I’ve hiked it a few times but the most memorable time was during the peak of the ice bucket challenge. Just as we got to the top, I witnessed some lunatic who’d lugged an absolute tonne of ice and water up the mountain drench himself in front of the cross.
How long did it take? I did Galtymore last year and was in bits after it.
Our scout troop tried to climb it one October in the mid 90s. It was a multi troop venture and a classic case of poor organization and bad leadership, it’s a miracle no one died. The 30 or so teenagers were totally inexperienced and the weather was dreadful with rain, wind and almost zero visibility. It never should have gone ahead but most of the group had travelled down from Dublin specially so the leader thought it would be a shame to cancel on the day. We got about half way up the Devil’s staircase and progress was extremely slow. Finally after after several landslides, falls and freezing temperatures we turned back. My recollection is that it felt as though we were inside a terrible storm with no way out. I have been morbidly obsessed with climbing disaster stories ever since.
Our troop leader was part of an “Advanced” group who took a more challenging route, he told us that they had to rope up at one point because of the wind and rain and that he genuinely prayed for deliverance. He was an avowed atheist so this was quite something.
1/10 would not recommend.
We did get to go to the pub that night (probably to keep us quiet about the debacle of the day) which was cool. Also my mate got the shift from a girl from a troop from Bray so he thought it was the best weekend we ever went on.
Would not recommend camping the night up their unless your a total masochist who doesn’t want to sleep in wet clothes
The Devils Ladder looks deceptively small in the third picture, but holy feck, it’s a tough climb!
Really want to climb it this summer, but haven’t a car.
To get to the start of the trek I mean, not driving up the thing.
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I must get around to climbing that.
I’ve hiked it a few times but the most memorable time was during the peak of the ice bucket challenge. Just as we got to the top, I witnessed some lunatic who’d lugged an absolute tonne of ice and water up the mountain drench himself in front of the cross.
How long did it take? I did Galtymore last year and was in bits after it.
Our scout troop tried to climb it one October in the mid 90s. It was a multi troop venture and a classic case of poor organization and bad leadership, it’s a miracle no one died. The 30 or so teenagers were totally inexperienced and the weather was dreadful with rain, wind and almost zero visibility. It never should have gone ahead but most of the group had travelled down from Dublin specially so the leader thought it would be a shame to cancel on the day. We got about half way up the Devil’s staircase and progress was extremely slow. Finally after after several landslides, falls and freezing temperatures we turned back. My recollection is that it felt as though we were inside a terrible storm with no way out. I have been morbidly obsessed with climbing disaster stories ever since.
Our troop leader was part of an “Advanced” group who took a more challenging route, he told us that they had to rope up at one point because of the wind and rain and that he genuinely prayed for deliverance. He was an avowed atheist so this was quite something.
1/10 would not recommend.
We did get to go to the pub that night (probably to keep us quiet about the debacle of the day) which was cool. Also my mate got the shift from a girl from a troop from Bray so he thought it was the best weekend we ever went on.
Would not recommend camping the night up their unless your a total masochist who doesn’t want to sleep in wet clothes
The Devils Ladder looks deceptively small in the third picture, but holy feck, it’s a tough climb!
Really want to climb it this summer, but haven’t a car.
To get to the start of the trek I mean, not driving up the thing.
I’m climbing this next week…..I’m worried
Yea, more of these beautiful posts please!