Howling

My brother Tom expressed an interest in climbing Howling Ridge so we picked a Sunday to do it. I asked Andy along and Conor, my sister's son, decided to come also.

We met at Lisleibane, Andy having his friend Mags Barry along. We set off for the top of the "Gates". I found the road in fairly hard so Tom took some of my gear.

At the Heavenly Gates we put on the gear and roped up. Five of us on the one rope, Andy leading, followed by Conor, Mags and Tom, with myself bringing up the rear. The climb of Howling was great - no trouble to anyone - Andy delighted to be leader and Conor loving it. At the top of Howling Tom and Mags had to be photographed on an exposed rock. We now turned our attention to the climb to Carrauntoohil. I found it hard and was glad when the cross came into view. A bite to eat on top and then descent, Tom and I via the Gates, the rest coming down the zig zags from Toinne.

A lovely day - good rock, and enjoyable refreshments at Kate's.

Carrauntoohil

During the week Marie Milau & Daniel asked me to take them on Carrauntoohil on Sunday. Very bad forecast on Saturday for Sunday so they decided against going. I decided to go anyway.
Frank and Tomas met me at home, me taking the car.

It got very wet on the way in the Hags Glen with no let up. Up O'Shea's, very windy when we reached the ridge to Carrauntoohil.

Paused while we were having a bite on top in Andy's repaired shelter. A fast return down the Gates. Boots full by this, luckily it cleared as we reached the car, giving us a chance to change in the dry.

Exploring

Andy & myself had often looked at the gully to the left of Curve Direct and wondered what it would be like. We decided that the only way to see it was to abseil down from the top. We set Sunday 3rd August as the day to see it.

Andy called for me at home. We loaded his car with ropes & hardware. On the journey we decided to ring Margaret but there is a misunderstanding re the climb. Herself and Patricia are to follow on.

At Lisleibane we sorted the gear, Andy takes an abseil rope, a climbing rope and full rack of gear. I took an abseil rope, and a half rack of gear. The women are also to bring gear & ropes. I feel the weight on my back but make good progress in.

We climb up Curve Direct up the ridge from it, cross the stream and swing left for the top of our gully. There are fantastic views of the first level and Coimin Iochtarach well below us. We see Margaret & Pat walking toward Curve Direct.

We select anchor points for the abseil rope. Five in all, we are taking no chances. Andy prepares to enter the gully as the women arrive, our greetings receive a frosty reply. Andy drops into the gully, we hear a lot of loose stones moving and we get no reply to our calls as he descends lower.

Eventually a reply, do-able but would have to abseil down a waterfall, we say "No thanks". Andy re-climbs and we pack up the gear. Mist now coming in and we decide to head for Carrauntoohil. We are well to the left of Curve Gully. New ground but we decide to work our way up. Grassy in places, some scrambling, some interesting moves, but we make steady progress, eventually coming out on the ridge to Howling near the cross. We enjoy a cuppa and head home via the Gates.

A good day even if we did not fulfill our original goal, but we now know what it would take to abseil that gully.