Back in the Summer of 2004, I met a Mad Japanese cyclist on the slopes of Croagh Patrick - Yaz! (Full story - http://www.castlebar.ie/news/article_1909.shtml)
Later on in November, Yaz returned to Mayo for a couple of days as an online guest at Mayo Education Centre as part of Netdays 2005 (Full story - http://www.castlebar.ie/news/article_1972.shtml).
On his first evening with us, we were talking about Croagh Patrick when Yaz said “You love mountains! You should climb Carrantuohill!” I just smiled at him – as far as I was concerned Croagh Patrick was big enough for me, thank you!
Funny how events can alter your way of thinking – by the third week in December I had decided to climb Carrantuohill.
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| L-R Eddie, Chris, John & Harry. Yaz is our camerman! |
After numerous phone calls and emails we had a climbing team - Yaz, Eddie from Dungloe (climbed Slieve Donard with Yaz), John Lenihan (climbed Carrantuohill with Yaz), Harry Thompson and I who met Yaz on Croagh Patrick.
We all travelled to Glenbeigh (except John who is a Kerryman), booked into the Glenbeigh Hotel and settled down to a brilliant dinner and a couple of pints of Guinness before bed.
We met John at the entrance to Hags Glen at 11:15 am – the weather was quite good at this level, but we knew there was a chance the mountain would be heavy with cloud. From here the mountain was 3km away – a brilliant/hike walk through stunning Kerry scenery.
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| Wow! |
We weren’t the only people on the mountain that weekend – on the Saturday & Sunday, Listowel’s Brian Byrne, was about to complete his Carrantuohill Challenge – climbing from the bottom of Devil’s Ladder to the Peak, 15 times in 36 hours – the equivalent of climbing Everest.
Brian planned to raise thousands of Euro for the Diabetes Federation and the Cystic Fibrosis Association and hopes the money will help employ additional specialist staff at the hospital in Tralee.
In his mid-fifties, Brian injects himself with insulin four times daily but has refused to allow diabetes restrict his life.
Brian says “The disease does change your life and you have to live with it every day, but that doesn’t mean it rules your life either,”
In 2000, he became the first person in Ireland to receive the Life Scan Award for people with diabetes.
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| "Hang on John, I'll get you a blanket!" |
Brian’s mammoth task needed lots of support and supplies. We were delighted to be able to help carry some of his equipment to base camp at the bottom of Devil’s Ladder
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| "Yes, we really have to bring the stuff up there!" |
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| Mountain meets Lacken Man |
As we got nearer to Carrantuohill, the weather began to close in, but it was still safe enough to climb. At the ladder the temperature dropped and it got very damp, very quickly!
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| Gone Bananas |
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| "How did you cycle up here Yaz?" |
Just time for a quick energy boost, throw on the waterproof gear and then head up Devil’s Ladder. The ladder is quite enclosed by the weather, with lots of wonderful little pockets of mountain nature every step of the way.
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| "Kiss Me Quick!" |
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| Highest Pint of Guinness in Ireland |
At about 3:30 pm we reached the peak – covered in cloud and the rain was intermittent. That didn’t matter – we celebrated our arrival with a can of Guinness (Yaz started this tradition). We had our lunch and when the rain eased (and cloud thickened?) we headed back down across the Saddle to begin our descent.
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| Taking it all in |
Climbing back down Devil’s Ladder the cloud lessened and we managed to catch brief glimpses of the beautiful scenery below.
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| "Anyone seen my bike?" |
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| Apple Time |
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| Great Landscape |
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| Harry, Yaz, Brian, Chris and Julie |
As we reached Hag’s Glen we met with Brian Byrne and his Fiancée Julie, delivering yet more supplies for his epic challenge. Once again the guys carried the equipment to base camp, while I took some time to talk to Brian. The Land Rover got bogged down so Harry used his invaluable experience (and strength) to get them moving again.
Brian has since completed his Carrantuohill Challenge – well done to Brian and everyone involved!
We finally left the mountain about 9:15 pm – it had been a long day. We grabbed a bite to eat in Killorglin and landed back in Glenbeigh at about 10:30 pm where we once again enjoyed a few well earned pints!
Thanks to everyone who made this such a great weekend, especially Yaz, Eddie, John and Harry - without them I would never have climbed Carrantuohill.
Next Stop - Kilimanjaro!
