Carrauntoohill Route

jimstir

Hi Guys, my friends and I plan to climb Carrauntoohill on Saturday week (mid Jan 2012). We are going to park in Cronins Yard. We are just wondering if we can go up The Devils Ladder? (someone told me it may be closed off to jokers) Or can anyone direct me to a website that tells me a different way we can go up (but still park in Cronins Yard). Thanks a mil

h3000

http://www.kerrymountainrescue.ie/routes/index.html

You can find the routes on the link above. Last time I was down there the ladder was closed off. We went up by Br. O'Sheas gully instead.
http://www.kerrymountainrescue.ie/routes/brother_osheas.html

Cronins Yard is perfect for most of the popular routes, the Bone, the Zig Zags, the Heavenly Gates, all the Gullies (Curved and Central not good for the descent mind), Stumpa an tSaimh or even Knockbrinnea and over Beenkeragh Ridge.

sparrowcar

Loads of info on boards.ie if you do a quick search. I climbed it with Mrs S a few months back and the Devils ladder was open. To be honest I have no idea how they would close it anyway

Here is a video of my climb

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056460649

jusmeig

Hi guys,

Planning on doing Brother O Shea's and coming back via Heavenly Gates.
I hear there is a bit of scrambling on Brother O Shea's Gully?

Is there a lot of loose rock etc, would you advise helmets?

Anyone else with any other route information...much appreciated

Many thanks,

J

puzzle factory

you wont need helmets, theres a nice bit of a climb up through loose rock but the track worn into it is very stable

puzzle factory

also o sheas gully is a far nicer route, the devils ladder is like spending a few hours scrambling around in an old quarry, youl also see irelands highest lake and there do be a few goats up o sheas gully prancing around the place, it takes about 2hours to get up there from the car park, its a heigh mountain but its not everest, you wont have anything to worry about, the ammount of people i see dragging rucksacks full of god knows what up there with them is behond beliefe, you dont need anything, bar a bottle of water.

hmmm

puzzle factory wrote: »

you dont need anything, bar a bottle of water.

What happens if you twist an ankle? You get to sit out in the cold and wet for a few hours hoping mountain rescue can find you quickly (if you can get phone reception), or you'll be hoping some other hiker helps you. You carry a proper rucksack for when things go wrong, not for when everything goes right.

puzzle factory

hmmm wrote: »

What happens if you twist an ankle? You get to sit out in the cold and wet for a few hours hoping mountain rescue can find you quickly (if you can get phone reception), or you'll be hoping some other hiker helps you. You carry a proper rucksack for when things go wrong, not for when everything goes right.

What are you going to carry in a rucksake. Thats going to help you with a twisted ankle,a team of shelpers?

SomeFool

Warm dry clothes, food, first aid kit, torch.

hmmm

hmmm wrote: »

You carry a proper rucksack for when things go wrong, not for when everything goes right.

That's pretty much it. Having done it dozens of times, I find that the more I do it the more respectful I become. One can do it on a fine day in summer in runners and shorts, and I have...but have been out there when heavy mist or a snowstorm rolls in reducing visibility to metres and wondering why I was so stupid as to leave the map and compass behind, have been out there as darkness came in wondering why I didn't bring a head torch, have been stuck to the side of a cliff there thinking a whistle now might be handy, have been up there as the temperature plummeted in winter thinking a second pair of gloves and another fleece would have been so light to pack, have been hungry, cold and wet without food and waterproofs, have used a first aid kit out there on bumps and cuts -not mine. And it's so easy to prepare for those events. I think of going out on mountains a bit like crossing a road without looking, most of the time nothing might go wrong, but when it does it can go horribly wrong.

duckysauce

puzzle factory wrote: »

What are you going to carry in a rucksake. Thats going to help you with a twisted ankle,a team of shelpers?

Sherpas would be nice will not fit them in your rucksack though, so not sure shelpers ( cowboy boots) would help. Do you do much hiking ?

