots in the Galtees is Lyreacappul and on a whim I decided to to include it in my day. It is in truth only a short diversion and I was very glad I did it. Now it is a simple matter of following the Galtee Wall to its end at the base of Dawsons Table and this I did. The views down to the rich agricultural land on the north side of the ridge is always a treat and I really enjoyed my jaunt. The climb to the roof of the range was quite easy and I even had the wind at my back. Alas a little cloud closed over the top as I arrived but I didn't mind. I debated heading in a direct line back towards Kings Yard but I was having fun and I had enough time so I decided to throw in Galtybeg as well. The last time I was here it was in the grip of winter and the top of the descent was icy and slippery. Today it was merely saturated and slippery. The 200 metres to the col went quickly and the views down to Lough Diheen are spectacular and in places a slip would not be recommended. Now all that remained is the 80 or so metres to the final summit of the day. This soon came and I turned and made a direct line into the glen in which the fledgling river Attycharaan flowed. I followed this to the beautiful spot where three streams meet in a clutter of little waterfalls. A small little climb on the shoulder of the following hill and I reached the old ruins and track that led back to the car. The rain arrived for the last twenty minutes of the outing but I was frankly thrilled to have had such a decent weather window in what was a pretty bleak day. It is an easy thing to get changed in the yard as they offer excellent facilities. It really should be utilized more. 

Towards Lyracappul

Just follow the wall..nearly all the way

It had taken me 4 hours 14 minutes to cover the 16.5 kilometres. 1200 metres of climbing made sure my muscles got a good workout and remarkably I hadn't seen a soul all day. Great

A Winters Round Of The Coumloughra Horseshoe

On Sunday I decided to treat myself to another winters outing. This time I opted for a traverse of the three highest mountains in the land which makes for an excellent grade 1 winter route.
When snow lies on the mountains the landscape takes on a magical quality that makes hill goers far and wide salivate at the prospect of spending time on them. The experience can be sublime. Hours traversing sunny wonderful scenery in crystalline crisp air tends to create memories that last a lifetime. Sometimes though it can be a real test of physical and even mental resolve and when you reach lower ground you can feel like you have been put through the proverbial wringer. This time it was a little bit of both.

It was dark until I was beyond Killarney so I couldn't see the conditions on the mountains but when I was passing Fossa I could finally see the majesty of the scene and the Reeks looked stunning with snow lying to around 600 metres. The tops were mostly clear at the moment but plenty of dark menacing cloud lay elsewhere so I expected to have some showers while I was out. I had toyed with the idea of trying for an easy winter climb, something like "The Step" (a grade 2 route) but conditions were reported to be still a little thin so I decided that the Coumloughra Horseshoe would give the best chance of good conditions. I drove the extra miles to the deserted carpark at the base of the hydro road and, as heavy sleety rain arrived when I did, I put on the rain gear and off I went. There is something lovely about being warm and well protected while you walk in bad weather and straight away I was enjoying my day. Cloud had covered the tops and to the west the blackness of approaching squalls looked menacing but it promised to be at the very least an invigorating trip.
The sleet had turned to snow by the time I reached Lough Eighter and the breeze had turned to a wind but it was thrilling. I decided to head towards Caher first as this allows for a more enjoyable scramble as you cross the Beenkeragh Ridge. Finally I reached the snow line as I rose up the long easy spur that swept up into the cloud towards Caher. The wind wasn't too bad. The snow had stopped and the hint of a clearance was also in the air..life was good. Once I was up at around 750 metres the clearance finally arrived and it was a glorious sight to see the snowy spectacular landscape finally revealed. Across the coum Skregmore looked great but it was the distant Caherconree on the Dingle Peninsula that caught the eye. It was just a brief clearance however and I was soon enveloped in the mist again and I resumed my upward journey. At around the 850 metre contour the rocks became coated in snow ice but my boots were still able to get a good grip so I didn't require crampons. The West Top was a bleak winter wonderland with everywhere plastered in icy snow. Looking into the abyss on the left was exciting but a cold stiff wind ensured that I kept moving so I dropped to the wild col and headed to the main summit of Caher which just passes the 1000 metre mark. A very enjoyable walk along the airy ridge followed and sometimes fleeting glimpses of the bottom of the coum could be seen. Next comes the climb to the summit of Carrauntoohil which passed quickly and here I stopped to put on my crampons and got the ice axe out before tackling the steep descent to the top of O'Sheas Gully. While I was putting on a warmer pair of gloves the clouds parted and the glorious views all around were revealed. I took a few pictures quickly before setting off for the Beenkeragh Ridge. On the way down to the ridge the view to Caher took on an otherworldly appearance as it was suddenly backlit by the sun while dark clouds beyond looked menacing. It was wonderful but you will have to take my word for it as it was too much of a faffle to try and take off my gloves and root my phone out of its protective wrapping so I could get a picture. I probably wouldn't have been able to do it justice anyway.

Across to Skregmore

Caher always looks great

Summit views

The first section of the ridge is the best and it gives an airy exciting scramble on good rock to the point on the ridge called The Bones. It requires some care using crampons but I took my time and soon all the good stuff was over. I stuck to the path for the rest of the ridge until I reached the summit of Beenkeragh at 1009 metres. Suddenly the wind, once I reached this point in the journey increased dramatically in strength and basically from here all the way until I arrived back down at Lough Eighter I was pummeled and battered by what must at times been 70 mph gusts that made progress very difficult and at times very treacherous. Add to this frequent blasting by spindrift and hailstones and lets just say I was glad to have brought my goggles but sorry I hadn't included a balaclava as any exposed skin was stung by the hail. I stayed in the lee of the slope for much of the way but always the wind found me and by the time I was at the lake I felt like I had been in something of a battle. It was tiring but equally engaging and thrilling. The walk back to the car was straightforward and the weather was also on the up with mostly blue skies allowing for stunning vistas. I arrived back at the car 5 hours 40 minutes after setting off and it is fair to say I was thrilled with my day. It had been a totally full on winter battering and I was delighted to have come out on the other side. The Reeks delivered yet again.    

Back down..phew