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

earlyevening · 24-07-2011 10:18PM

Here's a link to our annual race up it

http://www.imra.ie/events/view/id/837/

El Weirdo · 24-07-2011 10:22PM

mel.b wrote: »

I'm completely unfit and overweight...

Ahhhhh... Did you let yourself go after the Spice Girls split up?

Da Shins Kelly · 24-07-2011 10:24PM

Only once. Took it out of me, so I don't think I'll be doing it again, even though it's practically in my back garden.

jimbobaloobob · 24-07-2011 10:34PM

probably done it about 30 times over the last 7 years, i find its great at different times of the year, Its a good day out.

Friend of mine has aimed to do it once a month for the last number of years. all that has prevented him doing so is the odd crazy day in winter

its a special place

nacho libre · 24-07-2011 10:38PM

I climbed it once. I reached the top in 45 minutes. If I tried it now it would take me at least double that. On the day I climbed it was 24c, and i passed this guy on my way down who was climbing it in a suit!

Kiwi_knock · 24-07-2011 10:42PM

Climbed it with my dad a couple of years ago. It really attracts a lot of different kinds of people like the OP outlined. Was not that difficult to climb, only gets slightly difficult near the top but not too challenging. It was an enjoyable experience and was very scenic.

Firefox11 · 24-07-2011 10:44PM

I only ever did it once. It can be a surreal experience allright. Seeing whole families climbing up it and then passing all the injured ones warped in foil blankets waiting for the mountain rescue folks.

24-07-2011 10:48PM

Yep, bare foot. Was promised a great view at the top but clouds settled in and saw nothing.

If I do it again it'll be while wearing footwear.

Ghost Buster · 24-07-2011 11:01PM

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

Thats the old pagan route. Those guys werent in to misery and suffering quite so much as these new Johnny Come Lately's:D

byhookorbycrook · 24-07-2011 11:05PM

Last 1/3 is hardest as the surface is loose scree. I often wonder how they get the loo paper to the toilets at the top and where exactly the sewer pipes go to..how sad am I?

Ghost Buster · 24-07-2011 11:07PM

I grew up in that part ofd the country and used to climb it several times per year. Never for religious reasons but for the view, the crack (Camped on it and got teenaged drinking pissed) and for the exercise. I've done the known touristy route, the pagan route and a few routes with an ordinance survey map. The easiest was in snow as there was great grip and a soft landing!
Twenty years later myself and some friends of a similar vintage arrived back there with me giving it lots of bravado and it nearly bloody killed me!!!!!!

Tonyandthewhale · 24-07-2011 11:17PM

Climbed it as a child. Wouldn't be my favourite Irish mountain, far too crowded but it's nice enough in its own way I suppose.

Kojak · 24-07-2011 11:30PM

I climb it so I can avail of the "excellent" toilet facilities located half way up and at the top.

jaysus, they cant be beat...

Ghost Buster · 24-07-2011 11:31PM

Tonyandthewhale wrote: »

Climbed it as a child. Wouldn't be my favourite Irish mountain, far too crowded but it's nice enough in its own way I suppose.

Its only crowded on 'Lets be miserable, butcher our feet and p1ss off the mountain rescue team for Jebus" day.:D
Avoid that day and the Sunday before or after it and its usually fairly quiet. Or try the inland track.

Birroc · 24-07-2011 11:35PM

Matt Loughrey climbed the reek every day for a year. Amazing achievement given the winter we had.

http://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12879:inspirational-loughrey-completes-croagh-patrick-365-challenge&catid=23:news&Itemid=46

TonyStark · 24-07-2011 11:36PM

Kojak wrote: »

I climb it so I can avail of the "excellent" toilet facilities located half way up and at the top.

jaysus, they cant be beat...

I was bursting for a ****e there last year on my way up... When I got into the toilets.. I didn't need a ****e anymore after looking around the door. Held it in until I got home they were so wretched.

Run_to_da_hills · 24-07-2011 11:39PM

I wouldn't go near Croach Partick because of its connection with the Roman Catholic Church and pagan rituals.

Kojak · 24-07-2011 11:49PM

How did they get planning permission for that house up at the top?

Captain Darling · 24-07-2011 11:54PM

Kojak wrote: »

How did they get planning permission for that house up at the top?

I believe its a church. I climbed it years ago with an ex. Nothing special about ti really. Nice views from the top, but there are too many people going up and down it the whole time.

googled eyes · 25-07-2011 12:21AM

Climbed it twice, once as an embarrassed teenager with my father and the second in my twenties while on a drunken weekend away . Both climbs 'just cause it's there'

robman60 · 25-07-2011 01:18AM

I live within a few miles of the mountain and have ascended it three times.

SarahBeep! · 25-07-2011 01:27AM

Did it about a month after I turned 16 for my Bronze Gaisce. Nearly killed me! Nothing worse than thinking 'I'm nearly there' then realising there's another peak to the mountain! I also nearly fell down it up near the top! Lost control of my feet and slipped! Could have been a gonner :P At least I can always say I did it though

hiscan · 25-07-2011 01:33AM

22 years since I done my one and only climb up there and now this thread has put the idea back in my head

Can you climb this any day of the week or what's the craic with it?

starbelgrade · 25-07-2011 01:37AM

hiscan wrote: »

22 years since I done my one and only climb up there and now this thread has put the idea back in my head
Can you climb this any day of the week or what's the craic with it?

It's closed on Tuesdays & every Sunday whenever there is an 'r' in the month.

Head The Wall · 25-07-2011 01:40AM

A few of us carried mountain bikes up on our backs and cycled down it in the 90's, it was exciting.

Climbed in February another time with snow on the cone, it leveled out the scree but there was the added problem of cold feet. There wasn't much call for snow boots in Ireland back then.

hiscan · 25-07-2011 01:42AM

starbelgrade wrote: »

It's closed on Tuesdays & every Sunday whenever there is an 'r' in the month.

I forgot where we were,I was so long reading the thread

ballsymchugh · 25-07-2011 01:51AM

a sunny day makes the climb worth while.

policarp · 25-07-2011 03:06AM

Never did the climb, but all the relations did. Those from Clare anyway.
What's the benefit?
Is it like Lough Derg?
Or as someone said like a Camino?

Shelga · 25-07-2011 03:14AM

Have climbed it twice. Last time was when I was 16 with my parents. We stayed up too long and it was getting dark as we descended- my mother broke her ankle and we had to call mountain rescue.

A-maz-ing views from the top on a clear sunny day though!

Hal Emmerich · 25-07-2011 03:21AM

ballsymchugh wrote: »

a sunny day makes the climb worth while.

Nice picture, that's halfway up for anyone that hasn't done it.

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

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