Esel

puzzle factory wrote: »

What are you going to carry in a rucksake. Thats going to help you with a twisted ankle,a team of shelpers?

If you really felt the need to ask that.... facepalm, tbh.

Gillo

Bro O'Sheas gully is a great scramble, nothing technical and once you are reasonabley fit it's easy enough. I did it last summer and came back down the zig zag's (which to be honest seemed pretty mundane on the descent).

Funny the comment re the rucksack, I was amazed the amount of people there who had nothing with them apart from a mobile to take a photo at the top. Not meaning to disrespect them, but from what I could gather it mainly seemed to be groups "climbing" the mountain for various charities so actual organised walks as opposed to individual's who just didn't know any better.

jusmeig

Guys thinking of maybe doing Central Gully now having seen a youtube clip of Brother O Shea's, it looks tame enough!
Looking for a bit of a scramble, but nothing too hairy.

Anyone got any route advice?
I am assuming (please forgive the most basic of questions) that central gully is between O Shea and Curved (penny drop)
Is it easy to find the entrance however?
The OSi 1:50000 map is no use when trying to locate gully entrances!

jusmeig

jusmeig wrote: »

Guys thinking of maybe doing Central Gully now having seen a youtube clip of Brother O Shea's, it looks tame enough!
Looking for a bit of a scramble, but nothing too hairy.

Anyone got any route advice?
I am assuming (please forgive the most basic of questions) that central gully is between O Shea and Curved (penny drop)
Is it easy to find the entrance however?
The OSi 1:50000 map is no use when trying to locate gully entrances!

If its a clear day you should spot it easily enough, particularly once you get to the wall above Cummeenoughter lake. On a bad day, if you are relying on GPS, maybe look at the Harvey's Superwalker map which has an inlay showing the area around Carrauntoohil in great detail. It's fine, but was up there last Sunday and there was a good bit of water coming down, and a lot of the rock was very loose after recent weather. Presume it's full of snow after last night. It's a good bit more testing than O'Sheas, which really is a walk whereas in much of Central you will be using all limbs. On te other and, it's not nearly as long as Curved, which is more difficult again.

BriangC

I agree with Conor, the Central gully is tough enough but is obvious enough on a clear day. Defo the Harvey map is great around there. The kerry mountain rescue site is has good approach info for this route and a photo of the Central gully http://www.kerrymountainrescue.ie/routes/brother_osheas.html and the central gully route is here http://www.activeme.ie/guides/walks/carrauntoohill-via-central-gully/ I havn't done the Curved gully yet but must give it a go.

ha, and bring a rucksack! preferably filled with useful stuff

jusmeig

Thank you very much Brian.
That GPX file will be invaluable on that activeme site (good site that), like everytrail.com

I do have the Harvey Superwalker. Excellent map. I also got the digital version for my Satmap GPX, so if I get lost there is no hope for us.
The entrance for central Gully, it looks like you come half way up O Sheas before traversing to central gully. On the picture on the Mountain rescue site it looks like a boulder field to cross to get to the entrance.

Looking forward to it now

jusmeig

Deleted User wrote: »

If its a clear day you should spot it easily enough, particularly once you get to the wall above Cummeenoughter lake. On a bad day, if you are relying on GPS, maybe look at the Harvey's Superwalker map which has an inlay showing the area around Carrauntoohil in great detail.

We are not going until mid feb, so im hoping it is relatively dry, or there is a big snow. If it snowed heavy I would probably stick to O Sheas, as central and curved look narrow and would be too dangerous with lots of snow.

tvercetti

puzzle factory wrote: »

What are you going to carry in a rucksake. Thats going to help you with a twisted ankle,a team of shelpers?

The naiveity of people like you results in people getting injured and even dying.

I have been climbing Carrauntoohil my whole life and have encountered many mishaps.

Each time I climb her, I find myself adding something new to my rucksack. My most recent additon is tablets that help me breathe easier in the high altitudes.

Always Learning!!!

The Dagda

tvercetti wrote: »

The naiveity of people like you results in people getting injured and even dying.

