Snow Watch

Pretty sure it was snowing around this time last year, because I managed to get completely lost in a white out on the Reeks this month.

So where's it going to snow first? Nothing on the Reeks today anyway. They have the height advantage, but I guess they have the drawback of being near the sea and being in the southern end of the island.

Where does it usually snow first anyway? Will the ranges further north, the Mournes or mountains in Donegal, get the first flurry? Or the peaks further away from the sea, Galtymore and Lug? Anyone see any yet? I presume there may be the odd snowflake at night too, but I'm really talking about a proper snowfall where it is visible on the ground and lasts well into the day.

Alun

Was out last weekend up around Lobawn and Table and looking over towards Mullaghcleevaun and the Barnacullian ridge in the distance there was some white areas showing near the tops. We had a couple of shot blasts of hail during the walk so it wouldn't surprise me if it wasn't just an area of hail that was lying and had frozen.

solerina

No snow visible on the Galtees yet !!

irishlostboy

say we have a few weeks yet. all ready for de big freeeze Mk.2? :P should be fun.

Will be doing one of Nathan Kingerlee's winter walks courses and then seeing will I buy crampons and ice axe. Did borrow and try out a friends last year, so looking forward to getting some more time on the white stuff.

Snow finally hits the Reeks, went around Coomloughra circuit yesterday, light on Caher, more on Carrauntoohil and north side of Beenkeeragh.

NathanKingerlee

I've just moved to Lisliebane and have a pretty incredible view of the MacGillycuddy Reeks from the office window! Here's a photo of this weekend's snow dusting up there: http://tinyurl.com/29etjqa
Everyday there's snow up there I'm planning to post a photo on the blog to give an idea of conditions...

coalshed

Nothing on Errigal. I was up there yesterday (14th November) as part of my county tops mission. Weather was perfect for the day, with great sunshine and visibility.

Forgot to say that at the top of Carrauntoohil a Polish couple approached me looking for directions! They were lost, she was in miniskirt and leggings, both of them in runners. Oh and they didn't know where they had left their car! Nice couple in fairness, hopelessly unprepared but reckoned that the one thing they did not need was a lecture. They pointed back the route they followed which was from the shoulder of Curraghmore, reckoned from their description that they had left car near the last house in the Black Valley. Hope they made it back down.

Gillo

Hardy f&*kers!! and there's you needing decent boot's, breathable rainwear and thermals not to mention a big bag full of God knows what.

I had a similiar incident on the summit of Donard years ago, although it was two middleaged lads, and despite explaining the best route to Newcastle, they figured we hadn't a clue and headed further on into the Mournes.

Roen

Snow falling but not sticking on Arderin in the Slieve Blooms on Sat 13th (county tops thing too). Was surprised to see it even though the car thermometer was saying 1C.

Was all clear in the Comeraghs on Sunday though, great day out!

foolelle

heard reports today that there was show on the top of lug, can anyone confirm?

SomeFool

foolelle wrote: »

heard reports today that there was show on the top of lug, can anyone confirm?

Have a look in the stickied photo thread there's a bit there alright.

nomdeboardie

In before "The Sally Gap is impassable" :cool:


Listens for the revving motors of underprepared weekend warriors

Donny5

nomdeboardie wrote: »

In before "The Sally Gap is impassable" :cool:


Listens for the revving motors of underprepared weekend warriors

Is it, nomdeboardie?

nomdeboardie

Donny5 wrote: »

Is it, nomdeboardie?

Not that I know of Donny5 - sorry, just playing on the After Hours meme of getting "in before" something or someone who might be expected to enter the thread soon. In this case, I wouldn't be surprised if there's significant Wicklow snowfall this weekend, in which case we can expect the traditional "Sally Gap is impassable" from da meeja

Alun

nomdeboardie wrote: »

... in which case we can expect the traditional "Sally Gap is impassable" from da meeja

Your wish has been answered already .. but due to icy conditions! No snow yet, but almost certain to fall during the night. Looking to do Tonelagee tomorrow from the Brockaghs starting in Laragh, so should be OK roads wise.

nomdeboardie

Alun wrote: »

Your wish has been answered already .. but due to icy conditions! No snow yet, but almost certain to fall during the night. Looking to do Tonelagee tomorrow from the Brockaghs starting in Laragh, so should be OK roads wise.

Ice - ewww :eek: (Actually, I'm not really an impassability fan as such even for snow - I wimp out when things get slippy)

Yeah, Laragh as base is probably a good bet, although if you're going by the "Long Hill" on the R755 around the Sugarloaf, I wonder if things are slippy there also.

