Outdoors Ireland: 2006

30 December 2006

Outsider Magazine

Congratulations!

If you have found this page you've obviously followed the link from Outsider Magazine.

For the first person that got this far, which was Tim Kosykh, he has won a gift voucher, for two people, for the below choices. This competition is now finished.

Morning's Kayak Trip on Lakes of Killarney
Afternoon's Rock Climbing in the Gap of Dunloe
Guided Ascent of Carrauntoohil, Ireland's Highest Mountain

To receive your gift voucher, worth between €100 and €150 depending on the activity, please contact Nathan/Ruth on info@outdoorsireland.com

These vouchers from our tinyurl advert link are now finished.
Voucher cannot be redeemed for money.
Voucher cannot be exchanged for other trips.
Pre-booking essential.
Not redeemable on Bank Holidays and other certain dates.

23 December 2006

Sea Kayaking

Sea Kayaking around Cod's Head, on the Beara Peninsula.

Mountaineering Training

Last Saturday I had one person for a day of Mountaineering Training. We spent the day on the steep flanks and high ridges of Mullaghanattin, deep in Glencar Valley.

Over the day we looked at Navigation, Moving on Steep Ground, Rope Work and Emergency Abseiling. As it got dark we got out our head torches and compasses and did some Night Navigation.

10 December 2006

Howling Ridge

Yesterday I was on Howling Ridge, on Carrauntoohil, with one client. Howling Ridge is one of the best mountaineering routes in the Irish Mountains.

It’s a narrow, exposed ridge, which climbs steeply up the eastern cliffs of Carrauntoohil. It’s about ten pitches of moderate scrambling and climbing, followed by a fifteen minute easy

scramble to the summit of Carrauntoohil.

We had a cold, clear day, without a breath of wind. From 700 metres upwards there was a thin layer of snow on the ground and the occasional sliver of ice in the rock cracks.

We roped together and climbed the route as a multi-pitch climb; placing gear in the rock cracks and attaching the rope to the gear.

It took us five hours to climb the ridge, not stopping once we were on it. We descended the mountain the fastest way, using our head-torches for the final hour of walking.

Brilliant day!

5 December 2006

Client Wanted!

First Drop on the Owenroe
River in Glencar, Kerry.

On Thurs 28th Dec I'm running a White Water Kayak Trip, probably on the Lower Caragh or Lower Flesk; which are both brilliant Grade 2+ Rivers.

There is availability for one more person, if anyone is interested...

Kayak and Equipment provided.

Contact me for details.

Curve Gully

Today I had two clients, Eric and Barry, who wanted to do a day of scrambling on Carrauntoohil. Gale force winds were forecast from lunch onwards, so we had an early start.

The road to Lisleibane is now officially a river bed! Lots of white, raging streams rushing from the high corries as we walked into Hags Glen.

We grabbed an early lunch part way up O’ Shea’s Gully, then put on harnesses, helmets and a rope and scrambled up Curve Gully. Curve Gully is a narrow, steep gully, which curves up and around the north face of Carrauntoohil. It’s a mixture of loose scree, grassy slopes and several rock steps.

As we climbed up we could hear the wind whistling and wailing over the top of the steep walls. Reaching the top of the gully we climbed out into a buffeting wind and hail. The summit only thirty steps away.

Right on 1pm the wind really picked up. Fair play to Met Eireann, very accurate forecast! At this stage we were heading down the easiest way - Devil’s Ladder - and were back at the cars for 3pm.