I have been climbing Carrauntoohil my whole life and have encountered many mishaps.

Each time I climb her, I find myself adding something new to my rucksack. My most recent additon is tablets that help me breathe easier in the high altitudes.

Always Learning!!!

Tablets to help you breathe easier? At 1000m? :rolleyes:

Esel

The Dagda wrote: »

Tablets to help you breathe easier? At 1000m? :rolleyes:

+1

Also, why call a mountain (or any thing) her? A ship, or boat, just maybe... but otherwise it would seem to well anachronistic.

Gillo

The Dagda wrote: »

Tablets to help you breathe easier? At 1000m? :rolleyes:

I'm thinking he means something that clears the airways say like Fishermans Friends or Airwaves as opposed to Diamox.

daithieoghan

tvercetti wrote: »

The naiveity of people like you results in people getting injured and even dying.

I have been climbing Carrauntoohil my whole life and have encountered many mishaps.

Each time I climb her, I find myself adding something new to my rucksack. My most recent additon is tablets that help me breathe easier in the high altitudes.

Always Learning!!!

High altitude tablets! Just spend a few days at base camp to adjust instead, save yourself the money.

The Dagda

daithieoghan wrote: »

High altitude tablets! Just spend a few days at base camp to adjust instead, save yourself the money.

Where's Carrauntouhill base camp?

jusmeig

The Dagda wrote: »

Where's Carrauntouhill base camp?

The Climbers Inn

SomeFool

jusmeig wrote: »

The Climbers Inn

Kate's is base camp, the Climbers Inn is advanced base camp :pac:

Gillo

TBH I'm surprised no locals have set up a "Sherpa" service, that'd also cover the rucksack issue that came up...

jusmeig

SomeFool wrote: »

Kate's is base camp, the Climbers Inn is advanced base camp :pac:

Excuse my ignorance, where is kate's?

Alun

jusmeig wrote: »

Excuse my ignorance, where is kate's?

http://www.katekearneyscottage.com/

daithieoghan

Gillo wrote: »

TBH I'm surprised no locals have set up a "Sherpa" service, that'd also cover the rucksack issue that came up...

The jarveys could diversify, it's about time they stepped up anyway

rainbowdash

Deleted User wrote: »

That's pretty much it. Having done it dozens of times, I find that the more I do it the more respectful I become. One can do it on a fine day in summer in runners and shorts, and I have...but have been out there when heavy mist or a snowstorm rolls in reducing visibility to metres and wondering why I was so stupid as to leave the map and compass behind, have been out there as darkness came in wondering why I didn't bring a head torch, have been stuck to the side of a cliff there thinking a whistle now might be handy, have been up there as the temperature plummeted in winter thinking a second pair of gloves and another fleece would have been so light to pack, have been hungry, cold and wet without food and waterproofs, have used a first aid kit out there on bumps and cuts -not mine. And it's so easy to prepare for those events. I think of going out on mountains a bit like crossing a road without looking, most of the time nothing might go wrong, but when it does it can go horribly wrong.

I did it recently, in chronic weather conditions, with nothing but a mars bar, a packet of cola bottes and a small bottle of water.

I was soaked to the skin by the time I got to the base of the ladder on the way up. What good is a change of clothes, if I changed them they would be soaked by the time I got to the top of the ladder anyway, and I would have an even heavier bag on my back.

Turn right at the top of the ladder and follow the obvious path up and down from the top, what help would a map and compass be? The ladder was dodgy coming down but IMO much safer without a heavy bag of wet clothes and pointless kit throwing me off balance, tiring me out and slowing me down.

I've been up and down a number of times and each time I bring less kit as I get more familiar with it.

duckysauce

rainbowdash wrote: »

I did it recently, in chronic weather conditions, with nothing but a mars bar, a packet of cola bottes and a small bottle of water.

I was soaked to the skin by the time I got to the base of the ladder on the way up. What good is a change of clothes, if I changed them they would be soaked by the time I got to the top of the ladder anyway, and I would have an even heavier bag on my back.