By the way, there are more snow chroniclers to be found at http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056099033

Slogger Jogger

@Nomdeboardie - you were psychic in predicting that snowfall. A couple of inches of snow here in Wicklow. Anyone heading for the hills today be careful.

Roen

No end of the stuff in Waterford, I'm heading for the hills!

smokin ace

loads of snow in north wexford and its still falling with thunder and lightning

LET IT SNOW LET IT SNOW LET IT SNOW :D:D:D

Roen

Well that was over before it started, made it about 7 miles out and had to turn back. Round trip of 14 miles in 3 hours!

Alun

Abandoned our walk today and just went up the Sugarloaf and back Actually, it probably wouldn't have been too bad getting to Laragh as the road was reasonably clear, and got better as the day went on, but we were planning on having our club's Christmas Dinner at the Wicklow Heather and stay the night, and the prospect of the slush freezing overnight followed by fresh snow ready for the trip back next day didn't fill us full of enthusiasm.

coalshed

I was up Galtymore this morning...conditions were evil: very windy with driving snow, bitterly cold and a cm or two of snow on the ground higher up. Naturally the sun came out as we got back to the Black Road. :rolleyes:

Went up Lug yesterday. All very Arctic like. Could have skied down.

matc66

nomdeboardie wrote: »

In before "The Sally Gap is impassable" :cool:


Listens for the revving motors of underprepared weekend warriors

You are right, Irish Times today.
AA Roadwatch has appealed to all motorists not to make any unnecessary journeys particularly in Ulster, Sligo, Mayo, Kildare and Waterford city.

It said several roads are treacherous while the Sally Gap and the Wicklow Gap are impassable. It urged all drivers to reduce their speed and keep a safe distance from other vehicles.

Takeshi_Kovacs

Deleted User wrote: »

Went up Lug yesterday. All very Arctic like. Could have skied down.

What depth of snow you make it out to be up there.

Plenty of snow down here on the mountains, couldn't make it up today, but will try and get out in it by next weekend (should allow for further accumulations as well)

Tobias Greeshman

Deleted User wrote: »

Went up Lug yesterday. All very Arctic like. Could have skied down.

Fair play to you getting up there, I left at 9 yesterday from Dundrum hoping to head up the Glenmalure side. Got as far as Laragh and the car refused to go up the Glenmalure hill. Ended up having to do Tonlagee via the Brockaghs. Weather wasn't overly bad except for a few exposed bits on the Tonlagee spur. Since I was the only one on the mountain felt a bit hansel and gretel following my footprints back!!

Takeshi_Kovacs

Takeshi_Kovacs wrote: »

What depth of snow you make it out to be up there.

Nots sure. Think much depended on the wind tbh and whether the snow was windward or leeward side.

It seemed fine heading up Ballineddan, though I was trying to follow a track - presumably left by quads. Lost it, and was plunging in over my knee in snow. When I reached the top, went on to Slievemaan, and again that was fine as presume exposure to wind stopped the snow (which was very powdery) from collecting. Again, when I dropped to the col between there and Lug the going was very slow, had to step into the footsteps left by others. On the return leg on that side I was going into drifts well over the knees in places and I capsized a couple of times. Great fun!

nomdeboardie

I salute all the intrepid snow drivers and waders.

Meanwhile my car forced to back down from a Dunleary hill* yesterday.
*A little 50 yard incline in, er, Dun Laoghaire.
Can't we get smaller font here?

Deleted User wrote: »

...capsized...

cue visions of pairs of flailing legs sticking out of the snow at regular intervals all over Wicklow

nomdeboardie

nomdeboardie wrote: »

cue visions of pairs of flailing legs sticking out of the snow at regular intervals all over Wicklow

I did get a few facefulls of snow.

Resisted the temptation to run and throw myself head first and glide downhill. Have done that before but not to be done in front of serious hillwalkers who will tut tut, and there was one or 2 others about. Plus I had too much gear on me at the time, and would have lost something.

Spins

A group of us (all experienced) heading to Kerry for weekend.
Planning on heading up the zig zags and across to The Big Gun and back to Cronins Yard.
Anybody been up that way recently. What's the snow like up there?
We'll be bringing everything but the kitchen sink (e.g. axe, crampons etc.)
Any advise/news appreciated.

SomeFool

Good updates here. Haven't been down since early last week myself so can't say!

Takeshi_Kovacs

Han't snowed since last weekend down here, but there is a weather front coming in tonight tomorrow which could dump a lot of fresh snow on the Reeks

NathanKingerlee

@Spins: Looking up at the Big Gun out my office window right now! It's raining/sleeting here @ 150m with temperature @ 4'C. There's been a little bit more snow overnight; the higher peaks are looking whiter. Temperature up high is approx -4'C, although hard to know with this southwesterly wind.

