Croagh Patrick weather

helimachoptor

Hi guys anyone know what the weather is like in CP today? Planning on ascending and normally just wear shorts but the wife seems to think its snowing

Mickeroo

Looks clear and sunny to me, perfect day to climb it. Will be breezey and cold up there though, when you're not moving at least. You might get away with the shorts since its so sunny but I wouldn't really recommend them.

helimachoptor

Cheers mick, will risk the shorts, I've plenty of layers on top, just prefer shorts

Mickeroo

helimachoptor wrote: »

Cheers mick, will risk the shorts, I've plenty of layers on top, just prefer shorts

You can't beat them for comfort in fairness! Enjoy the climb, view should be spectacular today.

Slick50

helimachoptor wrote: »

Hi guys anyone know what the weather is like in CP today? Planning on ascending and normally just wear shorts but the wife seems to think its snowing

Current weather in westport.... I wouldn't go up in shorts today, it will be cold and windy up there, but each to their own.

nuac

Thanks for the weather for Westport, Slick.

Agrees with quick foray downtown downtown 'Port. Could not see the summit, imho not a day for shorts. Getting windier imho. Remember the higher you go the colder.

yop

Shorts on a day like today with cira 5 degree ground temp, which will be in the minus levels by the time you get on top. Climb for the conditions, not just because you like shorts. I don't want to sound like a D*CK but I have mates who are with Mayo Mountain Rescue and I am regularly on CP myself and people who climb CP unprepared or wearing the wrong shoes or clothing and then MMR have to go and rescue them.

helimachoptor

Well lads I survived! Very pleasant until you get half way up and then get hit by the cross wind which had a bite too it but nothing particularly bad tbh. Today shorts were a good (lucky) choice, but the views were top notch, will stick up some pictures on Monday when I get back to civilisation

Also a lot more pleasant going up when you have done 2/3s of gaelforce!

Squeaky the Squirrel

Shorts in any weather for me!

Once you have a couple of top layers you be grand.

Slick50

helimachoptor wrote: »

Well lads I survived! Very pleasant until you get half way up and then get hit by the cross wind which had a bite too it but nothing particularly bad tbh. Today shorts were a good (lucky) choice, but the views were top notch, will stick up some pictures on Monday when I get back to civilisation

Also a lot more pleasant going up when you have done 2/3s of gaelforce!

You didn't tell us you're an iron man.... so why was the missus worried about a bit of "brass monkey" weather?

I'd say there was a nice breeze when you got to the saddle, fully exposed to today's easterly wind. What time did you do?

helimachoptor

More amateur adventurer! Too soft around the edges for the iron man label!

She's always cold that's why! 90 mins but quite a number of stops for the wife to rest. It was her first time doing anything like this, so told her the top was a couple of mins away several times or it would have been cut short!

The church had quite a pasting of ice up there

Just Like Heaven

Gonna race up and down with the dog tomorrow morning, won't be repping shorts though

toadfly

fewtinsoffroth wrote: »

Gonna race up and down with the dog tomorrow morning, won't be repping shorts though

I was thinking the same for tomorrow but not sure it'd be safe for the dog the last bit anyway. What breed of dog do you have?

helimachoptor

Quite a few dogs up there right the way to the top, boxer, collie and a couple of labs were ascending/descending the scree

Just Like Heaven

Cavalier King Charles. I know not a big dog but she's been up a few times and loves it, never had any problems. I've seen smaller Jack Russels and stuff a few times on the mountain.

toadfly

Thanks for that, she should be grand so.

AK333

Hi OP

Sorry to cut across your post but I was hoping to climb CP sometime this Spring/Summer but I'm a complete novice and a bit worried. How hard is it for a fit but more mature person to climb? Is there anything special I need to bring/do, apart from the walking sticks, or are they necessary? thx

helimachoptor

I never use sticks but a lot of people do use them. Plenty of more mature people doing it too, just pace yourself and you'll be fine it's more than achievable....and tbh from my gaelforce events I've been passed by older people who bounce up like mountain goats.

My wife spends a lot of time in the gym but wouldn't be big on anything involving CV work and she found it fine.

I just had a bottle of water but bring some food, better to have it than not and as above, bring proper gear as if the weather closes in you will get cold/wet pretty quick and good shoes!

Finally hope for good weather, views are awesome

Squeaky the Squirrel

helimachoptor wrote: »

Finally hope for good weather, views are awesome

This.

Don't go up if it's cloudy. Totally ruins it.

Mickeroo

gGlad you had a good one helimachoptor. Went for a hike in achill myself, lovely day to be on the hills. The wind chill was serious enough at the top I have to say!

