Carrauntoohil horseshoe when you're afraid of heights?

unkel

I want to climb Carrauntoohil some time this year. Most of the usual routes look ok to me but I would really like to do the Caher - Carrauntoohil - Beenkeragh horseshoe.

I'm physically strong and my fitness level is fine (although I'm 47), my navigational skills are ok now, but will improve and be pretty good before I go there. I will use both GPS loaded with maps and tracks and also compass / physical map

My problem is my fear of heights. The Caher ridge frightens me a bit but stepping on ledges with sheer drops near Beenkeragh terrifies me. That said, I'm not one to freeze up when things must be done, I have rock climbed and abseiled (while terrified) before.

Will I do the horseshoe? Or just Carrauntoohil?

Any comments are welcome

Of all walking routes, I think the Beenkeragh Ridge must be one of the most exposed, possibly after the Big Gun and maybe Faha Ridge on Brandon. Caher Ridge is a thing of nothing, a drop on one side while the slope to the Black Valley side gently rolls away, not so much a ridge as an "edge". However, no one can decide what's right for you, much would depend on your tolerance and small things like weather (obviously it might be easier in fog where you can't see the drop) or company (I have seen people pretty much held by the hand and led across the path on Beenkeragh Ridge).

KilOit

Did the Coomloughra horseshoe yesterday in pretty bad weather.

Myself and my girlfriend came down to Kerry for the bank holiday weekend, we did the Devil ladder on the Sunday on our own no problem with awful weather and then decided to get a guide for Coomloughra horseshoe for Monday.

The Beenkeeragh ridge was probably the most intense climbing i've done, there is a route that is very close to the edge but we did it the hardcore way and scrambled up over the rocks and we were literally hanging over the edge of a 1000 foot drop, if you slipped you'd die, simple as.

I wouldn't of attempted Beenkeeragh ridge in bad weather without a guide, even if you took the route instead of the rock climbing your only about 2 foot from sheer drops down.

Caher ridge is a cake walk compared Beenkeeragh ridge, so if you do it be really careful

SomeFool

You could just do Caher to Carrauntoohil and down the zig zags, if you have 2 cars you can start from the hydro road and finish your day at Cronins yard. It would be a good long day out with less exposure. If it goes well you can take on Beenkeragh next time.

hmmm

You could simply walk up the Caher side and see how you're going. For someone afraid of heights, the Caher ridge has a few places that could make you nervous, but you're well protected from the drops. You can then decide on Carrauntoohil top whether you want to come back the way you came or do Beenkeragh, both of which would be a fine day out.

unkel

Thanks for all the suggestions. Beenkeragh is definitely out, and I'm still a bit comprehensive about the Caher ridge. From a fear of heights perspective, would it be a safer bet to do either the Devil's Ladder / O'Shea's Gully up and the Zig Zags down? I know the erosion / busy route issues with the Ladder and is one a bit exposed somewhere up the Gully?

hmmm

I hate the Devil's ladder and wouldn't recommend it to anyone, fear of heights or otherwise. O'Sheas gully should be fine going up, there's a few small rock steps to be climbed but you'd want to have really crippling fear of heights to have a problem with them.

There is a short narrow bit on the way over to the ZigZags from the col where the Devil's ladder begins that can cause a bit of stress if you're afraid of heights (all this speaking from experience), but it's the much better route IMO. Just beyond that (it's a very muddy patch), don't follow the path to the left of the crest which has a large dropoff to the left, instead go over the crest itself.

duckysauce

Had the same issues deciding which route to do on my own , head can be a bit flakey for heights , didn't fancy the ladder as it rained the night before . Went up and down the zig zags and was no bother , will do caher route next time.

RamblingRuairi

You have a number of options - if you really want to do the Horseshoe and are not sure, you could look at going with someone experienced or hiring a guide (Piaras in Kerry Climbing or Pat Falvey for example)

O'Shea's Gully or the Ladder are definitely options with O'Shea's being my recommendation. As mentioned you could look at the ZigZags (both ascend and descent) as this would remove any sheer drops from your day out.

Based on the fact that you can overcome your fear of heights, I would recommend having a look at the Horseshoe with someone experienced ensuring you are roped up for added safety, going anti clockwise (Caher, Carrauntoohil, Beenkeeragh) and that way if Beenkeeragh is too much you can also choose an alternative route.

BarryD

Ah the Beenkeeragh is handy enough if you choose your route - you don't have to climb all the pinnacles. there are paths that bypass them. I brought our 10 yr old along it once and it was no trouble at all. But each to their own decision as to what they will manage in comfort.

RamblingRuairi

RamblingRuairi wrote: »

Based on the fact that you can overcome your fear of heights, I would recommend having a look at the Horseshoe with someone experienced ensuring you are roped up for added safety, going anti clockwise (Caher, Carrauntoohil, Beenkeeragh) and that way if Beenkeeragh is too much you can also choose an alternative route.

I think if someone needs to be roped up on the Beekeeragh Ridge, they are either missing the path or perhaps it's a place they should not be. Not being critical at all, everyone has different tolerance levels...but it's a walk.

hmmm

Deleted User wrote: »

I think if someone needs to be roped up on the Beekeeragh Ridge, they are either missing the path or perhaps it's a place they should not be. Not being critical at all, everyone has different tolerance levels...but it's a walk.

Then you don't understand a fear of heights - it could be climbing a ladder for all it matters. For many people, a gradual exposure is a good way to overcome it.

RamblingRuairi

Deleted User wrote: »

I think if someone needs to be roped up on the Beekeeragh Ridge, they are either missing the path or perhaps it's a place they should not be. Not being critical at all, everyone has different tolerance levels...but it's a walk.

Not taken as critical at all - I completely agree that Beenkeeragh is a walk, at least in my opinion. The suggestion of a rope was just to add an extra level of security and help ally any fear.