Turn right at the top of the ladder and follow the obvious path up and down from the top, what help would a map and compass be? The ladder was dodgy coming down but IMO much safer without a heavy bag of wet clothes and pointless kit throwing me off balance, tiring me out and slowing me down.

I've been up and down a number of times and each time I bring less kit as I get more familiar with it.

compass is for when the mist or fog comes in and you cannot see, and it must be a tropical rain storm you got caught out in , as every 100m you go up the temp drops that combined with wet clothes = Hyperthermia

rainbowdash

duckysauce wrote: »

compass is for when the mist or fog comes in and you cannot see, and it must be a tropical rain storm you got caught out in , as every 100m you go up the temp drops that combined with wet clothes = Hyperthermia

No matter how bad I've ever seen the visibility I've always been able to see the path down, you will always be able to see 50-60" feet in the worst weather.

What good is a compass anyway if you don't know where you are and you can't see any landmarks to get your bearings from?

It wasn't a tropical storm either, there was snow at the top. I know what you are saying about hypothermia but my point is that if you bring no kit you can move much faster and be back before hypthermia would set in.

Its less risky as you are not as tired and less cumbersome so less likely to fall in the first place.

The exception to all of the above would be if extreme cold and snow is forecast or on the ground, then it would be a very different strategy.

duckysauce

rainbowdash wrote: »

No matter how bad I've ever seen the visibility I've always been able to see the path down, you will always be able to see 50-60" feet in the worst weather.

What good is a compass anyway if you don't know where you are and you can't see any landmarks to get your bearings from?

It wasn't a tropical storm either, there was snow at the top. I know what you are saying about hypothermia but my point is that if you bring no kit you can move much faster and be back before hypthermia would set in.

Its less risky as you are not as tired and less cumbersome so less likely to fall in the first place.

The exception to all of the above would be if extreme cold and snow is forecast or on the ground, then it would be a very different strategy.

are you taking the piss ?

DeepSleeper

rainbowdash wrote: »

No matter how bad I've ever seen the visibility I've always been able to see the path down, you will always be able to see 50-60" feet in the worst weather.

What good is a compass anyway if you don't know where you are and you can't see any landmarks to get your bearings from?

It wasn't a tropical storm either, there was snow at the top. I know what you are saying about hypothermia but my point is that if you bring no kit you can move much faster and be back before hypthermia would set in.

Its less risky as you are not as tired and less cumbersome so less likely to fall in the first place.

The exception to all of the above would be if extreme cold and snow is forecast or on the ground, then it would be a very different strategy.

This has to be one of the most bizarre posts I've read on boards.ie, but as a member of a MRT I shouldn't really be surprised....

Let's just take your soaked-to-the-skin, bad weather, no map or compass (and probably no ability to use same anyway?) and minimal food as our starting point.... now lets add in a simple slip, trip or fall which results, for example, in a broken ankle.... Now what do you do? You don't know your precise location (i.e. your National Grid Reference) because you don't have a map and compass, your core body temperature starts to drop as soon as you sit down, you haven't enough food to keep your energy up or to keep warm and you have entirely inadequate clothing which caused you to get wet in the first place and I'd guess you have no change of clothes and no spare layers either....

So you brought your phone with you I'd imagine - most people do.... so you call the emergency services (if you have phone reception where you are lying and if your phone hasn't been lost or damaged in the rain or the fall) and ask them to come and get you.... The good volunteers of Kerry MRT now get a call out and leave the workplaces, their families, their sporting events and their shopping trips to come get you regardless of the weather or the time of day or night....

Where will they look?

How many hours can you lie in there that condition (and in those conditions) before they arrive?

Please take the time to do a Mountain Skills course to get a basic understanding of mountain navigation and the necessary equipment - doing things in a responsible way is a sign of individual strength, not weakness...;)

rainbowdash

rainbowdash wrote: »

I did it recently, in chronic weather conditions, with nothing but a mars bar, a packet of cola bottes and a small bottle of water.