StewartGriffin

yop wrote: »

Shorts on a day like today with cira 5 degree ground temp, which will be in the minus levels by the time you get on top. Climb for the conditions, not just because you like shorts. I don't want to sound like a D*CK but I have mates who are with Mayo Mountain Rescue and I am regularly on CP myself and people who climb CP unprepared or wearing the wrong shoes or clothing and then MMR have to go and rescue them.

He was wearing a pair of shorts, not sauntering up in high-heels, mini skirt and a boob-tube.

yop

StewartGriffin wrote: »

He was wearing a pair of shorts, not sauntering up in high-heels, mini skirt and a boob-tube.

Read what I said and get an understanding. Buzz up MMR and ask them about people who go up in shorts and ill prepared and how they, who are volunteers, have to go and rescue them off CP.
The OP was doing it as part of the Gaelforce training, this point wasn't made in the original post, there is a big difference in tackling the reek as part of a training regime and taking on the reek as a normal joe in a pair of shorts.

I'm not posting for the sake of typing, as I said, buzz MMR and ask them. Their the one who have to spend their time rescuing.

And plenty have done it in heels too.

StewartGriffin

yop wrote: »

Read what I said and get an understanding.
The OP was doing it as part of the Gaelforce training, this point wasn't made in the original post, there is a big difference in tackling the reek as part of a training regime and taking on the reek as a normal joe in a pair of shorts.

Normal Joe/Josephine can go up the winter Reek in a pair of shorts. It's proper footwear, suitable bodywarmer/layers and a sensible approach to the dangers that are important.

yop

StewartGriffin wrote: »

Normal Joe/Josephine can go up the winter Reek in a pair of shorts. It's proper footwear, suitable bodywarmer/layers and a sensible approach to the dangers that are important.

And with that is why normal Joe/Josephine have to be rescued. :rolleyes:

StewartGriffin

yop wrote: »

And with that is why normal Joe/Josephine have to be rescued. :rolleyes:

I don't get you?

mattser

helimachoptor wrote: »

Quite a few dogs up there right the way to the top, boxer, collie and a couple of labs were ascending/descending the scree

Were they on leads ?

yop

StewartGriffin wrote: »

I don't get you?

Exactly my point.

helimachoptor

mattser wrote: »

Were they on leads ?

Nope, in all probably saw about 10 dogs, most on the lower part but none on the lead, however the ones on the scree had no issue going up/down

yop

mattser wrote: »

Were they on leads ?

Most wouldn't be from what I have seen. If they owner is happy the dogs will come back when called they will let them off. Consider that this is freehold so you will have sheep all over the reek so be confident that the dog will come back to you.

helimachoptor

I think what yop is saying is that people underestimate the weather and underfoot conditions on CP and in turn that keeps the MMR busy.

However there is an element of common sense, if you are on the way up and get very cold, turn around! Obviously a little different if you break and ankle or something

StewartGriffin

yop wrote: »

And with that is why normal Joe/Josephine have to be rescued. :rolleyes:

Well, maybe if your post actually made sense it might help me?

StewartGriffin

yop wrote: »

Exactly my point.

You're very Trollish for mod. I mean that in a kind way.

biko

AK333 wrote: »

Hi OP

Sorry to cut across your post but I was hoping to climb CP sometime this Spring/Summer but I'm a complete novice and a bit worried. How hard is it for a fit but more mature person to climb? Is there anything special I need to bring/do, apart from the walking sticks, or are they necessary? thx

Bring a stick or two if you're a novice, you'll need it. It's steeper than it looks, particularly coming down.
A bottle of water, a wind breaker jacket and pair of warm gloves in a small carry bag won't hurt.
Better to have them and not need them than need them and not have them.

yop

StewartGriffin wrote: »

You're very Trollish for mod. I mean that in a kind way.

Not a great comment to be honest, and I mean that without been a mod on this forum.
What I said has made sense to at least one other poster on here, who has broke it down into a stick man explanation.

As kindly explained, people totally under estimate mountains, the OP has explained since that he was doing the reek in shorts as his training regime, so he is probably coming from the back of the reek on the Gaelforce route, will already have a higher body temp and will be moving at a pace much quicker than a normal Joe.

I have trained on the reek for nearly 6 years and did my first ascent of the mountain nearly 35 years ago, I am also a local.
Temp difference on this and any other mountain can vary drastically from ground to peak, also wind chill adds to that.
If the cloud/fog comes out, which happens regular due to it been on the edge of the atlantic, then you can be left totally disorientated and if you are wearing shorts you could end up on the mountain for a number of hours, hypothermia sets in and then MMR have to come and take you down.
Every week there is a case of this. People in high hells breaking their ankles, carrying dogs in hand bags, not having rain jackets, wearing shorts.

Squeaky the Squirrel

yop wrote: »

People in high hells breaking their ankles, carrying dogs in hand bags, not having rain jackets, wearing shorts.

haha, Americans?

yop

Squeaky the Squirrel wrote: »

haha, Americans?