The Big Gun will be in that in-between condition I'd say, between not being quite in frozen Scottish condition, while at the same time needing crampons.
Slippery snow underfoot - a rope might be no harm. Could be a long, slow day... I took this video in the Reeks on Wed: http://tinyurl.com/35j3qrx.

Once the clouds clear a little more I'll post a photo of the Big Gun in Friday morning conditions.

Spins

Thanks NK,
Sounds like it could be worthwhile heading down so. Only problem now is the roads. Main roads from Waterford probably ok but making it to Glencar might be a problem....
Looking forward to picture of Big Gun

NathanKingerlee

Here's your photo of The Big Gun (bit blurry, sorry):
http://tinyurl.com/37fhszr

Mickeroo

Few pics from Muamtrasna/Devil's Mother near leenane last Tuesday. There was much sliding on bivvy bags and general frowned upon behaviour :P

smcmullan

SomeFool wrote: »

Good updates here. Haven't been down since early last week myself so can't say!

Just been doing some housekeeping - the Irish climbing conditions reports have been relocated here

nomdeboardie

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/mountain-rescues-spark-warning-to-4x4-drivers-2447094.html

NathanKingerlee

Amazing day in the MacGillycuddy Reeks today! Temp about -9 degrees C.
If you look closely you can see the Slieve Mish mountains of Dingle reflected in Castlemaine Harbour.
Nice re-freeze happened last night and I think it'll hold until Wed. Knee deep powder snow up high.

concussion

Bohreen Lough from Galtybeg



Cross near the summit of Galtymore


It was 1C at 200 m where I left the car so I estimate -6C at the top. With the fresh wind this gives a windchill of about -16C. The snow was mostly 2 or 3 inches but there were drifts of up to 2 feet in places. Clear weather all the way up to about 700m and then visibility was down to tens of metres. When it cleared intermittently I could see as far north as far as Limerick but on the descent the ground fog rolled in and made Slievenamuck and Slievefelim look like islands in a sea - it was pretty impressive with the setting sun hitting it but unfortunately my camera wasn't up to the job

Birroc

The Galtymore cross picture is amazing.

Donny5

nomdeboardie wrote: »

In before "The Sally Gap is impassable" :cool:


Listens for the revving motors of underprepared weekend warriors

As you predicted, a couple got stuck on the Gap last night. Some tourists taken up there by a satnav.

Gillo

Fair dues to the Moutain Rescue for heading up yesterday night to get them out.

nomdeboardie

Donny5 wrote: »

As you predicted, a couple got stuck on the Gap last night.

Some on the 3rd also (above)

Donny5 wrote: »

Some tourists taken up there by a satnav.

Poor bastards. Gotta take the old satnavs with a grain of salt, but that's not easy if you're not familiar with the area. Irish units should come with a :eek: icon connected to the car's thermometer that lights up when the SG might be impassible.

Gillo wrote: »

Fair dues to the Moutain Rescue for heading up yesterday night to get them out.

Indeed

Was up Mangerton yesterday, not that cold, little in the line of snow left, but some gale blowing there. The bits of snow clinging on gave it the 'after the party' feeling, but still glad I went as found a deer with it's right hind leg completely wrapped in fencing wire and would have died if I hadn't (just about) freed it. Freeing an animal like that is never easy, have rescued sheep before and of course as you approach the more they struggle to get away and can do a trapped leg more damage. Think this one was in so much distress that he was beyond trying to get away, even stayed on the ground for a while after the leg was free instead of bounding away immediately. Course it might die anyway, not a good time to be one three wheels, but like to think I gave it a fighting chance.

concussion

What are snow conditions like in Galtymore at the moment - thinking about heading down tomorrow for a hike.

K09

Hi,
Is there snow/ice still on the Macgillycuddy Reeks?

Any sign of a cold spell on the horizon? Never got the chance to head out in it last month.

NathanKingerlee

It's really positive to see a little sprinkling of frost on the Reeks this morning, but no snow! The way the week is looking, I'm a little hopeful we may have something on Friday or Saturday. No actual gully climbing, but maybe some nice atmospheric ridges. I'll keep you posted on how things are looking.

K09

NathanKingerlee wrote: »

It's really positive to see a little sprinkling of frost on the Reeks this morning, but no snow! The way the week is looking, I'm a little hopeful we may have something on Friday or Saturday. No actual gully climbing, but maybe some nice atmospheric ridges. I'll keep you posted on how things are looking.

Thanks Nathan! You planning on running snow & ice climbs?