Anyone been out hiking in the snow?

keenan110

Just wondering if anyone has been out walking in the recent snow and has any pictures or stories?
Really wish i could get up to Wicklow for some walking, but the roads are awful.

CianRyan

I should be up in Wicklow on Friday with college.
Seeing as the college can't provide 4x4 transportation, it will be tricky and might have to be called off.
Very annoying as I am meant to be doing this as part of my MS training.

Fingers crosses, though.

Cookie_Monster

Did Bray head to Greystones last weekend. no snow, bits of ice.

really wanted to get to Djouce or similar but just wasn't willing to risk it on the roads

Alun

Went up Lug on Stephens Day but that's it. Our group had a walk last Saturday but I didn't go as I was ill. They started from a place called Woodend Bridge, just over the other side of the lakes from Blessington, which apparently was easily accessible and did Sorrel Hill and Black Hill. By all accounts the snow was well packed and the walking wasn't at all bad. This Saturday's walk is in the schedule for Kippure, but I'm assuming it won't go ahead for obvious reasons

Still, with that amount of snow on the hills, once the thaw does set in and the roads are clear once again, it should hang around for a while yet I hope.

larryone

Lug new years day. Dont know when I'll be able to get at it again. Some pictures on the Lugnaquilla thread in this forum.

jenius

Maybe im crazy, but was hoping to hike djouce this Saturday. Is the big problem the roads, the hike itself, or both?

Alun

jenius wrote: »

Maybe im crazy, but was hoping to hike djouce this Saturday. Is the big problem the roads, the hike itself, or both?

Roads mainly, I'd say. Even the road from Kilmac towards Roundwood was impassable yesterday and the Sally and Wicklow Gaps are a complete no-go area. It depends on where you were planning on going up from really and what happens between now and Saturday weather wise.

a147pro

Report here from a chap who climbed it a few days ago:

http://mountainviews.ie/mv/index.php?mtnindex=91

I climbed Maulin from Chrone Woods last year when the snow was in, was incredible. Wanted to go on to Djouce but insanely windy on the top so didn't. My car was then stuck in Chrone woods - there were hills leading down to the area where we parked and we couldn't get back up them. Ended up in a ditch and had to come back when it thawed and pay a local farmer to pull me out!

The roads must be MUCH worse this year. If I go I'm going to get a jeep and leave it at the top of the road from Enniskerry and walk down to Chrone. The problem then is that its a long way over Maulin and on to Djouce, it took me 2 hours just to get to the top of Maulin. But I don't know any other approach to Djouce that the roads will be passable on.

Anyone any ideas as per a passable road to Djouce or been out there this year?

a147pro

Or does anyone know of any road access to Lug or close enough to it to walk?

Dahix

@a147pro I'd say the likelihood of accessing any of wicklows 'proper' mountains in anything other than a 4 by 4 would be very risky and might need the services of wicklow mountain rescue but I stand to be corrected?

Though, for next weekend I'd say all the major hills, Tonalagee, Lug, mullaghore even Djouce and the likes will still be snowy and by then hopefully way more accessible.

As for this weekend, I'd reccomend settling for the (Great- hah!) Sugar Loaf. I haven't heard of much difficulty getting to Kilmacanougue and it's walkable from there. I can see snow on it fom where I live, though how much I can't be certain.


Has anyone been up it in the last few days..?

K09

Hi,
Is is too bad for any hiking over the next week? Would love to see the wonderful views of snow covered countryside from the mountains.
Or is it too dangerous to drive on roads to Lug or other mountains near Dublin?

Thanks.

Dahix

K09,

I dont think anyone know for sure but a lot of roads are EXTREMELY dangerous or closed i.e. the Kilmac to Roundwood road (R755) is closed and Enniskerry is extremely icy for example.

Its NOT worth the risk this weekend, you'll just be putting workload on the rescue services to recover your car!

Though I stand by my assertion that sugarloaf would be alright if ya cant resisit the hillwalking urge

a147pro

Well Enniskerry is where I was aiming for, is it really bad? would be in some kind of BMW SUV thing...

