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Croagh Patrick............any boardsies climbed it?

  • 24-07-2011 08:46PM
    #1
    Paddy Samurai
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,015 ✭✭✭


    I went up last wednesday,my second time.This time i brought up my son,his first time. I was suprised by the amount of different people from different backgrounds.Two "extreme sports" guys ran past me while I hobbled along (I hate heights)near the top at the steepest part.:eek:
    I seen a guy half way up at the foot of the mountain with a baby on his shoulders but he turned back when he reached the scree.Near the top two stunners wearing miniskirts crawled along on their hands and knees.Looked like they had'nt planned on climbing it ,but got carried away.I know a few people that only went to look at it and ended up climbing it.
    Theres some view up there.:D
    A load of americans in their twenties passed me on the way down ,I later seen them down at Campbels having a pint with the rest of their coach tour while they waited on their bus.They were saying how "awesome" it was , and how it was the one thing they wanted to do in Ireland.
    I was nearby when the americans were talking to a young Irish guy with his arm in plaster , he was going back up for the third time that day!.
    Seen a fair few elderly climbing up as well.A lot of Germans ,English,some french,asians etc.
    Coaches of spanish students arrived while I was outside Campbells,but I think they only went as far as the statue...not sure.


    I climbed it because of the challenge and the view ,I think alot of other people do it for the same reason.Its funny the way everyone tells everyone on the way up "its only another ten minutes" to the top.
    Theres something about it,that draws you to climb it,and theres great camaraderie as strangers help each other.

    So ,have you been up there,or seen anything strange while you were up there?.


«1345

Comments

  • #2
    admiralofthefleet
    Closed Accounts Posts: 15,515 ✭✭✭✭admiralofthefleet


    im not a member of any cults so no


  • #3
    phasers
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,159 ✭✭✭✭phasers


    I was forced to do this on a school trip, it's bloody torture. Running back down it was great fun though.


  • #4
    knird evol
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,007 ✭✭✭knird evol


    It's more of a walk really than a climb isn't it.
    A walk at elevation.
    To climb you'd have to be using your hands somewhere. Or ropes, or a little pick axe.


  • #5
    Mickeroo
    Administrators, Computer Games Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 33,053 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Mickeroo


    I've climbed it yeah. Plenty more enjoyable mountains to climb than that in Mayo though, with less people on them too! It does have a pretty nice view from the top though. It's also a bloody headache of a mountain for mountain rescue considering the amount of people who climb it unprepared, like those two in the mini-skirts for example :P Having said that my gran used to do it in her bare feet!


  • #6
    **Timbuk2**
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 7,396 Mod ✭✭✭✭**Timbuk2**


    Have done it four times so far (hear you need to do it 7 times to get guaranteed a place in heaven :p).

    The first time I did it I was surprised how tough it was - I knew lots of people climbed it in their bare feet, and plenty of older folk have done it so I presumed it would be a doddle - it wasn't. That bit near the top is tough going!


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  • #7
    epgc3fyqirnbsx
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,228 ✭✭✭epgc3fyqirnbsx


    There is something that draws you to that mountain if you see it from a distance, it appears to be a perfect conical shape on a relatively flat landscape, like a volcano. People have been drawn to climbing it long before christianity
    I'm lucky enough to see it from my house and have climbed it a lot of times (though not in the last couple of years)
    I couldn't recommend it highly enough, for the views alone


  • #8
    Chuck Stone
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,029 ✭✭✭✭Chuck Stone


    No.

    Eejits imo.


  • #9
    Son Of A Vidic
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,370 ✭✭✭✭Son Of A Vidic


    You don't climb Croagh Patrick because there's no actual climbing involved. You just simply walk up it and back down again.


  • #10
    Sugar Free
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,639 ✭✭✭Sugar Free


    I more or less ran up it as a twelve year old, save for the last couple of hundred metres where the serious scree kicks in and there's no grip left.

    Stunning views from the summit on a nice day.


  • #11
    Mickeroo
    Administrators, Computer Games Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 33,053 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Mickeroo


    **Timbuk2** wrote: »
    Have done it four times so far (hear you need to do it 7 times to get guaranteed a place in heaven :p).

    It was a pagan pilgrimage site long before the christian missionaries got their mits on it ;)


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  • #12
    dlofnep
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,759 ✭✭✭✭dlofnep


    No. It's a pointless exercise. I'd much rather a nice swim.


  • #13
    mardybumbum
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,937 ✭✭✭mardybumbum


    Chuck Stone wrote: »
    No.

    Eejits imo.

    Cheers.


  • #14
    Sunnyisland
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,562 ✭✭✭✭Sunnyisland


    Yep climbed/walked it many times,The views from the top are absolutely lovely once you have a clear day,

    Although Croagh Patrick is not a technical mountain climb, it is a major challenge and the rigors of altitude should not be underestimated.


  • #15
    mel.b
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,920 ✭✭✭mel.b


    I gave it my first go today. We had been out last night as part of a hen do, so it was a very late start for us, with a long drive home afterwards and as a result we turned back when we reached the saddle. A couple of the group had done it before though.

    I'm completely unfit and overweight, although I have started cycling in the past 6 weeks and for me it was a climb, not a walk:P Part of me is happy with what I have done but another part would like to give it another go and make the top (maybe in 12months when I am fitter and have lost more weight:D)

    We past a dog with three legs going up today with its owner - that was my motivation! I thought if a dog with three legs could do it, then I could keep going. Also as we were almost bac down to the bottom, there were two girls (Spanish I think) who were just starting to climb with massive backpacks - it looked like they were planning on spending the night up there:eek:


  • #16
    **Timbuk2**
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 7,396 Mod ✭✭✭✭**Timbuk2**


    Mickeroo wrote: »
    It was a pagan pilgrimage site long before the christian missionaries got their mits on it ;)

    Ah yea I know it's just what my Mayo aunties tell me! They all refer to it as "The Reek" as opposed to Croagh Patrick!


