Anyone up Croagh Patrick in these trying times?

Nettle Soup

Has anyone been up Croagh Patrick today? What's it like?
How are the roads around Murrisk?

nuac

Nettle Soup wrote: »

Has anyone been up Croagh Patrick today? What's it like?
How are the roads around Murrisk?

4 pm
2 Deg and dropping in Westport
Roads in Westport OK, but heard that road at Kilsallagh on way to Reek is bad.

Even if there were no snow or ice on the Reek, the higher you go, the colder.

Have a thought for locals and Mountain Rescue who would have to come out for you if you get into bother.

The mountain will be there leter

Nettle Soup

nuac wrote: »

4 pm
2 Deg and dropping in Westport
Roads in Westport OK, but heard that road at Kilsallagh on way to Reek is bad.

Even if there were no snow or ice on the Reek, the higher you go, the colder.

Have a thought for locals and Mountain Rescue who would have to come out for you if you get into bother.

The mountain will be there leter

Thanks!

I am an experienced Alpine mountaineer. I will be ok. Climbed it many times in winter conditions for training purposes.

nuac

Nettle Soup wrote: »

Thanks!

I am an experienced Alpine mountaineer. I will be ok. Climbed it many times in winter conditions for training purposes.

OK, go n-éirigh an bóthar leat

TopTec

Did you go up?, How was it?, Pics?

TT

Nettle Soup

TopTec wrote: »

Did you go up?, How was it?, Pics?

TT

No, decided against it - wasn't sure how the local roads would be this morning.
Will take a day off during the week and head somewhere nice and maybe higher.
I don't think there will be much of a thaw above 400-500m this week.

irishgeo

i seen one guy up on the way up friday and another 3 on the way up yesterday about quarter to 4. madness to be heading up at that time and they didnt look like they were making a great pace either.

TopTec

Nettle Soup wrote: »

Will take a day off during the week and head somewhere nice and maybe higher.
I don't think there will be much of a thaw above 400-500m this week.

Nephin looks a tough climb at the moment. The brief glimpse I got before the fog came down this morning showed she has got her full white overcoat on.

TT

nuac

irishgeo wrote: »

i seen one guy up on the way up friday and another 3 on the way up yesterday about quarter to 4. madness to be heading up at that time and they didnt look like they were making a great pace either.

Agreed, hence my earlier warning to Nettlesoup. I didn't know that he was most experienced.

Amazed over the years at those who attempt CP and other mountains at wrong ti mes wearing unsuitable gear. I think some feel that they are entitled to call out Mountain Rescue or similar.

If I remember correctly Goethe summed it up well " Gegen die dummheit kampfen Die Gotter selbst vergebens " ( Even the Gods themselves fight in vain against stupidity )

freddie1970

nuac wrote: »

Agreed, hence my earlier warning to Nettlesoup. I didn't know that he was most experienced.

Amazed over the years at those who attempt CP and other mountains at wrong ti mes wearing unsuitable gear. I think some feel that they are entitled to call out Mountain Rescue or similar.

If I remember correctly Goethe summed it up well " Gegen die dummheit kampfen Die Gotter selbst vergebens " ( Even the Gods themselves fight in vain against stupidity )

what ****ing eejit was going up there on friday ..

irishgeo

freddie1970 wrote: »

what ****ing eejit was going up there on friday ..

i drove over for a peek and i had the binos with me, you couldnt see the top but this man was on his down.

yop

irishgeo wrote: »

i drove over for a peek and i had the binos with me, you couldnt see the top but this man was on his down.

Yup and Saturday there was a lad heading up in boots and shorts. The IQ level of some puts the lives of Rescue crews in danger.

Nettle Soup

freddie1970 wrote: »

what ****ing eejit was going up there on friday ..

I know some Mountain Rescue teams use this kind of weather for training exercises. Don't make rash judgements.
Experienced mountaineers also use rocky peaks with obvious tracks (like Croagh Patrick) for night climbs. Excellent training for higher summit attempts
which often involve darkness.

Sure didn't someone recently climb Croagh Patrick 365 days in one year - I believe he went up night and day.

We have a good heritage for madness...."For scientific discovery give me Scott; for speed and efficiency of travel give me Amundsen; but when disaster strikes and all hope is gone, get down on your knees and pray for Shackleton."

Nettle Soup

TopTec wrote: »

Nephin looks a tough climb at the moment. The brief glimpse I got before the fog came down this morning showed she has got her full white overcoat on.

TT

Fairly handy gradient on Nephin if you approach it from the right side. Difficult to go badly wrong. Just a cold slog.

irishgeo

Nettle Soup wrote: »

I know some Mountain Rescue teams use this kind of weather for training exercises. Don't make rash judgements.
Experienced mountaineers also use rocky peaks with obvious tracks (like Croagh Patrick) for night climbs. Excellent training for higher summit attempts
which often involve darkness.

Sure didn't someone recently climb Croagh Patrick 365 days in one year - I believe he went up night and day.

We have a good heritage for madness...."For scientific discovery give me Scott; for speed and efficiency of travel give me Amundsen; but when disaster strikes and all hope is gone, get down on your knees and pray for Shackleton."

i assume they would be properly attired with helmets and hi vis etc , these guys had nothing like that. visibility was even worse on saturday. i think another 2 were on the mountain as well but i lost them in the cloud. this was at near 4pm.

Nettle Soup

irishgeo wrote: »

i assume they would be properly attired with helmets and hi vis etc , these guys had nothing like that. visibility was even worse on saturday. i think another 2 were on the mountain as well but i lost them in the cloud. this was at near 4pm.

I don't wear a helmet myself at low altitudes unless I am rock climbing or scrambling. I only wear high-vis jackets on roads. You wont see a high-vis jacket in thick cloud. I do have 2 very good head torches. Visibility today for example ended around 200m-300m I imagine.

I am sure they knew the risks and I didn't hear of any missing hill walkers.

irishgeo

Nettle Soup wrote: »

I don't wear a helmet myself at low altitudes unless I am rock climbing or scrambling. I only wear high-vis jackets on roads. You wont see a high-vis jacket in thick cloud. I do have 2 very good head torches. Visibility today for example ended around 200m-300m I imagine.

I am sure they knew the risks and I didn't hear of any missing hill walkers.

probably but id say things go wrong fairly quickly in these conditions.

TopTec

This was from someone who climbed up yesterday morning according to their tweet....





TT

Nettle Soup

TopTec wrote: »

This was from someone who climbed up yesterday morning according to their tweet....


TT

Thanks TT. Looks icy! Lovely.

nuac

Anybody at summit selling mugs of tea and ham sandwiches?

imho an essential part of the pilgrimage

Nettle Soup

Anyone got a view of the reek? Where does snowline start?

yop

Nettle Soup wrote: »

Anyone got a view of the reek? Where does snowline start?

Its high a this stage. I'm working in front of it
Hard to gauge but I'd say 100-200 feet. It would be from the last left turn on the cone.

Nettle Soup

yop wrote: »

Its high a this stage. I'm working in front of it
Hard to gauge but I'd say 100-200 feet. It would be from the last left turn on the cone.

Gotcha, thanks yop.