Alun

I'm going to be settling for a grand tour of the Great and Little Sugarloafs (Sugarloaves?) tomorrow too. Even if the roads are passable, there's more snow forecast for tomorrow as well, so it'd be madness to even try. See you all there

Slogger Jogger

Ran on snowy trails today. Took some pictures here. Lug is resplendent in evening light. Flickr link

nomdeboardie

Sugarloaf from Kilmacanogue sounds like the safest bet. I’ve parked next to the GAA pitch and gone up the trail next to that a few times, but driving the tiny road up to that point is a nightmare at the best of times (meeting a car coming the other way at some points requires one of you to reverse back to a passing place). Anyone know whether there are alternative places to park for a couple of hours (without fear of towing/tickets or disrupting access etc)?

a147pro

chickened out today due to clouds but mainly due to very little sleep last night. if the clouds came in and you were up at any height I think you'd have a fight on your hands.

anyone get up today let us know. also anyone know where to park for the Sugarloaf off the N11?

BeardyGit

Dahix wrote: »

Its NOT worth the risk this weekend, you'll just be putting workload on the rescue services to recover your car!

Just a little reminder that rescue teams/emergency services don't recover cars. They'll rescue people, but cars stay where they are....

Went up Mangerton. Stretch above Devil's Punhbowl was pretty tricky, crampons would have been useful, and at the top bit of a wind was blowing so temperature really plummeted, gloves froze, water pipe from camel pack froze. But lovely.

wrecks1971

Any pics Conor 74

Yeah, will upload them later. Mast at the top of Mangerton has snapped, presume ice made it top heavy.

Was up Boughil yesterday. Nice, snow thicker than Saturday.

burly

Hi all, Did Fauscoum summit on the Commeraghs on 3rd Jan and did Galtymore last Saturday 9th Jan.
Lough Coumshinghaunn was very picturesque, even if this part of the Commergahs doesnt really retain the snow because its so rocky.
Conditions were ok on the Galtees, care required on the icy track but no real problems. Galtymore was covered in a freezing fog so navigation required, but very enjoyable none the less. Lough Dineen at the base of Galtymore was frozen solid.
The old N8 road was very icy, but driveable, and the boreen up to the car-park at Galtymore was slippy coming down, but no major problems.
Plenty of snow-boarders on the Galtees, they are really a fantastic range in the snow if your looking for snow-boarding, sledging, or like me, just climb into the bivvy bag and away you go!! Ive attached some pictures.

Coumshingaun, Commeragh Mountains, Waterford


Near Fauscoum Summit, Commeragh Mountains, Waterford



The boreen off the old N8 that leads up to Galtymore



The track up to Galtymore



The cross at the summit of Galtymore in freezing fog.

pmurphy00

did mount brandon on saturday with crampons from the brandon side via teer..clear on top which was amazing very cold thankfully i was well prepared..must have been -10 or 15 below with wind chill and strong ne wind..amazing day here in west kerry may go 4 a short snowy hike soon.

oldscoil

Hi Folks.

I was thinking of heading up maybe 22nd / 23rd of January.

I had hoped to park somewhere, then walk to a Hostel, maybe Glendalough Hostel. And go out in the Glendalough area for food and pints.

Is the snow in the Dublin / Wicklow mountains down for the next few weeks, or does it thaw out and disappear much like it has today, Monday, in Dublin.

Antone have any good trails taht we could park/ walk for a few hours/ dine/ drink / sleep/ wake up and walk back the next morning?

Thanks Folks.

wrecks1971

wrecks1971 wrote: »

Any pics Conor 74

Heading up Mangerton


Devil's Punchbowl


Eastern Reeks from Mangerton


Boughil, looking down on Barfinnihy


Boughil

wrecks1971

Thanks for sharing fantastic looking.

keenan110

Really nice photos Burly ans Conor74, thanks!

