Join for a weekend of climbing in Kerry!
Climbing at Dun Seanna & Gap of Dunloe. Hiking, Scrambling & Mountaineering (Howling Ridge) in the Reeks & all over.
A good place to finish the 4 ridge challenge 🏆
More details later
Accommodation ⛺️: camping at Cronin’s Yard – link.
Grade range 🧗♀️: Beginners to E+, Mountaineering Routes
This year, as in previous ones we will be multi pitching in Kerry in July!
The usual camping at ‘Cronin’s yard’ gives a good base to do the routes in and around Carrauntoohil (Ireland’s highest peak), but also the surrounding areas.
Because this is going to be first official meet after the lockdown, we’d need everyone who wants to attend to REGISTER (using the button on this page). Croni’s Yard are operating on fixed number of campers per night, so we have to declare number of attendees.
Currently I’ve booked us for up to 12 people. We can extend if demands is higher.
It is possible to show up at Cronin’s on Thu 9th. Just mention you are with the IMC.
For the purposes of CONTACT TRACING your details (name and address) will be passed to Cronin’s Yard (it’s a condition of booking a spot with them).
I you don’t want that please un-register and don’t attend as part of this club trip.
MI advice for climbers (summary sheet:)
https://www.mountaineering.ie/_files/2020629152622_1c309d3f.pdf
Carrauntoohil via Howling Ridge (Vdiff) is the usual main objective – especially appealing for new members who never been on a long multi-pitch route before. Derek and Ben will run the usual ‘expedition’.
If you’d like to get a taste of this adventure please check out this link – IMC video production of 2018 ascent of said mountain!
Others, who’d like to try something different can choose from variety of routes in the crags of Gap of Dunloe.
The area offers variety of single and multipitch climbing from HS to Mid E grades.
Pictures from 2019 meet can be found here.
Pictures from 2018 meet can be fund here.
Club members only.
Registration IS required.
(by Dave Madden, August 2010)
A weekend of scrambling on the Brandon ridges.
I was in Kerry last week enjoying a family break but managed to slip off unnoticed (well nearly) for a bit of a wander around Brandon.
First up was Brandon Peak East Ridge which was a bit of a find to be honest. Miles away from the tourist hordes. Lots of nice scrambling on lovely sandstone and ridge walking with amazing scenery. I can highly recommend this as a day out.
Two days later I trotted along the Faha ridge to Brandon enjoying very non-Brandon like conditions. Not a cloud in sight, dry under foot and only a light wind. The scenery was stunning looking down to the Paternoster lakes with a view of Mystic Ridge on the far side. One for another day perhaps.
I ambled along the exposed slab to see if a direct descent into the col was on. The downclimb was green, grassy, greasy, steep and manky – much more authentic Kerry conditions.
An old rusty peg with a piece of forty year old tat completed the scene. I pressed the button on my head and re-assumed hillwalker mode, moved back to the safety of the path which skirted down on the right. A bit of scrambling on the ridge above and I was soon on the summit of Brandon with the rest of the tour bus.
With my faded red mountain boots I was welcomed on the summit with grins like some sort of hillwalking equivalant to Ronaldo. Actually I should have been the one having a laugh – I have never seen a greater collection of flip flops (not runners), t-shirts, jeans etc. How the Kerry Mountain rescue are not busier is beyond me. To add insult to injury some fella’s dog started poking in my bag, helping himself to my Jaffa cakes. You never mess with anybody’s Jaffa cakes.
(by John Duignan, July 2010)
The steady tapping of rain on canvas woke us on Saturday; we were in Dingle to climb The Needle, a sea stack off Dunshean Head.
Joe Reville and Barry Denton, we had sussed out the climb the evening before. The Needle looked spectacular as we cautiously peeked down from the wet cliff above. The crashing waves below and seabirds screeching overhead added to the isolation of the place. A bull took a liking to Joe’s red jacket while crossing the nearby fields and added to the sense of fun. We headed off for a fine dinner washed down with strong Ozzie wine, fired up for a great day ahead.
The rain changes our plan – Hey, that’s Ireland in the summer. Camping beside the Rainbow Hostel gave access to a great kitchen for breakfast and we enjoy the craic with American visitors, who are unfazed by the weather. We head out for a coastal walk .
Gradually the rain stops and two o’clock finds us abseiling the Dunshean Head cliffs; the forecast gave us a small window to get in the climb before heavier rain returns. The descent line is on Stinky Phoo, an E1 – that looks stunning but daunting.
I could pretend that it was the confusing Beta alone that has me heading up Jumbo, an E1 on the Needle. Truth is I screwed up. After lacing it with gear I faff about and after 15 feet back off. This is way harder than VS! Joe saves the day by finding the start of The Razor’s Edge – a VS that drew us here. The climbing on it is beautiful – firm pockets and edges on the delicate sandstone. The gear, though sparse, is adequate and the views of the cliffs and seas all around breathtaking.
As Joe comes up the climb, I plead for a picture of him looking stern and serious studying the route ahead with the foaming seas beneath him. The more I go on, the more he beams. Joe don’t do grim.
Soon we are all hunkering on the metre-square pinnacle trying not to dislodge a loose flake. The 30-metre abseil is a bellyflop overhang start and speeds by on the skinny ropes. I never get used to these. Raindrops spatter down … but quickly peter out.
