A WARM'N'COSY "WOOLPOWER" WINTER....

Well the biting cold weather has finally abated and it's only now I'm beginning to pack away the Winter gear....and tomorrow's the 1st of flippn' JUNE!!!! 
 
Way back in early December, I was asked by Nigel of our equipment partner Alpine Sports to try out one of the new "Woolpower" base layer garments he had just become the Irish agent for and to see what I thought.
The manufacturers are committed to the production of warm undergarments and mid-layer clothing and the entire production is based in Östersund, in the northern part of Sweden.

Always delighted with a freebie and soon to be heading to the freezing highlands of Scotland for my annual "Winter Fix" I was only too delighted to give the Merino wool/polyamide sweater a go and was not only impressed with Nigels initial claims of it being "super cosy and warm" but also hooked with his claim that after wearing it daily for a week it would still smell as fresh as it did the first day I pulled it on!!!!
Now there's a challenge....especially as the weather forecast was for 8 days of blue skys and sunshine which meant we would be climbing EVERY day and sweating buckets!!!!  

 
 
If you’re only out for a day or two, that’s something you can get over, but if you’re out for more than that ,well the stink definitely becomes an issue. I have until now always used synthetic baselayers, but since going for merino I will not look back, the no-smell factor alone is a winner for me. It is also extremely comfy on the skin and its obviously very warm. I do sweat quite a bit, summer as winter, so the warming while moist properties are a further massive benefit. The product I was wearing was the "crewneck 200" and I wore it in Scotland all day every day, mostly on its own with NO OTHER over layer needed.....and sometimes with only my Rab Vapourise over it and all while climbing ice, snow and mixed.I wore it on freezing night and day climbs in the Reeks,Galtys and Comeraghs and ALWAYS remained as Nigel had boasted -

"Super Cosy'n'Comfortable, nice'n'toasty and warm....and smelling like a daisy ;-)
 

 
Ok, here's the science behind the product....
 
First off, the company uses wool as its basic ingredient because Wool keeps its shape; it insulates against both heat and cold; it's moisture-absorbing and will keep you warm even if it gets wet; it's generally bacteria-resistant; it's easy to air out, does not need to be washed often, and the hook for me- merino doesn’t smell.
The downside to wool is that it doesn't wear well. To make it last, Woolpower adds the minority ingredient of polyamide (nylon), which is strong, elastic, moisture-resistant, quick-drying, and wears well.The combination of Merino wool, which is finer than regular wool and polyamide produces a textile they've named Ullfrotte Original. The outside is smooth, and the side that goes against your skin is knit into fine loops, which act like little pockets that trap heat--the garments are essentially made up of "trapped air". The arrangement ensures that moisture is transported from the inside towards the outside, preventing sweat from sticking to your skin and freezing in below zero conditions.
Comfort is aided by the fact that the sweater and has no lengthwise seams, the back is longer to avoid gaps and the cuffs are sewn in.

You can check out and purchase the Woolpower range of baselayers, leggings and much more from our online recommended equipment partner Alpine Sports at http://www.alpinesports.ie/  

You can also read more about the Woolpower products at : http://www.woolpower.se/en/products/

Cheers Nigel and Alpine Sports for the fantastic addition to my kit and don't suppose you want me to try out the Woolpower T-shirt by any chance now that the sun has finally begun to shine?!?!?!.......

 
 

HOWL OF A TIME!!!

Yesterday was another day spent in the Reeks and boy it was a damp one I tell ya!!!

 
I was taking 2 great lads, Ian and Andrew from the South East up a route they'd had in mind for a while,the mighty Howling Ridge on Corrán Tuathail .

Howling Ridge is a steep and well defined rock climb/scramble which cuts straight up the North face and is considered a somewhat "Classic" Irish Mountaineering route. It is generally graded V Diff in summer though the crux moves can definitely feel more difficult in the wet and goes at various grades in Winter,depending on conditions. It was first climbed in the February of 1987 by two local lads Con Moriarty and John Cronin in full Winter conditions.
 
 
  I've been lucky to climb it in all manner of conditions : in scorchio weather, in perfect hard snow and neve, not too forget a mini epic dealing with terrifying black verglassed rock. Climbed it in muddy slush, in mist and fog, drizzly rain and of course side ways rain. I've climbed it at night while it covered in snow and one fond memory is soloing it with a good mate on a  fine sunny day and loved it so much we ran back down to the Heavenly Gates and climbed up it again....sure why not...though the roped party we had scampered past first time round looked with little amusement as we bounded past for a second time grinning from ear to ear like ejits!!!
Even soloed it one time on a moonlit night with a mate and we bivyed way up the route on the face, tucked snuggly in our bags behind a boulder, (even enjoyed a bottle of Heineken as a wee night cap) and climbed on in the morning by sunrise...Superb!!! 
 

 
















OK...you can slate it if you like... It's as loose as hell...I have recently begun noticing looser sections that I don't remember previous, due no doubt to the colder Winters and wetter summers and also more traffic I suppose.                                     
"Mountain Jenga"- I call it...just waiting for some unsuspecting fool to tug on the wrong one and bring the whole flippn' thing tumbling down. But hey!... the Alps are bloody loose too you know!!!

 
Howling Ridge is a great oul route....I love it....I really do..! Unlike our near neighbours in Wales and Scotland unfortunately the Irish "Mountaineer" was dealt a weaker hand... geologically so to speak... We just don't have a whole lot of multi-pitch mountaineering/scrambling/ routes so let's just accept it that no matter what the weather or whatever the conditions....with good company (or even just on your own...), Howling Ridge is a fantastic, exciting and superb day out....Just ask Ian and Andrew!!!!

A TYPICAL WET'N'WINDY SUMMERS DAY IN THE REEKS!!!

Today I was back on Corrán Tuathail guiding two ladies on their 2nd ascent of Ireland's highest.

Their last climb had been around twenty years ago with the venture scouts and that day they'd struggled through morale sapping side ways rain and wind so today's ascent was a much more enjoyable affair even though we had a few biting showers of rain and even hail. Even though the conditions were far from what we'd normally expect for May, the girls were still rewarded for their effort with plenty of  decent clear periods in between providing them with the awe-inspiring and breathtaking views and a hugely enjoyable, satisfying and memorable day.

We climbed via the Devil's ladder and descended by the "Zig-Zags" which was the choice of a lot of others today also.

 

 

Well the girls are making the most of their weekend visit to Killarney and are hitting the town tonight to celebrate their well earned achievement but somehow I don't think they'll be doin' too much dancing!!! 

I'm out again guiding Corrán Tuathail tomorrow, but this time by a far more steeper route - "Howling Ridge", a classic rock climb which leads straight up the vertical North face.

It has been on the tick-list of  two lads form Waterford for a while now so will post a wee update tomorrow evening of the ascent and how it all went for two more climbers keen to finally "Experience the Adventure" .... Now time to dry the rain gear, pack the rack and put the feet up by the fire...might even have a cold 1 ;-)