Snow conditions on Lugnaquillia?

redape99

Hi, anyone know what the current snow/ice is like on Lugnaquillia (if there's any left at all)? Thinking in particular about the Glenmalure/Fraughan Rock Glen route.

Sev

I was up lug on Sunday the 18th of December and there was still plenty of snow at the top of the Baravore valley, there were some thin ice smears in and at the bottom of Great Gully that I would imagine developed in the next few days to provide some reasonably climbable ice. The river/waterfall at the end of the Baravore valley had also began to freeze up. Up higher, the snow (from the first snow dump at the end of November) where it remained was very crisp, very solid neve, and would have made for some very enjoyable snow gully climbs. I didn't have enough time to make it to the north prison though.

Later that week (the 23rd) I visited the mahon valley in waterford, where the ice was in excellent condition (for Ireland anyway). Did a 50m multipitch WI3+ route, on Mahon beag and climbed the top section of Mahon falls.

Checked out Glendalough on St. Stephen's day, walked down to the Miner's village. There was still snow cover on the slopes on both sides of the valley, but only an inch or two. We were disappointed to find that the ice on the north facing slopes hadn't developed at all, but we found some ice to climb on the lower pitches of the twin buttress waterfall.

But... a very abrupt thaw came in on St. Stephen's day, and the temperatures have been significantly warmer all last week, so I would imagine all the ice and snow that was around is now melted. From my house in Dublin, I can't see any snow on the Dublin mountains anymore, and I don't see any on the slopes of Kippure. If theres snow to be found anywhere, I'd imagine its up on lug, but due to the week of warm temperature, I would be quite confident that it's all gone now

The good news is, it looks to be getting colder again, theres plenty of winter left.

redape99

Thanks for the info Sev. We'll be just hill walking so just trying to get an idea of conditions underfoot... hopefully get the new year off to a good healthy start.

Sev

redape99 wrote: »

Thanks for the info Sev. We'll be just hill walking so just trying to get an idea of conditions underfoot... hopefully get the new year off to a good healthy start.

Oh right, I kind of jumped to conclusions there (there are a number of documented winter climbing routes in the Fraughan Rock Glen and near the summit of Lugnaquilla). But, I guess the same holds where youre going out to climb or walk, I doubt theres much snow left around up there after the big thaw. But I could be wrong, there's still mounds of dirty snow surviving outside my drive way and that's in Dublin. So gullies may still be clogged with old compacted snow where it may have accumulated.

redape99

Had a fantastic day for my first trip up Lug. Ground was pretty frozen from around 700 metres up and snow still lying in the gullies. Got great views and even saw Snowdonia as mentioned in the "Can you see Wales..." thread!

Slogger Jogger

On a cycle this morning around south Wicklow I could see the snowy sides of Lug south prison. Looked fantastic.

K09

Hi,

Is the snow gone from the Wicklow Mts? I was hoping to do a proper winter hike but have I missed out on the snow covered mountains??

Tobias Greeshman

Just finished the Art O'Neill challenge, trust me the snow is definitely there (although not as deep as it was before Christmas), while I can't speak for lug directly, but Table Mountain, Conavalla, Black Hill, Mullacleevaun, Tonlagee... Take your pick!

hmmm

K09 wrote: »

Hi,

Is the snow gone from the Wicklow Mts? I was hoping to do a proper winter hike but have I missed out on the snow covered mountains??

Tonlagee had a good smattering of snow today. The view over Stoney Top to Mullaghcleevaun was quite snowy too, if you wanted snow I'd head in Mullagh direction.