I swing across to prusik up Stinky Phoo. It is slow going at the bottom. Joe starts up Good Times, a VS arete to the left, which no doubt spurs me on. Barry calmly photos away.
It seems like an age before we have all the gear packed and scurry off to find food; I am scheming of putting a sack over Joe’s head to stop him getting the life story – however interesting – off every soul we meet. The Dingle Reel Fish ‘n’ Chipper turns out to be owned by a Dub exiled here after coming to recuperate after a climbing accident. Mark piles in extra chips with our fresh fish along with an invite to climb with him on the Three Sisters when we next visit. On the way to the hostel, a brilliant trad session with Eoin Duignan – Dingle’s star piper – at the Marina Bar adds magic to the day.
The rain settled in again. Sunday finds us wandering Dingle’s narrow streets, each recalling holiday memories. Smilng faces and bright colour defy the greyness of the day.
At the new Dingle Climbing Wall, there is a warm welcome and a reduced climbers rate. The wall is featured and higher than any we have seen. It has separate areas for all grades of climbers. Soon Joe is getting the story of the beautiful blonde Vivi, a staffer, with her fascinating Finnish Kerry accent. There are plenty of friendly staff to belay and autobelay devices (scary!). An area to chill out and have a meal add to the great value and atmosphere.
Joe pretends he is not keen on a swim to finish the day. Whether the two fine lassies on the beach egging them on or just their lust for life, it is hard to pull Barry and himself out of the water. The lure of Murphy’s Dingle-made ice cream finally does it.
The journey home is shortened by Joe ‘n’ Barry swapping stories (Joe’s pet Jackdaw and Barry’s Heffalump tales get three-star ratings).
IMC meets – they bring their own sunshine!
(by John Duignan, July 2010)
The steady tapping of rain on canvas woke us on Saturday; we were in Dingle to climb The Needle, a sea stack off Dunshean Head.
Joe Reville and Barry Denton, we had sussed out the climb the evening before. The Needle looked spectacular as we cautiously peeked down from the wet cliff above. The crashing waves below and seabirds screeching overhead added to the isolation of the place. A bull took a liking to Joe’s red jacket while crossing the nearby fields and added to the sense of fun. We headed off for a fine dinner washed down with strong Ozzie wine, fired up for a great day ahead.
The rain changes our plan – Hey, that’s Ireland in the summer. Camping beside the Rainbow Hostel gave access to a great kitchen for breakfast and we enjoy the craic with American visitors, who are unfazed by the weather. We head out for a coastal walk .
Gradually the rain stops and two o’clock finds us abseiling the Dunshean Head cliffs; the forecast gave us a small window to get in the climb before heavier rain returns. The descent line is on Stinky Phoo, an E1 – that looks stunning but daunting.
I could pretend that it was the confusing Beta alone that has me heading up Jumbo, an E1 on the Needle. Truth is I screwed up. After lacing it with gear I faff about and after 15 feet back off. This is way harder than VS! Joe saves the day by finding the start of The Razor’s Edge – a VS that drew us here. The climbing on it is beautiful – firm pockets and edges on the delicate sandstone. The gear, though sparse, is adequate and the views of the cliffs and seas all around breathtaking.
As Joe comes up the climb, I plead for a picture of him looking stern and serious studying the route ahead with the foaming seas beneath him. The more I go on, the more he beams. Joe don’t do grim.
Soon we are all hunkering on the metre-square pinnacle trying not to dislodge a loose flake. The 30-metre abseil is a bellyflop overhang start and speeds by on the skinny ropes. I never get used to these. Raindrops spatter down … but quickly peter out.
I swing across to prusik up Stinky Phoo. It is slow going at the bottom. Joe starts up Good Times, a VS arete to the left, which no doubt spurs me on. Barry calmly photos away.
It seems like an age before we have all the gear packed and scurry off to find food; I am scheming of putting a sack over Joe’s head to stop him getting the life story – however interesting – off every soul we meet. The Dingle Reel Fish ‘n’ Chipper turns out to be owned by a Dub exiled here after coming to recuperate after a climbing accident. Mark piles in extra chips with our fresh fish along with an invite to climb with him on the Three Sisters when we next visit. On the way to the hostel, a brilliant trad session with Eoin Duignan – Dingle’s star piper – at the Marina Bar adds magic to the day.
The rain settled in again. Sunday finds us wandering Dingle’s narrow streets, each recalling holiday memories. Smilng faces and bright colour defy the greyness of the day.
At the new Dingle Climbing Wall, there is a warm welcome and a reduced climbers rate. The wall is featured and higher than any we have seen. It has separate areas for all grades of climbers. Soon Joe is getting the story of the beautiful blonde Vivi, a staffer, with her fascinating Finnish Kerry accent. There are plenty of friendly staff to belay and autobelay devices (scary!). An area to chill out and have a meal add to the great value and atmosphere.
Joe pretends he is not keen on a swim to finish the day. Whether the two fine lassies on the beach egging them on or just their lust for life, it is hard to pull Barry and himself out of the water. The lure of Murphy’s Dingle-made ice cream finally does it.
The journey home is shortened by Joe ‘n’ Barry swapping stories (Joe’s pet Jackdaw and Barry’s Heffalump tales get three-star ratings).
IMC meets – they bring their own sunshine!