A simply Sensational day on the classic Howling Ridge...

Today it was the turn of Ray from Gorey and Rachel from Tralee to fully Experience the Adventure as we climbed the awesome Howling Ridge in absolutely perfect conditions. 

The gang were never so up for it as we had postponed a previous date to climb it due to an unfavourable forecast, but today couldn't have been better with scorching hot sun shine and fleeting light clouds increasing the atmospheric ambience of the whole thing!!!

We departed Cronin's yard at around 10am after a relaxing mug of foamy coffee in their tea room and tipped away in the Hags Glen under no pressure as it felt we had the whole range to ourselves...I love getting into these mountains mid week as you manage to avoid the large numbers which frequent these hills come the weekend and at times you may only meet another half dozen or even less!!! Still made good time up to the Heavenly Gates considering our relaxed vibe and was surprised at the erosion on the final scramble up to the "Gates" with the large boulder which had for a few years anyway been wedged in the narrow gap of the "Gate" now resting instead half way down the steep scramble slope. Been pushed off intentionally I suspect by some well meaning individuals hoping it might clear off some of the looser boulders on its descent.

 

As we geared up and went through a few bits'n'bobs before commencing our climb we were joined at this lofty perch by another party of 2 Slovakian climbers who we had met already 100mtrs below at the Emergency hut. Here they had asked us for directions to the climb as they poured over their spread out 1:50000 map of the Reeks.... Glad we'd happened along I reckon!!!! We led off first and climbed easily and blissfully up this superb classic on bone dry warm rock at a nice easy pace, fully appreciating the views and stunning vistas across to the Eastern Reeks and beyond. We were in no rush or haste whatsoever and just wanted to savour every last moment on such a pleasing and remarkable day.




This was Rachels first ascent of Howling and Rays second after he'd had a very different ascent should we say in horrible testing conditions on a previous occasion and so we they were both keen to take it all in and just have the craic and enjoy it.....and so we did!!! We topped out to at approx 2 o clock and even had the summit to ourselves and so chilled for a while before we took the obligatory pics of the cross and headed on our descent to the Devils ladder...We arrived back in Cronin's at around half 5 ish and finished off a perfect day with a nice cold can of 7up....Ah the simple pleasures!!! A truly Magnificent day in the majestic mountains of the Kingdom... Well back up Corrán Tuathail tomorrow guiding a group up the somewhat more gradual route of the Devil's ladder...

Life is good...and so is the forecast ;-)

Howling Ridge is a steep, well defined route which cuts up the north-east face of Carrauntoohil. It is graded V Diff in summer and goes at various grades in winter, depending on conditions.

It was first climbed in February 1987 by two local climbers, Con Moriarty and John Cronin, in winter conditions. Moriarty, who led the climb, was an experienced mountaineer who four years previously had made the first ascent of Primroses Ridge – the hardest route up Carrauntoohil. He had just recently returned from a winter climbing expedition to Scotland and wanted to prove that challenging ice climbing could also be found in Ireland in the right weather. The route gets its name from Moriarty’s dog, Grimsel, who waited at the Heavenly Gates howling while the pair completed the climb.

A tremendous day for our Intro Rock course in "The Gap"....

A great day today for a group of 5 on our "Intro Rock" course in the astounding Gap of Dunloe....Weather for the day wasn't too bad at all really, just a tad overcast overall but late in the session the sun began to poke through and the ever so light breeze was just enough to keep the dreaded midge's at bay.

We began the day by covering knots and  how to tie ourselves into the rope. Everyone picked this up pretty quickly and once this was mastered we set about learning the vital skill of belaying.


Belaying refers to the technique used in climbing to exert friction on a climbing rope so that a falling climber does not fall very far. A climbing partner typically applies the friction at the other end of the rope whenever the climber is not moving, removing the friction from the rope whenever the climber needs more rope in order to be able to continue climbing.



Soon we were climbing some of the superb climbs on the wonderful mountain crag of "Bothán".
I had already been up here earlier in the morn before the gang had arrived and had set up ropes on the mighty fine climbs of Agent Orange, The Ego has landed, Private Investigations, Baldy,Spider and even dropped one later on the super classic of the crag - "Raven" ...

Really fantastic to see a group who bar one or two had no real previous climbing experience now climbing such difficult and challenging routes such as these!!! 

When muscles began to tire we took a break from the climbing  and headed to the top of the crag where each got to do two exciting and exhilarating abseils !!! 
A few nervous moments as each one clipped into the rope and walked backwards over the edge of a 60ft sheer drop and controlled their own descent down the  vertical sandstone cliff face....Everyone felt an enormous sense of achievement (and a huge sense of relief!) when their feet finally touched the horizontal!!! 

The day passed so quickly and soon it was time to wrap up.

With exhausted forearms and  beaming smiles we headed to the bustling Kate Kearney's for refreshments with everyone still buzzing from such an exciting and amazing day in such a truly wonderful setting. Already making plans for another days climbing, next time to the spectacular sea cliff of Dún Sheen just outside Dingle.They just couldn't get enough and  can't wait to Experience even more Kerry Adventure !!!