I took on Carrauntoohil on the 25th June 2010 leading a group from the UK who were doing the five peaks challenge and attempting to do so within forty eight hours. Scott I had met while in Nepal where he first mooted this challenge to me and asked if I would like to do Carrauntoohil with them. I had never been up here before but I never let that stop me from exploring new horizons. Amongst the group of six walkers I was the only one with map and compass skills so I decided (in advance) on a route via Caher as I have heard the Devils ladder route has become quite badly eroded in recent times. I also had some selfish reasons in choosing this route as I wanted to tick a few more peaks off my list at the same time. (See summit bagging post)
We started at V 772 871 at the gate to the Hydro track. This track is a steep and punishing start having just jumped out of the car but it quickly warms the legs. Mercifully after maybe ten minutes of walking the track levels off as it turns South at approx V 777 868. The track continues with Skregbeg (573m) and Skregmore (848m) on your left hand side before opening up at Lough Eighter and revealing the full view of Beenkeragh, Carrauntoohil and Caher (assuming the weather is clear that is)
After another hop over a locked gate we crossed a flat marshy section of ground before climbing onto the spur that would lead us directly up Caher. We got onto the spur at approx V 776 857 before following it south-east all the way to Caher West top at V 789 840. The last 500m of the spur is steep but thankfully the ground is quite good so progress should not be hindered. By the time we got to the first of the three Caher summits we were dipping in and out of the clouds. The fall away from the West top when heading for Caher in the clouds can be a little worrying if unsure of your bearings so care is definitely needed, too far to the left and the ground falls away very steeply. The best approach would be to keep well to the right, we were fortunate however, just as I took a safe bearing the cloud cleared just enough for me to get an eyeshot of our target, a small gap in the wall, which seemed to settle the nerves of my fellow hikers.
The walk to Caher from the West top is quick, a small amount of uphill climbing remains before the third highest summit in Ireland at 1 metre above 1000m. The small cairn at V 792 838 is all that marks the top and as we were under some time pressure we did not hand around long either. The group had a tight maximum six hour full round trip which in normal circumstances would be fine, unfortunately one of the group hurt his leg on the final climb up Caher which changed the game plan. We had been on course for a five hour round trip before the unfortunate accident, luckily the injury was not too bad and he was able to use my walking pole as a support.
Crossing the Caher ridge to Carrauntoohil was fantastic, some of the scenery that magically appeared from the clouds was breathtaking, I took several opportunities to stop and get some pictures. There is a very noticeable track that leads across the ridge which makes navigation a lot easier. We were practically on the summit before we could see the cross marking it at V 803 844, the cloud and wind had really picked up during the intervening time, so much so that we only took a few moments to take a few pictures, recharge with energy snacks and took off via the same route home. It was three and a half hours from the car to the top but it was nearly all downhill on the way back meaning we took two hours to get back down, a very respectable five and a half hour round trip and a good start to the five peaks challenge for the other guys.
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