Coomloughtra Lakes

Our plan was to climb Beenkeragh via a ridge from the back of Eager Lake. As we climbed the Hydro Road we knew that this was out for today as we were being pushed about by a strong wind. At the top of the road we decided to do a circle of the lakes. The level of the water in Lake Eighter is the lowest I have ever seen. The wind is still strong as we move around the lakes, catching us off guard at times.

We walked out by the stream, ignoring the Hydro Road. Out were Andy, Patricia & Grace.

Carrauntoohil Centre Gully

Met Andy and headed for Lisleibane. A cold windy day. We met the rest at Lisleibane and headed for Coimin Iochtarach. Mid-ways up the third step before the lake we turned left and approached the rock face. An initial moderate step followed by two hard moves, the first exposed. Good scrambling up to where it levelled off near the entrance to Curve.

Our first plan was to turn left here and go up the Grey Area. Here I disagreed and said that the Grey Area was too exposed for the day that was in it, as there was a nice wind and it was biting cold. Andy and I looked at each other Western-style across thirty feet of open ground.

The others stood aside watching, all that was missing were the "six shooters". Patricia broke the silence saying she agreed with me, Andy smiled and said we were right. We now had three options: Curve Gully, Centre Gully or O'Shea's. We opted for Centre. I was glad as it must be five or six years since I done it.

From what I remembered the gully had got very clean, we were in good shelter and the climbing was good. The two steps in the gully posed no problem. There was a big crowd on top, the shelter was full, no place to stop, we headed for the "Gates".

Here we stopped and had a snack in relative comfort. Except for the cold it was a good day out, being very dry. Out were Andy, 2 lads from T.G.H., Margaret, Pat and Siobhan

Purple, Tomies

Left Kate's at 10:10 in the company of Phil, Bairbre & Mairead. Pat Daly was to come but no show.

We headed up by Bohane & Tomies Rock to the summit of Tomies where a fair gale is blowing. I found the climb so far to be OK, holding Phil with little bother. She said she had the flu and I muttered under my breath: "Thank God!".

A debate on top on whether we could go on due to wind. We decide to move on. We head for Purple, the wind dying down as we start the climb to Purple, where on reaching the summit the wind comes up again - no place to stop for our snack.

We turn around and start back for Tomies. We find shelter about two hundred feet off of Purple and have our snack. Still windy on Tomies when we get there.

We head down the spur for the green shed, the descent steep in places. I am delighted at how I got on. The weather stayed dry, a big bonus. Five hours out.

Caher

Coomloughtra Horseshoe is today's target, starting with Caher as it is supposed to be a training day.

I set off from the Hydro ahead of the rest, i.e. Peter, Patrick, Margaret, Patricia & Tony. Find the Hydro Road not that bad, take a short break at the outlet of the lake, before crossing the bog to the Caher spur. The bog is soft and wet. It takes time to cross, eventually reaching the spur, and starting the long slog to Caher. Glad to be alone at my own pace, the ground starts to get steep and I slow down a bit but find the going OK.

After a while through the mist I see snow on Caher and after a while reach the snow band - a breeze is starting to get up.

The snow is nice but the wind is getting stronger. I see the others coming on, but realise that I will reach the first summit of Caher before them, Patricia just pips me to it.

A strong wind is now blowing, with severe gusts. I decide to turn around, do not like the look of things. The others opt to go on. I take it very carefully until I get out of the snow and wind, then relaxing and enjoy the rest of the walk out.

As I turn the car along comes Peter & the others just behind him. They dropped to the fence about five minutes from where I turned and they could go no further due to the wind.

Even though we did not complete the Horseshoe it was a nice experience.

Grey Area, Snow

Snow on Carrauntoohil, we decide to check it out. Andy calls for me at 09:30. Patricia is at Lisleibane ahead of us. We check our gear, no chances being taken. The rucksacks are heavy - crampons, ice axes, and harness.

We follow the usual track to the first level where we have a snack. Up the scree slope, I am pushed to the front and force marched up, at a good pace, with a lot of encouragement from behind. We go straight up the narrow crack as it brings us out at a higher level near the start of Curve Direct. A lot of water coming out of Curve but we manage to stay dry. At the mouth of Curve crampons are put on, and ice axes taken out. We are now in snow.

We cross Curve and start up the grey area. A nice step for a start, but the ice is good. Rocky and steep in places but the going is good and secure. No need to rope up.

A small bit of thinking to be done before some moves. We can hear voices coming from Curve. The cross comes into sight, we are to the left of it. We come out on the ridge to Howling, and climb to the cross. Feeling hungry and have a good meal, starts sleeting heavily. The track to the Ladder is icy in places so we keep crampons on.

We head for the track to the Gates, taking off the crampons on reaching the track. We regret this after a while as the path is icy in places. By the time we reach the rescue hut it is raining heavily.

At the cars we get as wet changing as if we had not bothered to change. A great day, hope there is more snow and ice.