I was soaked to the skin by the time I got to the base of the ladder on the way up. What good is a change of clothes, if I changed them they would be soaked by the time I got to the top of the ladder anyway, and I would have an even heavier bag on my back.

Turn right at the top of the ladder and follow the obvious path up and down from the top, what help would a map and compass be? The ladder was dodgy coming down but IMO much safer without a heavy bag of wet clothes and pointless kit throwing me off balance, tiring me out and slowing me down.

I've been up and down a number of times and each time I bring less kit as I get more familiar with it.

Ha ha! You must be really cool! You walk around mountains in wet clothes. That's just kerrazzee talk man!

Though you know, you could even save yourself the petrol by just standing in your clothes in a cold shower at home?

The Dagda

Deleted User wrote: »

Ha ha! You must be really cool! You walk around mountains in wet clothes. That's just kerrazzee talk man!

Though you know, you could even save yourself the petrol by just standing in your clothes in a cold shower at home?

He brings less kit each time he climbs it, he's obviously aiming to do it nude, so no wet clothes, and faster due to improved aerodynamics...
He could also try these amazing tablets that help Tvercetti breathe on "her", might be some improvement in performance with them too...

The Dagda

The Dagda wrote: »

He brings less kit each time he climbs it, he's obviously aiming to do it nude, so no wet clothes, and faster due to improved aerodynamics...
He could also try these amazing tablets that help Tvercetti breathe on "her", might be some improvement in performance with them too...

Ha!

Nude. And with his eyes closed. After all, why rely on 50 feet of visibility when 0 would be even wackier!

rick_fantastic

it never ceases to amaze me how many people think its safe to go into the mountains without the ability to read a map / navigate / carry the correct equipment...

please dont go out onto any mountains (hills) anywhere unless you are familiar with the area / able to navigate / have someone with you to guide you

and always - leave no trace!

my aim is primrose this year, after i lead up howling ridge again.

jusmeig

rainbowdash wrote: »

...if I changed them they would be soaked by the time I got to the top of the ladder anyway, and I would have an even heavier bag on my back.

Turn right at the top of the ladder and follow the obvious path up and down from the top, what help would a map and compass be?

I've been up and down a number of times and each time I bring less kit as I get more familiar with it.

Did you get a bang on the head as a young fella?

You bring rain gear, to keep you dry. If it's good rain gear....you don't get soaked/cold!!!! You change your clothes when you finish your hike, you feel warm and dry (What an amazing idea!!!!)

What if you loose the trail in the horrendous weather that sometimes descends? If you have a compass you can navigate to safety...if you dont you end up in BIG trouble.

Take your silly comments off the Outdoor Pursuits forum, and stick to navigating between bars.

What sickens me is that the good folk of mountain rescue would have to risk their lives to search for you...or your soaked corpse!

jusmeig

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this post btw

We did Brother I Shea's in the end last Saturday (Central Gully was a waterfall!!!), on what was a very windy and wet day, with poor visibility!! The route was challenging and fun, there were even a few other brave souls out and about on the mountain.

The Devil's ladder was a complete washout. This path needs to be closed asap. It's the worse I have seen in Ireland.
The gully was literally collapsing under out feet. It was like descending a waterfall.
Lots of stone and rock moving, glad we had the helmets on.
There must be people hurt all the time on this route?

I've done the Hydro Route several times, and think I will be descending this way in future as the trail is less eroded.

