Carrantuohill

I started from Cronin's Yard, which is a tiny village between Killarney and Glen Car.

Last day of November and frost in the air...

...a good day for mountaineering !

One goes towards south west, opening and closing occasionally cattle gates.

Carrauntuohil can be seen on its best when using

this route and it was covered over three fourth by snow. Soil is very wet in some places therefor a long walking stick is usefull !

I followed the left side of river Gaddagh,

having my eyes locked on the Devils Ladders.

That is the mos straight way, but the blanket bog

makes one to walk zig zag when avoiding too wet soil.

I came to Hags Glen after two hours, having a slow

start and avoiding wetting myself.

Loch Gaille on the left and Loch Gabrach on the

right side. The Devils Ladders were covered under

fresh snow, but I could still go through without

crampons. The ladders are really like the name is,

one can ascend on nature made ladders, but attention

is needed like climbing skills. Loose stones make the

main problems, because water runs under them from almost the top of the ladders, making the stones move

just like that.

Ice was covering some stones, but I managed to go through, when slowing down.

Going through this gully is otherwise nice,

as one can stop and look sceneries and rest

very easily. Ladders are roughly 200 meters high

and are climbed on its best in the mornings, before

there is other climbers coming down from this popular route.

These Ladders are demanding and can not really be climbed

without previous mountaineering experience.

Half an hour... well that was quick !

Clouds started to come down and visibility went down

to 100 meters, when I started my way up from the 50 meters

wide saddle on the top of the Devils Ladders up to Carrauntuohil's

snowy and stony surface. Snow started to land behind

me on the Ladders, that was not a good thing for me. Now It was about walking all the way up to the top,

that took only one hour. I did not care about the cloud sea and went through 400 meters in it.

I would find my way back just following the steps

in the snow !

Wind was harder on the top. A hut and a cross

on the top and clouds around. It was time to start to wait the sun to come back, as it was shining this morning. I knew from previous experience, that around

noon the clouds may spread, when the sun is on its

strongest. 10 minutes... a few more, then the sky opened and I saw the Beenkeragh mountain and all

the way to the coast, but only for two minutes !

A rainbow...round one ?! It was time to climb down the mountain. I decided not to go back to the Ladders, it had snowed almost two hours if returning that way

and it would be too risky to go down on snow covered

ice, which was hard to recognise whilst going up.

I started to go towards south west/west, there was a ridge which I saw earlier on. My decission was simple,

there was no other Devils Ladders on these mountains !

Basically I was making an escape, but with previous

experience. I met the ridge after half an hour,

having gone only 100 meters wrong. Going down in a foggy conditions on this wide spreading mountain

and land on 50 meters wide saddle on the top of the ladders can be

a difficult task as well. Finally on the Caher Ridge.

I felt released, even snow and wind had increased.

Views were breath taking, as the ridge is only one or two meters wide in most of the places and it has steep cliffs. I met a group of people and could see from theirs eyes that they were on the way to Carrauntoohil,

certainly locals ! I was ascending higher now and when I came on the top, there was a climber older than me.

I was surprised, but I asked straight away the name of the mountain, so I would know roughly where I came down.

Caher mountain, 1001 m !

After talk of hales we both took the same way.

I took a photo from a strong looking hut on this mountain.

Visibility was still very poor, also the third

hour for me. Talking about mountains was very wellcome

conversation in this weather and after a while I notified, it was somebody whit more experience what I had. We met a group of 20 people. Climbers did not seem to disappear in this challenging weather !

The more famous climber had also published books about climbing and not only the climbing: flora, fauna, climate, maps,B&Bs, walking times and escaperoutes were the other inspiring subjects opening the mountaineerings mind.

Boggy lands again, then down to Hydro Road, which

leads to road between Glen Car and Killarney.

Still two hours daylight !