Croagh Patrick weather

StewartGriffin

yop wrote: »

Exactly my point.

You're very Trollish for mod. I mean that in a kind way.

biko

AK333 wrote: »

Hi OP

Sorry to cut across your post but I was hoping to climb CP sometime this Spring/Summer but I'm a complete novice and a bit worried. How hard is it for a fit but more mature person to climb? Is there anything special I need to bring/do, apart from the walking sticks, or are they necessary? thx

Bring a stick or two if you're a novice, you'll need it. It's steeper than it looks, particularly coming down.
A bottle of water, a wind breaker jacket and pair of warm gloves in a small carry bag won't hurt.
Better to have them and not need them than need them and not have them.

yop

StewartGriffin wrote: »

You're very Trollish for mod. I mean that in a kind way.

Not a great comment to be honest, and I mean that without been a mod on this forum.
What I said has made sense to at least one other poster on here, who has broke it down into a stick man explanation.

As kindly explained, people totally under estimate mountains, the OP has explained since that he was doing the reek in shorts as his training regime, so he is probably coming from the back of the reek on the Gaelforce route, will already have a higher body temp and will be moving at a pace much quicker than a normal Joe.

I have trained on the reek for nearly 6 years and did my first ascent of the mountain nearly 35 years ago, I am also a local.
Temp difference on this and any other mountain can vary drastically from ground to peak, also wind chill adds to that.
If the cloud/fog comes out, which happens regular due to it been on the edge of the atlantic, then you can be left totally disorientated and if you are wearing shorts you could end up on the mountain for a number of hours, hypothermia sets in and then MMR have to come and take you down.
Every week there is a case of this. People in high hells breaking their ankles, carrying dogs in hand bags, not having rain jackets, wearing shorts.

Squeaky the Squirrel

yop wrote: »

People in high hells breaking their ankles, carrying dogs in hand bags, not having rain jackets, wearing shorts.

haha, Americans?

yop

Squeaky the Squirrel wrote: »

haha, Americans?

Unfortunately not

Meet a girl 2 years ago when I was decending, she had lovely white skirt, nice pink high heels and a dog sticking out of her handbag. She was about 1/3 the way up, she stopped me, I was running down, and asked me would it take her another 30 mins...
I went to the bottom and turned and passed her as she started the cone. I felt sorry for her, especially as the wind was parachuting that skirt up as I (and I use me words carefully) came from the carpark direction

Myself and the lad with me didn't know if we would laugh cry or just ask her out

StewartGriffin

Last time I climbed it I noticed a fairly elderly chap who kept falling over, but everytime he fell over someone would help him up and he'd have a chat. We met him again on the way down, flat on his ass, getting pulled up by a new friend. Thought to myself "there has to be easier ways to meet people than that". But it was quite nice at the same time.

AK333

biko wrote: »

Bring a stick or two if you're a novice, you'll need it. It's steeper than it looks, particularly coming down.
A bottle of water, a wind breaker jacket and pair of warm gloves in a small carry bag won't hurt.
Better to have them and not need them than need them and not have them.

I am a novice, I run, but not up mountains! My C25K training didn't include mountain goat training

I will hire the sticks, it looks like I'll be needing them, but I don't have trekking or hiking boots - would asics do?

yop

AK333 wrote: »

I am a novice, I run, but not up mountains! My C25K training didn't include mountain goat training

I will hire the sticks, it looks like I'll be needing them, but I don't have trekking or hiking boots - would asics do?

Asics are fine. The weather is dry these day and the grip up there isn't too bad in the dry. Its bare on the cone so in the wet its a paint for grip.

Squeaky the Squirrel

yop wrote: »

Asics are fine. The weather is dry these day and the grip up there isn't too bad in the dry. Its bare on the cone so in the wet its a paint for grip.

Am I right in thinking most accidents happen coming down?

Take it handy coming down AK. All the way down.

yop

Squeaky the Squirrel wrote: »

Am I right in thinking most accidents happen coming down?

Take it handy coming down AK. All the way down.

People slip on both the way up and down. Footing going on the way down yes and once the momentum is behind you on the descent then its fun slowing down
Also the lower part has slippy grass and bog where you may end up on your bum.