NathanKingerlee

Have had a fabulous couple weeks in the snow and ice in the MacGillycuddy Reeks, amazing conditions! Fingers crossed we'll have more of the same before March.
Here's a photo slideshow of the past couple weeks: http://tinyurl.com/ybdjjzl

Takeshi_Kovacs

Nice pics Nathan, conditions look pretty good. Pity now that a lot of the snow is melting away now though up on the Reeks and Slieve Mish

Cookie_Monster

was out today. crone wood to maulin to war hill to tonduff and back down to the wall and back to crone.

still quite a lot of snow up there despite the heavy rain yesterday. 3ft in places, walkable on sometimes

nomdeboardie

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

was out today. crone wood to maulin to war hill to tonduff and back down to the wall and back to crone.

still quite a lot of snow up there despite the heavy rain yesterday. 3ft in places, walkable on sometimes

How are the roads around there Cookie Monster?

Cookie_Monster

nomdeboardie wrote: »

How are the roads around there Cookie Monster?

roads are fine, no ice expect the odd chunk of snow here and there. a lot of water both sitting on roads and flowing accross / down them in places. surface has gotten rough in places. its grand though, easily accessable, snow only very high up, maybe 350m plus

nomdeboardie

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

roads are fine, no ice expect the odd chunk of snow here and there. a lot of water both sitting on roads and flowing accross / down them in places. surface has gotten rough in places. its grand though, easily accessable, snow only very high up, maybe 350m plus

Thanks CM. (I don’t seem to have a thumbs-up button for this yet, apparently because I haven’t posted enough yet to be trusted to use it responsibly!)

hmmm

A fabulous day today weather wise. Did Cruagh - Prince Williams Seat - Fairy Castle - Tibraddin.

Hard going from Cruagh - Knocknagun, snow in places maybe 2/3 feet deep but it can largely be avoided (pic). Won't last long though, temperatures were quite high. Less snow heading towards Prince Williams Seat although you do have to be careful as there are some extremely deep pools of water (at least the height of a walking stick) covered with snow and brittle ice in this area. Fairy Castle to Tibraddin some spots with bad ice (took a hop myself) but not much snow.

Wicklow/Dublin mountains in Kippure direction look like they have patchy snow also (pic)

Tom Bombadil

Hi
Snow has passed away
9 days ago on Clohernagh (Glenmalure):


Yesterday:


More photos: http://gallery.arklow.pl/categories.php?cat_id=10

sineadgalway

so sad to see the snow go...it was fun while it lasted:D

muckish

Was out on Muckish (Donegal) yesterday. Only got half way up the miner's track as the snow was too deep. Check out some photos @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/donegal_daragh/sets/72157623212648305/

Errigal Photos here http://www.flickr.com/photos/donegal_daragh/sets/72157623208479112/

Hope to get out again tomorrow and try Muckish from the Grotto side. Snow conditions have been amazing here.

micawber

jenius wrote: »

Maybe im crazy, but was hoping to hike djouce this Saturday. Is the big problem the roads, the hike itself, or both?

Walked up Djouce a few weeks ago from Crone car park - snow close to summit but no problem
Did a circuit around Seehan/Seefin on sunday morning- covered in snow and very foggy. Compass and map essential.

Alun

Yeah, I did a circuit of Camenabologue, Table, 3 Lakes, Conavalla from Baravore on Sunday. Heavy snowfall above about 500m around midday and visibility of less than 50m in places. Hardly a soul to be seen either except for a large group that appeared out of the murk as we got to 3 Lakes. There's a surprising amount of snow still hanging around the south and west of the Wicklow Mountains .. more than there is in the area closer to Dublin by the look of it.

By the way, there are parts of the road from the Glenmalure Inn to Baravore that are in complete tatters, with some serious potholes, so be careful. It looks like there had been some serious water and rock slides coming of the hillside at the peak of the melt.

micawber

Seefingan last Sunday - felt like another planet

paulocon

micawber wrote: »

Seefingan last Sunday - felt like another planet

Superb photo that!

