Topic: Croagh Patrick on Reek Sunday (Read 11504 times)

LandyLiam · « **on:** July 30, 2013 »

Last weekend I had the opportunity to volunteer to assist with Reek Sunday on Croagh Patrick, Co. Mayo. Now I had heard of this mountain before, but didn't really know much about it. A quick google reveals a few facts:

It is 764m high (about the same height as Slieve Commedagh) and you start almost at sea level.

The upper slopes are mainly loose scree making it a difficult ascent, and a more difficult descent.

Saint Patrick reputedly fasted on the summit of Croagh Patrick for forty days in the fifth century.

It is Irelands most climbed mountain, approx 100,000 people per year.

On Reek Sunday (last Sunday in July) between 15,000 and 30,000 climb it in the one day in honour of Irelands Patron Saint.

more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croagh_Patrick

Our first site of the Holy Mountain on a recce the day before

as we got closer we could see the rather obvious path up

view form the harbour at westport, Clare Island (home of the pirate queen) in the distance to the right

We had volunteered for the early shift, I had assumed this would be something in the order of a 7am start, you can imagine my dismay when I discovered we were to be collected at 2.30am

We arrive at base just before 3am and you can already see the steady stream of climbers torchs, traditionally pilgrims try to be at the summit for dawn

we make it to the medical tent at the saddle at approx 5am (we had a lot of gear to carry up!)

6am and here is one of the many Mountain Rescue groups stationed on the hillside, teams from all over Ireland provide volunteers for the weekend as the local team would be overwhelmed on their own (they had already been called out at midnight and 1am today)

Now seeing so many people on the mountain is an awesome sight, especially with such difficult terrain, but what is really astounding is how the crowd almost identical to a normal street crowd. Many are in trainers, some in welly boots, sandals and the occasional barefooter. All ages as well, the youngest I noticed looked about 5, and the oldest one I spoke to was 78, but i'm sure a few looked older again.

this was at 8am, about two thirds up, and the crowd stayed this size all day.

one the the barefooters, fair play to him

i'll assume that north face have brought out a new range of suits

coming down barefooted is twice as difficult, fair play to her

and the best dressed award goes to...

a few of the volunteers catching a quick rest between rescues, this was the comfy spot!

first rescue for the morning shift, the Irish Air Corps helicopter is on standby all day, but if the cloud rolls in its a long stretcher carry down

nice hat

this poor wee dog was struggling to get over the big stones

while this wee fell was well tucked up in his masters coat

hard to avoid the flegs in this country

one of the very few who looked prepared for a turn in the weather (especially considering the forecast was for thundery showers) some people even carried their gear up in plastic shopping bags

this lad was ready for the rain, but he was probably sweating buckets under all that

and eventually we arrive at the summit, yes thats a church on the top, with mass every hour today from 8am

there's even toilets up top, although i could smell them from here

not quite sure what this was supposed to be

just in case you weren't sure which mountain you were on

St. Patricks Bed (no Dowser, not a bivvy spot!)

Definitely a mountain worth climbing, and a real experience to do it on Reek Sunday. Don't be fooled by the average looking attire of the people into thinking its easy, its definitely a tough one and i'm amazed that 99.99% of people got down it unscathed. But go well prepared yourself, good boots will protect your ankles from twisting and the inevitable bashes from falling rocks. Poles also highly recommended, they sell wooden ones in the village at the base, get a thick one as you'll put a lot of pressure on it coming down, not sure how standard alloy walking poles would cope, I reckon they might break easy if trapped between rocks.

phil_b · « **Reply #1 on:** July 30, 2013 »

Well done on volunteering Liam.
Looks like my worst nightmare! I prefer a bit of peace and quiet when im out.

LandyLiam · « **Reply #2 on:** August 26, 2013 »

Well i was in the area for my family holiday this week and just couldn't resist a wee jaunt up the hill again, this time along the tourist route from Murrisk.

We happened to visit Ballintubber Abbey afew days earlier, which is the starting point of the longest surviving pilgrim road (Tóchar Phádraig) to Croagh Patrick, its 22 miles long and I was severely tempted to start a spontaneous trek, but we had a birthday party to attend that night so I opted for the way of the beer instead of the way of the Lord

So on the last day of the holiday I set my alarm for 5am in the hope that I would be able to make the summit and back just in time for last orders at the hotel breakfast. When 5am came I had to use every ounce of willpower i had to get out of bed, but when I neared the mountain at 6am I was rewarded the wonderful site with a full moon hovering near the mountain.

I had hoped to get one of the Ash walking sticks to keep as a momento but at 6am all the shops were closed

The visitors centre, I had started so early it was still closed when i came down.

maybe i should go no further

of course i went on

i was in 2 minds at the start, should i go light and do a quickie with no gear, or play safe and avoid embarrassment in case of injury? i played it safe of course

Clew Bay from approx one third way up, the light of the morning sunrise just hitting one of the lower hills

There seems to be a tradition on writing your name in rocks here, can you spot the Liam?

as i ascend i enter the cloud not knowing if i'll get another view of the lovely Clew bay from the top, but i soon pass through the cloud for some spectacular views thanks to the cloud inversion

This was one of most enjoyable mountains i've done so far, so different from Reek Sunday, without the crowds its easy to find a fairly screeless route up and to be rewarded by the cloud inversion was just the icing on the cake

And you'll be glad to hear I made it back to the hotel in time for a stonking big breakfast fry, oh it did go down so very well

phil_b · « **Reply #3 on:** August 26, 2013 »

Nice one Liam, definitely a nicer way to climb than the last time you were there.
Great pictures too, nice cloud inversion.

Matthew · « **Reply #4 on:** August 26, 2013 »

Looks great, Westport is some spot. As you leave Westport heading to the mountain there is a white thatched pub just after a bridge on a right hand bed. They do the best muscles in the world, the chef collects them from a private inlet just across the road.

whoRya · « **Reply #5 on:** August 26, 2013 »

Quote from: Matthew on August 26, 2013

Looks great, Westport is some spot. As you leave Westport heading to the mountain there is a white thatched pub just after a bridge on a right hand bed. They do the best muscles in the world, the chef collects them from a private inlet just across the road.

"Can I get you a drink sir?"

Liam, I seemed to have missed the original post. Well done on the volunteering, and if that is regarded as somewhere to get a comfy rest, then it really must be an exhausting day.

And as for the second visit, wow. That is a cracking cloud inversion, from thinking "Am I not wise?" when the alarm went off, I'm sure you felt very privileged to be there in the end.

LandyLiam · « **Reply #6 on:** August 26, 2013 »

and if i hadn't gone i would never have known what i missed! only regret is that i think i could probably have got a brocken spectre if had remembered to look for it

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Author Topic: Croagh Patrick on Reek Sunday (Read 11504 times)

LandyLiam

Croagh Patrick on Reek Sunday

phil_b

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LandyLiam

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phil_b

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Matthew

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whoRya

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LandyLiam

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