Monday, June 11, 2007
Thursday, June 7, 2007
World Highpoint #5 Carrantoohil, Ireland
To the Ring of Kerry to McGillicuddy's Reeks for the last mountain of the Trip. Carrantoohil is the highest mountain in Ireland. There is a 25 foot high cross at the summit, so seeing it from a distance is very easy to do... climbing it on the other hand is a different story.
We started our climb on The Hydro Track road to the junction of a lake named Lough Eighter. Then it was up to the summit of Caher West Top. Then the climb consisted of walking this ridge line and summiting the following mountains:
Caher-West Top 3199'
Caher 3284'
Carrantuohill 3409'
Beenkeragh 3314'
Stumpa Barr na hAbhann 2792'
Skregmore 2782'
Skregmore West Top 2450'
After descending Skregmore West Top we ended up back at the Lough Eighter junction. The last half of the loop was semi technical, but very rewarding. This is the most summits I have ever attained in one day. This climb was 9 miles round trip.
That's all international for now, time to climb back in the states...
Photos Here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hambrick/sets/72157600331600727/
We started our climb on The Hydro Track road to the junction of a lake named Lough Eighter. Then it was up to the summit of Caher West Top. Then the climb consisted of walking this ridge line and summiting the following mountains:
Caher-West Top 3199'
Caher 3284'
Carrantuohill 3409'
Beenkeragh 3314'
Stumpa Barr na hAbhann 2792'
Skregmore 2782'
Skregmore West Top 2450'
After descending Skregmore West Top we ended up back at the Lough Eighter junction. The last half of the loop was semi technical, but very rewarding. This is the most summits I have ever attained in one day. This climb was 9 miles round trip.
That's all international for now, time to climb back in the states...
Photos Here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hambrick/sets/72157600331600727/
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
World Highpoint #4 Slieve Donard, Northern Ireland
A few days later (after a visit to Giant's Causeway) we arrived in Donard Park. Yes this is a park, with athletic fields and walking trails. This is the very bottom of Slieve Donard, the highest mountain in Northern Ireland.
The path follows the river 2.5 miles to a .5 mile ascent to the saddle between Slieve Donard and Slieve Commedagh (the 2nd highest peak in Northern Ireland). Then we climbed through the cloud cover following the Mourne Wall to the summit. The Mourne Wall runs over several of the Mourne Mountains and it is 40 miles long. The views at the summit were great, and next up is to the top of Ireland.
Photos Here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hambrick/sets/72157600333886382/
The path follows the river 2.5 miles to a .5 mile ascent to the saddle between Slieve Donard and Slieve Commedagh (the 2nd highest peak in Northern Ireland). Then we climbed through the cloud cover following the Mourne Wall to the summit. The Mourne Wall runs over several of the Mourne Mountains and it is 40 miles long. The views at the summit were great, and next up is to the top of Ireland.
Photos Here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hambrick/sets/72157600333886382/
Sunday, June 3, 2007
World Highpoint #3 Ben Nevis, Scotland
With Wales and England down, we moved on and two days later we awoke at the base of Ben Nevis, the United Kingdom's highest mountain.
Since the planning of this trip I had vowed to climb Ben Nevis in a kilt, so after donning the kilt and various other hiking gear we started our hike to the top via the Ben Nevis footpath.
The footpath to the top was 5 miles one way, and after a period of time we disappeared in the clouds and the rain soon became frozen pellets. After 5 false summits we finally reached the REAL summit and took very sub par pictures. At the top there was still 1 metre of snow and several buildings, one of which was a weather observatory. On top of the old weather observatory was a rescue shelter (aka cafeteria) where we ate our lunch. We ascended the mountain in 3.5 hours and descended in 2.25 hours.
We packed up and headed to Stranraer, Scotland to catch the ferry to Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Photos Here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hambrick/sets/72157600333916188/
Since the planning of this trip I had vowed to climb Ben Nevis in a kilt, so after donning the kilt and various other hiking gear we started our hike to the top via the Ben Nevis footpath.
