Carrauntoohil 10/09/2006

Five of us gathered at Lisleibane at 08.45 hrs to climb Pipet's Ridge - Andy, Margaret,Barbara, Siobhan, and myself. Andy arrived in a large red Ford Transit van. He was using it to move house. We set off, well laden with gear, for the top of the Heavenly Gates, where we planned to kit out. On arrival we discovered there would be no Pipet's today - high wind and wet rock would make the scramble dangerous.

Carrauntoohil was decided upon and we headed up a rocky and stony climb, eventually reaching a damp and dreary top. A quick meal and we decided to split - Andy and Siobhan descending via O'Sheas and Margaret, Bairbre, and myself by the Zig Zags from Toinne. At this point Andy introduced his walkie-talkies - giving one to us - and we tried them out on the way down, communicating with each other.

I found the climb of Toinne hard with a full rack of gear in the sack. On reaching the Hags Glen we went left and decended by the stream that flows into Loch Gabhrach - a lovely decent - and a little on we met Andy and Siobhan. We reached the cars at 15.00hrs, all happy after a good day.