Was up Slieve Bearnagh in the Mournes on Sunday last. Large amount of snow above Hare's Gap. Got quite a good bit of the way up but my mate got a bit iffy when the mist moved in and the wind picked up so we came back down.

Personally, my first experience of a decent amount of snow and the hills really are a different challenge in those conditions. Bearnagh is quite steep from Hare's Gap and was like a ski-slope in places! Good fun and something of a learning experience!

duckysauce

Slieve League feb 28

adagio

Did the circuit of the Glen of Imaal on Sunday...
Heavy snow underfoot in some places.. mostly white-out conditions (especially on Lug)...
I did the same route two weeks ago and it took 7.5 hrs... it took us 10 hours on Sunday.. as we got lost twice (once in response to what we thought was an emergency call) and (once because we did not trust the compass) - always trust the compass!!!

Heading to camp in the Mournes next week and then off to discover Donegal in the coming weeks.

Oh.. btw.. we came across a guy near Fraughen Glen on Sunday who didn't have a map/compass.. this gentleman was 'experienced.'
He had to rely on us to reach the path to Fraughan Glen exit... three of us had maps and offered him one (just in case), but his male pride would not let him accept the map.
Moral of the story.. do not go into the mountains without a compass/map regardless of what you perceive your experience to be.
Pride = hypothermia.

A.

Slogger Jogger

There was a mountain rescue call out to Fraughan Rock Glen the other day.. an older gentleman needed assistance. Just shows you you can never be too prepared.

adagio

Yeah... when I heard I thought it was the same guy... but it stated that he was alone..
The guy we met had a female partner w/him...

When we started out (having check met/acuweather forecast the day before) w/anticipated a fine day w/no snow/hail.
We got the exact opposite.
I kid you not - later in the day we had to have out tea in a storm shelter.. and because of the conditions we did the last 1.5hrs in the dark.
But because we were well prepared... I didn't really matter.

It was hard not to force the map on the guy.. we even said we'd give him the map..!!
Be safe - be prepared.

moylaghshergar

Does anyone know if there's much snow on Lugnaquilla? Also would it be safe to hike without crap-ons? And if there is snow how much time would this add to ones hike?

Cheers

adagio

Not sure if conditions have changed from Sunday (snowfall or thaw/freeze).. if they haven't then crampons are not necessary...
I don't think there has been a thaw/freeze cycle of any significance...
Simple rule here is... if you find that you need crampons on the way up then either put them on (if you have them) or turn back... and do another route.
Keep in mind the trouble that a few guys got into on Carrantouhil in early Jan.. they (I think) went up the Devil's ladder and kept going regardless even thought they required crampons... result = they required rescue as they could not get down and I think one of the guys took a nasty spill and was shook up.
Unless we get more snowfall and a thaw/freeze cycle.. then I think crampons may be in the closet for the rest of the year...
Unless your a sickening fecker like me and you hitting Scotland this weekend.. .yeah I know .. I make myself sick sometimes

Mickeroo

moylaghshergar wrote: »

Does anyone know if there's much snow on Lugnaquilla? Also would it be safe to hike without
crap-ons? And if there is snow how much time would this add to ones hike?

Cheers

ike

Was up Mt Leinster yesterday from the Kiltealy side, plenty of snow near the summit, from about 500m onwards. No need for crampons the normally boggy ground was frozen solid in most parts, will post up a pic tomorrow.

Plenty of sleet and snow was falling on the upper stretches!

Cookie_Monster

moylaghshergar wrote: »

Does anyone know if there's much snow on Lugnaquilla? Also would it be safe to hike without crap-ons? And if there is snow how much time would this add to ones hike?

Cheers

regardless on how much snow is there I wouldn't of though crampons would ever be required. No-where steep enough really in my experience (from Glenmalure side only)

muckish

CLimbed the Great Gully on Muckish yesterday. Superb conditions. Ice axe and crampons definitely required. Who needs to go to Scotland when you have these conditions at home!



more photos here.