comparing climbs, (severity)

A Country Voice

Hi guys,
Just a newbie, with a very newbie style question I suppose.

I climbed croagh patrick during the summer, and had a long hard but very pleasant day.
I was thinking about doing galty mor, maybe carauntoohill later on.
For those of you that have done all of them, or others like them, how do they compare?
I know for one thing croagh patrick has a well defined pathway all the way, and I wouldnt consider it dangerous.
I did galty mor years ago when I was in the scouts, but a good few pounds have been added since.
Of course the highest mountain in the land is always tempting too.
Just wondering what comparisons others might have between the 3, or others too, I'm not fussy :-)
Thanks
A Country Voice

hmmm

Fitness wise they're much of the muchness.

The others are "real" mountains however, so like you say paths aren't always obvious (Devils ladder maybe the exception). If you get into trouble on Croagh Patrick someone will find you, if you go wrong on Galtymore or Carraun you could kill yourself (not trying to overdramatise).

I had to escort a group of ill equipped and lost people off Galtymore in thick fog once. You really should know how to read a map, use a compass and/or GPS, and also have proper equipment such as footwear, raingear & warm clothes. Also, don't do them on your own if you can avoid it.

Galtymore is a bit of a slog, nice views on clear days. Carrauntoohill is dark and brooding, I love the whole scene. A good guidebook would be of great help to you to plan your day.

A Country Voice

Thanks for getting back to me.
Yeah I was thinking that the fitness side of things would be much of a muchness. I suppose traffic would be a major difference. As you say if you fell and broke your leg on Croagh Patrick you'd be found fairly quickly, Galty Mor would be a different story.
I got out the old silva compass yesterday evening, and dusted it off, and as they say its like riding a bike, it all came back to me

The navigation wouldnt be too much of a problem I'd say. I tend to plan things to the Nth degree too so I should be ok.
I'll wait till the evenings get longer though before I tackle my next one, I might take on Galty Mor next, with herself in tow hopefully.

I wouldnt head out alone anyway.

A Country Voice

hmmm

Where in the country are you located?

Do most of my hillwalking or climbing alone. Which is strange because I have a hatred of not being in company all other times. But I find that I just end up getting a little irritated with any friend who comes out for the fresh air, and I hate slowing down to accomodate them, and taking easier routes, or not getting in a long trek because they start complaining or wheezing. On the other hand, if there are any concerns I always let my wife know where I'm heading, how long I expect to be, what route I'm taking etc. and sometimes if weather isn't great or doing some slightly trickier route like the Big Gun I might send her a few texts while out there too. But have gone out for full days on the Cahas, Reeks and other areas on my own and prefer it like that.

If you are fit enough to do Croagh Patrick, you are fit enough to do pretty much any walk, and after that it's just a case of being sensible, maybe not trying Curved Gully or Beenkeragh Ridge on your very first trip up Carrauntoohil but sticking with the tried and tested routes until you have an idea of the area. I'd also usually check things like mountainviews.ie beforehand to get some information because it is still easy to get caught out, to come down the wrong way, even off reasonably low mountains (lots of great drops in the Cahas for example), to get trapped high up as night closes in without knowing the route off etc.

A Country Voice

Thanks for the replies guys.
I'm in East Limerick myself, Galty Mor is taunting me out my kitchen window ha ha. Ah I'll wait till the weather gets a bit better in the spring time before I tackle it, (along with the gf). I'll stay lower down for my walks in the meantime and build up the ould leg muscles again.
I'll have to look at investing in a decent pair of boots I suppose eventually. I did croagh Patrick in a pair of runners, which was fine with a well worn pathway, but a decent pair of boots would be a must if I'm going to tackle anything else.
Any recommendations?

Thanks again
A Country Voice