  • #17
    Insect Overlord
    Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 31,263 Mod ✭✭✭✭Insect Overlord


    Went up it with a hang-over two years ago. Great craic! The mist at the top was vicious though.

    http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/10331_156794634250_516309250_3545321_5421786_n.jpg


  • #18
    theteal
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,590 ✭✭✭theteal


    what does a cult have to do with it??

    have done it a fair few times from the front and the back. the front (tourist trail) takes about an hour longer. the back is more of a hike as there's no path. the cousin said mass on it one of the times - I didn't spontaneously combust!

    ill get the lads to give it a bash when on our next surf trip west


  • #19
    Son Of A Vidic
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,370 ✭✭✭✭Son Of A Vidic


    Mickeroo wrote: »
    It was a pagan pilgrimage site long before the christian missionaries got their mits on it ;)

    Oh they hijacked a lot of the pre-christian rituals/beliefs, but I suppose that's what parasites do.


  • #20
    YFlyer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,712 ✭✭✭YFlyer


    Paddy Samurai wrote: »
    Near the top two stunners wearing miniskirts crawled along on their hands and knees.Looked like they had'nt planned on climbing it ,but got carried away.I know a few people that only went to look at it and ended up climbing it.
    Theres some view up there.:D

    Bet there was some view ;)


  • #21
    epgc3fyqirnbsx
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,228 ✭✭✭epgc3fyqirnbsx


    The Tóchar Phádraig is also well worth doing
    Actually passes through some of my aul mans land, had quite surprise a couple of months back when I saw Mary McAleese and Enda Kenny walking through one of our fields


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  • #22
    Chuck Stone
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,029 ✭✭✭✭Chuck Stone


    Chuck Stone wrote: »
    No.

    Eejits imo.

    Having read this thread I'm going to have to call myself an eejit for saying the above.

    Sounds like people get a lot out of it.

    Apologies if I offeneded anyone.


  • #23
    yesno1234
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,338 ✭✭✭yesno1234


    Climbed it when I was 15 for Link Modules in 5th year. Raised a few hundred for charity doing it. Very enjoyable but was a terrible day for it, it was windy enough to push you around. Teacher had to come with us for insurance etc reasons and he told us that he had done it once before with a group, one of the lads was on the heavy side and only made it up the first stretch, teacher went on with the rest of the group and had to get people on their way down to help the lad down.


  • #24
    FatherLen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,808 ✭✭✭FatherLen


    i did it a few years ago. i would have been one of the guys running it. it was a time in my life were i dabbled in parkour. ran up it in about 45 min and came down in under 30. well around about that. broke my toe on the way down, it was fun.


  • #25
    Dionysus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,420 ✭✭✭Dionysus


    Climbed it in my bare feet. Beat that, consumer society! :D

    I also walked all 800km of the Camino Francés last year. Sin dolor, no hay gloria.

    PS: OK, I could only climb 25% of it in my bare feet before the pain paralysed me and I was looking with serious intent at that Mayo Mountain Rescue card which I took with me. Only then did it dawn on my rather dim mind that when your man Pádraig was allegedly climbing it there were none of these massive stones paining his feet- it was all handy ferns! Conned again by the RCC.

    I walked the entire thing with shoes easily several times. No challenge there on the oppression front - sorry lads! :)


  • #26
    RichieC
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,331 ✭✭✭RichieC


    theteal wrote: »
    what does a cult have to do with it??

    have done it a fair few times from the front and the back. the front (tourist trail) takes about an hour longer. the back is more of a hike as there's no path. the cousin said mass on it one of the times - I didn't spontaneously combust!

    ill get the lads to give it a bash when on our next surf trip west


    let me help you there.


  • #27
    Dionysus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,420 ✭✭✭Dionysus


    FatherLen wrote: »
    i did it a few years ago. i would have been one of the guys running it. it was a time in my life were i dabbled in parkour. ran up it in about 45 min and came down in under 30. well around about that. broke my toe on the way down, it was fun.

    hehe, which reminds me... when I was getting my stuff for the Camino a couple of summers ago the guy in 53 Degrees North in Blanch was telling me he worked for RTÉ when they were televising mass from the top of Cruach Phádraig and his job was to run up and down the mountain with supplies for the broadcast and well, it seemed, for everybody up there. hehe.


  • #28
    Killer Pigeon
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,125 ✭✭✭Killer Pigeon


    I haven't climbed Croagh Patrick yet but I would like to some day (and not for religious purposes).


  • #29
    paddyandy
    Site Banned Posts: 2,037 ✭✭✭paddyandy


    A typical guilt release mechanism hijacked from pagan times.I walked up at an angle you don't climb it but ' climb' gives it the added ingredient.I was touched by the view and a great mist but i'm never easily seduced by religious theatre i've seen too much of it .It has an atmosphere that 'reeks' of compliant docility that horrifies the rational thinker.I believe in God but without the entertainment that often accompanies religion.The pub at the base where the sticks were provided would have done a spiritual treat without the nonsense.Years ago it was.


  • #30
    KamiKazeKitten
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,399 ✭✭✭KamiKazeKitten


    I climbed it on Friday - and have a lot of respect for those people who climb barefoot, it's hard work!


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  • #31
    Absurdum
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,444 ✭✭✭Absurdum


    dlofnep wrote: »
    No. It's a pointless exercise. I'd much rather a nice swim.


    I'll tell you what's pointless; swimming. Only useful thing that does is prevent drowning.


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