Climbing Ireland’s Highest Mountain: Carrantohill Peak
We went on a couple of walks every day while we were in Ireland, but this one took the cake for sure.
Taido got us primed for our big hike by having us watch The Secret Life of Walter Mitty the night before, so we all woke up feeling like grand adventurers. (Highly recommend!)
The mountains were so foggy when we started out that we were afraid we wouldn’t be able to get to the top because of visibility.
But then as we made progress up the mountain, the skies slowly cleared right before our eyes. It was crazy, like our walking up was pushing the fog out of our way.
When we reached the saddle right before the last push to the top, the skies were almost completely blue. It was crazy gorgeous!
There’s nothing quite like that top-of-the-world feeling!
On top of Carrantohill Peak.
A little shelter and a cross are on the very top, and by the time we had climbed down about halfway, the clouds had rolled back in and we couldn’t see these markers anymore.
The descent was a little more harrowing than the climb up. I was super shaky by the time I got off of the part called the Devil’s Ladder.
I took this picture looking back up at the Devil’s Ladder, but you can’t tell how steep or how very long it is. It took us an hour each way at least. Of course, Ben and Cole did it much faster than the rest of us. Because you know, fearlessness and folly.
But no one broke a limb and we were so happy to have all made it up (and down). Mary Polly and I both decided that when it comes to climbing Ireland’s highest mountain, that we are glad we did it but once is enough!
We were exhausted from the day and went home to eat our weight in Irish stew as our reward!
More photos of this walk on Google+
PS. I’m trying to blog #48walks this year. Join me?
Check out Jen’s, Sarabeth’s and Ellen’s walks this week as well!
I think you and Mary Polly may have it right – once is probably enough! Why is it that coming down a mountain is often harder than going up it? But it does look amazing – if I get back to Ireland one day, I’ll have to put it on the list.
I’m not sure why that it is, but it’s definitely MORE true the older I get. Creaky knees and such. Definitely put it on your list! It’s a gorgeous day out for sures!