Ledge Route

Date: 20/02/2011
Area: Ben Nevis, Scotland
Maps Used: OS Sheet 41
Weather: Cloudy, 1ft+ of snow

The Ledge Route is probably the best grade II climb on the north face of Ben Nevis. It is accessible and yet interesting. Luckily this time we managed to park at the upper car park, saving us the steep half-hour climb from the north face car park. From the upper car park, followed the track up to the CIC hut. From there, climbed up to the bottom of Number Five Gully. Eventually veered right via a ramp that leads out of the mountain onto an almost horizontal ledge. This is usually where the first belay is protected. From here climbed leftwards up a gully until a snow platform is reached, where the second belay is usually secured. The climb from here onwards is easier, over the buttress and onto the ridge that leads to Carn Dearg (1,221m). From here we thought of continuing to the top of the Ben, but it was bizarrely windy up there - and visibility quickly became poor. So we took our compass bearing towards the Red Burn and descended the easy route back towards the car park.

Duration: 6 hours
Distance: 11km
Total Ascent: 971m

The Zig-Zags

Date: 19/02/2011
Area: Glen Coe, Scotland
Maps Used: OS Sheet 41
Weather: Misty, light drizzle at times, 1ft+ of snow

The idea this time was to climb in the Glen Coe area, so we headed to a route up Gearr Aonach via an easy route called the "Zig-Zags". Started from the car park at NN168569, then climbed southeast towards the waterfall. From around NN173562, turned southwest until finding the beginning of the track. From the end of the track, it's a 3-pitch grade I climb with great views of Glen Coe. After reaching the summit of Gearr Aonach (692m), continued southwest towards the three-lake plateau. Descended via the Coire nan Lochan.

Duration: 5 hours
Distance: 6km
Total Ascent: 790m

Aonach Mor

Date: 18/02/2011
Area: Aonach Mor, Scotland
Maps Used: OS Sheet 41
Weather: Misty / whiteout at the top, 1ft+ of snow

Just like the previous year, we started our winter climbs in Scotland with some steep climbing training in Aonach Mor (the east face is usually good for that, plenty of snow). Started from the Ski lift and then walked east and around the spur that leads south to Aonach Mor, slowly climbing it via the east face where it's steep. After reaching the top at 1,221m descended towards the north back to the Ski station for a cup of coffee and some cake.

Duration: 3 hours
Distance: 6km
Total Ascent: 570m

Art O'Neill Challenge 2011

Date: 08/01/2011
Area: Dublin / Wicklow, Ireland
Maps Used: OSI Sheets 50, 56
Weather: Extremely cold, misty, low clouds.

I wanted to go for an adventure race in the Wicklow mountains and when I knew the Art O'Neill challenge would take place once again in 2011, I signed up for it. The Art O'Neill is a race that in theory re-creates the steps of Hugh O'Donnel and his fellow Art O'Neill as they escaped Dublin Castle towards the Wicklow Mountains back in 1592 (see Wikipedia article here). It is a 53 kilometers route leaving Dublin city southwest towards Wicklow, passing by traditional spots like Black Hill, Mullaghcleevaun, Table Mountain, and eventually finishing off in Glenmalure. I wasn't really doing any specific training as I thought this would be just a long and strenuous walk in Wicklow, a terrain that shouldn't offer anything new for me. Boy, was I wrong. The Art O'Neill is a serious challenge, and my poor finish time as well as my sore knees at the end made it clear. Impossible not to think about repeating the dose next year though, this time with proper training and a reasonable finish time. More info on the challenge here: http://www.artoneillchallenge.ie.

Duration: 14:45:50
Distance: 53km
Total Ascent: 1,642m

Cullentragh and Mullacor

Date: 28/11/2010

Area: Wicklow Mountains, Wicklow, Ireland

Maps used: OSI Sheet 56
Weather: Clear skies for most of the route, no wind, very cold. Fresh snow, about 1/2 foot in places.

Route Description: This was a beautiful day in the 2010 / 2011 winter, which was one of the coldest in Ireland on record, with loads of snow falling across the country - especially in the mountains. A lot of fun, in other words. My initial idea was to climb Lugnaquilla, but when I got to the Military road junction on R755, the car just couldn't make it through the icy uphill bit. I had to park there and then and try something different, so Cullentragh and Mullacor seemed like a good option. Started from T140954, walking south along the road until it reaches a bridge and a sharp left turn. From there there's a track heading southwest which can be followed for a while, until eventually one heads a bit more westwards towards the top of Cullentragh. After reaching the summit (510m), headed directly west towards Mullacor (657m). Descended via the same route.

Duration: 5 hours
Distance: 11km
Total Ascent: 567m

Coomloughra Horseshoe

Date: 01/08/2010
Area: MacGillycuddy's Reeks, Kerry, IrelandMaps used: OSI Sheet 78
Weather: Warm, cloudy, light drizzle at times. No winds. Complete whiteout (less than 50m visibility) above 600m. Clearer towards the end of the route.

Route Description: This is one of my favorite routes in Ireland. It passes over the 3 highest peaks in the island, and the Beenkeragh ridge is probably one of the most exposed in Ireland. I've followed the route description in the "Carrauntoohil & MacGillycuddy's Reeks" guide from Jim Ryan. I parked at V772871, right at the bend from where the Hydro Road track starts. From there it's a steep climb to Lough Eighter. People follow different routes at this point, I have simply climbed northeast along the spur that leads to Skregmore. From there it's a straightforward route to the top of Beenkeragh (1,010m). This is where the fun starts then. The knife-edge ridge between Beenkeragh and Carrauntoohil is about 1km long, with some great views into the gullies on the north side and the lakes to the southwest. Pray for a clear day - otherwise think twice whether you should proceed. From the top of Carrauntoohil (1,040m) I descended to the southwest and then climbed up the ridge towards Caher (1,001m). Then it's all downhill northwest aiming at arriving back at Lough Eighter, and back down via the same route.

Duration: 5.5 hours
Distance: 12km
Total Ascent: 1,200m

Errisbeg

Date: 06/06/2010

Area: Errisbeg, Connemara, Ireland

Maps used: OSI Sheet 44

Weather: Warm and bright all the time, windy near the top

Route Description: This is an easy walk if you are in Roundstone. Started from the town centre at L723402 and followed the road west until it becomes a track and eventually fades into the hills. Kept going all the way until reaching the top of Errisbeg (300m). Descended via the same route.

Duration: 2.5 hours
Distance: 5km
Total Elevation: 300m