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!