SomeFool

You could always descend by the heavenly gates or the zig zags

jusmeig

SomeFool wrote: »

You could always descend by the heavenly gates or the zig zags

First time on that side of the mountain, and as mentioned the weather was dreadful:

Regarding Heavenly gates, I did not fancy having to do the reverse of the first and second step, as the wind was howling. We also met a guy who had descended and he said to listen out for rock fall, he had heard and seen stones falling down! Best take what I thought would be the "safer" route. Safer and devils ladder cannot be used together tho

Where is the Zig Zag? Did not see another safe decent route on the map.

duckysauce

jusmeig wrote: »

First time on that side of the mountain, and as mentioned the weather was dreadful:

Regarding Heavenly gates, I did not fancy having to do the reverse of the first and second step, as the wind was howling. We also met a guy who had descended and he said to listen out for rock fall, he had heard and seen stones falling down! Best take what I thought would be the "safer" route. Safer and devils ladder cannot be used together tho

Where is the Zig Zag? Did not see another safe decent route on the map.

to the left of the devils ladder, went up and down it last year here is the route


http://mountainviews.ie/track/1517/

Aiel

The Devil's ladder route is still open I assume yes? I haven't seen anything on the Kerry Mt Rescue site to indicate otherwise, i assume that's where they would announce if its closed yes? My wife and I plan to do it in May and ive been checking the Mt rescue site in recent weeks to make sure its still open but i'll have another route(zig zags) or routes researched just in case.
I cant believe there's people here who question why you would need a rucksack with you with compass etc. We take a rucksack on pretty much every hike we do no matter how small.

jusmeig

Aiel wrote: »

The Devil's ladder route is still open I assume yes? I haven't seen anything on the Kerry Mt Rescue site to indicate otherwise, i assume that's where they would announce if its closed yes? My wife and I plan to do it in May and ive been checking the Mt rescue site in recent weeks to make sure its still open but i'll have another route(zig zags) or routes researched just in case.
I cant believe there's people here who question why you would need a rucksack with you with compass etc. We take a rucksack on pretty much every hike we do no matter how small.

It was open, as I came down it about a month ago! They can't really "close" it as such...I mean u can't put up a barrier.
I however would avoid it, as its horrendously eroded.

We went up via Brother O Shea's Gully, and back via the Devils Ladder. On the way down the ladder I could actually see the Zig Zags, and wished I had went for that route.

The ladder was literally crumbling under our feet, with a waterfall running down it. At the bottom it actually looked like looking up into a waterfall We got absolutely soaked, but then again it rained on us all day. Dont know if its always like this, but my advice would be AVOID!!!

Gillo

jusmeig wrote: »

Where is the Zig Zag? Did not see another safe decent route on the map.

Give yourself about 50 mtr's before the devils staircase and go left straight up the side of the valley, you'll hit a take at some stage and follow it up. Sorry haven't got a map handy at the moment so can't give you a grid reference.
Look at Br. O'Shea's gully for the ascent and come back by the zig zags.

BriangC

Gillo wrote: »

Give yourself about 50 mtr's before the devils staircase and go left straight up the side of the valley, you'll hit a take at some stage and follow it up. Sorry haven't got a map handy at the moment so can't give you a grid reference.
Look at Br. O'Shea's gully for the ascent and come back by the zig zags.

A agree, the best route is up via O'Sheas gully and down on the Zig Zags here http://www.activeme.ie/guides/walks/carrauntoohil-via-osheas-gully-and-zig-zags-kerry/ or down Heavenly gates.

The zig zags are way more obvious now as people decide against the Ladder and wear in a more obvious path. IMO the ladder is fine if your careful but is a boring route compared to O'Sheas and The Bone which are way more interesting.

burly

here are some of my route descriptions and gpx files.

Carrauntoohil via Coomloughra Horseshoe


http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=1582500



Carrauntoohil via Curved Gully & Heavenly Gates

http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=1437214




Carrauntoohil via O'Sheas Gully

http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=1405634


As with anything shared on here, use these at your own risk! Dont try new routes unless you are an experienced hiker, and are able to navigate!

rgfuller

Went up and down via the zig-zags last Friday, lovely snow at the top and sticking to the path/worn patches on the route.

Looking at the Devils ladder from the top I didn't feel it was safe enough to decend in the slippy conditions we had, I did see a group disappear down safely using icepicks.

Also met a couple of groups who both came up and went down via O'Sheas gully which was quite snowy but passable too - you could see the route they followed cut into the snow.