The footpath to the top was 5 miles one way, and after a period of time we disappeared in the clouds and the rain soon became frozen pellets. After 5 false summits we finally reached the REAL summit and took very sub par pictures. At the top there was still 1 metre of snow and several buildings, one of which was a weather observatory. On top of the old weather observatory was a rescue shelter (aka cafeteria) where we ate our lunch. We ascended the mountain in 3.5 hours and descended in 2.25 hours.
We packed up and headed to Stranraer, Scotland to catch the ferry to Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Photos Here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hambrick/sets/72157600333916188/
Friday, June 1, 2007
World Highpoint #2 Scafell Pike, England
After our successful summit of Snowdon, we drove to Ravenglass, England via Kendal, England and had a shower, a pint and a sleep. The next day we were at the foot of Scafell Pike.
After 2.5 miles in on the trail, Kent and I broke off of the primary summit trail to attempt Scafell's summit before meeting Mary Ruth and Jess on top of Scafell Pike. We missed a turn and arrived at the saddle between the two mountains and decided climbing Scafell from this angle would not be safe.
At 12:15 we summited Scafell Pike, and after some confusion, an hour later we met Mary Ruth and Jess at the summit for a late lunch. After some pictures (sausages!) and Kent and I veering off to summit Lingmel, we finished the hike at 4:45 pm. Our first climb of the trip without raindrops... Next up Ben Nevis.
Photos Here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hambrick/sets/72157600317156459/
After 2.5 miles in on the trail, Kent and I broke off of the primary summit trail to attempt Scafell's summit before meeting Mary Ruth and Jess on top of Scafell Pike. We missed a turn and arrived at the saddle between the two mountains and decided climbing Scafell from this angle would not be safe.
At 12:15 we summited Scafell Pike, and after some confusion, an hour later we met Mary Ruth and Jess at the summit for a late lunch. After some pictures (sausages!) and Kent and I veering off to summit Lingmel, we finished the hike at 4:45 pm. Our first climb of the trip without raindrops... Next up Ben Nevis.
Photos Here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hambrick/sets/72157600317156459/
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
World Highpoint #1 Snowdon, Wales
There is some debate as to whether the individual countries of the United Kingdom are to be counted seperatly as country highpoints. Let me assure you they are all seperate contries, and I am treating them as such.
First up, Snowdon in Wales.
We awoke after a cold night in the tent at the Snowdon Inn Camp Area. We headed for the mountain and arrived at 7:40 am. We hiked the "Miners Track" route starting at Pen-Y-Pass. The route up the mountain is 4 miles long (8 miles round trip) and gains 2400 feet in elevation. There are a ton of sheep along this route and a couple of small lakes. It was scenic, but very cloudy the day we climbed. When we met with the Pyg Track route, we were in the clouds that had settled in, and the rain started. We climbed the final stretch in the rain, and spent a whopping 4 minutes at the summit. We arrived back at the car at 2pm and we were soaked. It had rained all of the way back down.
Photos Here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hambrick/sets/72157600333955492/
First up, Snowdon in Wales.
We awoke after a cold night in the tent at the Snowdon Inn Camp Area. We headed for the mountain and arrived at 7:40 am. We hiked the "Miners Track" route starting at Pen-Y-Pass. The route up the mountain is 4 miles long (8 miles round trip) and gains 2400 feet in elevation. There are a ton of sheep along this route and a couple of small lakes. It was scenic, but very cloudy the day we climbed. When we met with the Pyg Track route, we were in the clouds that had settled in, and the rain started. We climbed the final stretch in the rain, and spent a whopping 4 minutes at the summit. We arrived back at the car at 2pm and we were soaked. It had rained all of the way back down.
Photos Here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hambrick/sets/72157600333955492/
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