Take your time, make sure you are well wrapped up, bring a drink and a bit of food and a camera Tomorrow will be georgous up there and you can see all 365 islands in clew bay

AK333

Take your time, make sure you are well wrapped up, bring a drink and a bit of food and a camera Tomorrow will be georgous up there and you can see all 365 islands in clew bay [/QUOTE]

I won't be going tomorrow - I'm an absolute beginner and will be waiting till the weather warms up a bit - the wind at the moment will cut you in half. Probably try around June/July time but thanks everyone for the info, its good to get the correct info from people who know - a website can only tell you so much.

yop

AK333 wrote: »

Take your time, make sure you are well wrapped up, bring a drink and a bit of food and a camera Tomorrow will be georgous up there and you can see all 365 islands in clew bay

I won't be going tomorrow - I'm an absolute beginner and will be waiting till the weather warms up a bit - the wind at the moment will cut you in half. Probably try around June/July time but thanks everyone for the info, its good to get the correct info from people who know - a website can only tell you so much.[/QUOTE]

And don't forget your nice Guinness or cuppa in Campbells

Red Pepper

Hi

Rainfall radar is showing a front passing over the reek. Will probably fall as sleet or snow above 500m. Can anyone confirm whether it is snowing on the reek or whether it has a white cone? I might climb tomorrow (Monday) of there is some snow.

Just Like Heaven

I'm a few hours off the reek feckin' dreadful winds. I've climbed dozens of times all times of the year and Christ I've seen anything like it was today, thought I was gonna get blown off the top, lost my hat to the elements when I did get up there Got blown up the slope towards the end like a plastic bag though handy enough, but quite scary actually on the summit.

I went up pretty early but met a lot of very lightly dressed people on my way down In for a bit of a shock today :eek:

Just Like Heaven

Red Pepper wrote: »

Hi

Rainfall radar is showing a front passing over the reek. Will probably fall as sleet or snow above 500m. Can anyone confirm whether it is snowing on the reek or whether it has a white cone? I might climb tomorrow (Monday) of there is some snow.

There was a lot of hail and it was snowing a bit this morning.

helimachoptor

I would not have been in shorts today!

helimachoptor

as promised some pics.

trishamcm

Lovely Pictures

Was there many people doing it that day? I did it for the first time last summer on "Reek Sunday" never again!!

helimachoptor

Not that many, however my only comparisons are when doing galeforces and theres generally a couple of thousand people ascending/descending at the same time!

trishamcm

Defo going to do it when weather improves but then again I live in Mayo weather is always S**t

yop

helimachoptor wrote: »

as promised some pics.

Look at the hypothermia setting into them purple pins!
Nice pics

Sunday was very busy, surprised as to the amount of people on there. Weather is incredible for good pics and views.

helimachoptor

going to ascend CP next weekend.

I have a couple of options (i'll be with 2 people, one pretty fit, the other pretty unfit)

Drive to CP from Ballycastle, I'll be trying to get up as quick as possible

Cycle to CP from Ballycastle and do the same (however unfit guy will need to be picked up as he wouldnt be able to make it home)

Very much weather dependent as to what we do, but will be in shorts :eek:

If anyone was up over the weekend, how were the underfoot conditions?

Mayo Miss

helimachoptor wrote: »

going to ascend CP next weekend.

I have a couple of options (i'll be with 2 people, one pretty fit, the other pretty unfit)

Drive to CP from Ballycastle, I'll be trying to get up as quick as possible

Cycle to CP from Ballycastle and do the same (however unfit guy will need to be picked up as he wouldnt be able to make it home)

Very much weather dependent as to what we do, but will be in shorts :eek:

If anyone was up over the weekend, how were the underfoot conditions?

It was very dry yesterday, scorching sunshine by the time we came down. The stones were really loose towards the top so make sure you have good sturdy shoes/boots and a stick.

helimachoptor

Anyone up in the reek in the last few days?
Heading down to the Outlaws on Monday, so will take a trip over and climb (likely in shorts :eek:)

Mantis Toboggan

helimachoptor wrote: »

Anyone up in the reek in the last few days?
Heading down to the Outlaws on Monday, so will take a trip over and climb (likely in shorts :eek:)

Was up there on Saturday morning. Was lovely, got lucky with the weather and had a great view. Around 6 inches of snow at the top though. Grand going up very slippy coming down. I'd say the snow has rescinded a bit since then.

helimachoptor

cheers, will bring some warmer gear with me and then a call on the day (may just carry it)