Unfortunately not

Meet a girl 2 years ago when I was decending, she had lovely white skirt, nice pink high heels and a dog sticking out of her handbag. She was about 1/3 the way up, she stopped me, I was running down, and asked me would it take her another 30 mins...
I went to the bottom and turned and passed her as she started the cone. I felt sorry for her, especially as the wind was parachuting that skirt up as I (and I use me words carefully) came from the carpark direction

Myself and the lad with me didn't know if we would laugh cry or just ask her out

StewartGriffin

Last time I climbed it I noticed a fairly elderly chap who kept falling over, but everytime he fell over someone would help him up and he'd have a chat. We met him again on the way down, flat on his ass, getting pulled up by a new friend. Thought to myself "there has to be easier ways to meet people than that". But it was quite nice at the same time.

AK333

biko wrote: »

Bring a stick or two if you're a novice, you'll need it. It's steeper than it looks, particularly coming down.
A bottle of water, a wind breaker jacket and pair of warm gloves in a small carry bag won't hurt.
Better to have them and not need them than need them and not have them.

I am a novice, I run, but not up mountains! My C25K training didn't include mountain goat training

I will hire the sticks, it looks like I'll be needing them, but I don't have trekking or hiking boots - would asics do?

yop

AK333 wrote: »

I am a novice, I run, but not up mountains! My C25K training didn't include mountain goat training

I will hire the sticks, it looks like I'll be needing them, but I don't have trekking or hiking boots - would asics do?

Asics are fine. The weather is dry these day and the grip up there isn't too bad in the dry. Its bare on the cone so in the wet its a paint for grip.

Squeaky the Squirrel

yop wrote: »

Asics are fine. The weather is dry these day and the grip up there isn't too bad in the dry. Its bare on the cone so in the wet its a paint for grip.

Am I right in thinking most accidents happen coming down?

Take it handy coming down AK. All the way down.

yop

Squeaky the Squirrel wrote: »

Am I right in thinking most accidents happen coming down?

Take it handy coming down AK. All the way down.

People slip on both the way up and down. Footing going on the way down yes and once the momentum is behind you on the descent then its fun slowing down
Also the lower part has slippy grass and bog where you may end up on your bum.

Take your time, make sure you are well wrapped up, bring a drink and a bit of food and a camera Tomorrow will be georgous up there and you can see all 365 islands in clew bay

AK333

Take your time, make sure you are well wrapped up, bring a drink and a bit of food and a camera Tomorrow will be georgous up there and you can see all 365 islands in clew bay [/QUOTE]

I won't be going tomorrow - I'm an absolute beginner and will be waiting till the weather warms up a bit - the wind at the moment will cut you in half. Probably try around June/July time but thanks everyone for the info, its good to get the correct info from people who know - a website can only tell you so much.

yop

AK333 wrote: »

Take your time, make sure you are well wrapped up, bring a drink and a bit of food and a camera Tomorrow will be georgous up there and you can see all 365 islands in clew bay

I won't be going tomorrow - I'm an absolute beginner and will be waiting till the weather warms up a bit - the wind at the moment will cut you in half. Probably try around June/July time but thanks everyone for the info, its good to get the correct info from people who know - a website can only tell you so much.[/QUOTE]

And don't forget your nice Guinness or cuppa in Campbells

Red Pepper

Hi

Rainfall radar is showing a front passing over the reek. Will probably fall as sleet or snow above 500m. Can anyone confirm whether it is snowing on the reek or whether it has a white cone? I might climb tomorrow (Monday) of there is some snow.

Just Like Heaven

I'm a few hours off the reek feckin' dreadful winds. I've climbed dozens of times all times of the year and Christ I've seen anything like it was today, thought I was gonna get blown off the top, lost my hat to the elements when I did get up there Got blown up the slope towards the end like a plastic bag though handy enough, but quite scary actually on the summit.

I went up pretty early but met a lot of very lightly dressed people on my way down In for a bit of a shock today :eek:

Just Like Heaven

Red Pepper wrote: »

Hi

Rainfall radar is showing a front passing over the reek. Will probably fall as sleet or snow above 500m. Can anyone confirm whether it is snowing on the reek or whether it has a white cone? I might climb tomorrow (Monday) of there is some snow.

There was a lot of hail and it was snowing a bit this morning.

helimachoptor

I would not have been in shorts today!

helimachoptor

as promised some pics.

trishamcm

Lovely Pictures

Was there many people doing it that day? I did it for the first time last summer on "Reek Sunday" never again!!

helimachoptor

Not that many, however my only comparisons are when doing galeforces and theres generally a couple of thousand people ascending/descending at the same time!

trishamcm

Defo going to do it when weather improves but then again I live in Mayo weather is always S**t