Croagh Patrick

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7 October 2008

During the night the van was buffeted by rain and wind which swept in from the west and continued until about 11 the next morning. By this time we had met Frances and Catherine, two intrepid Scottish outdoor pursuits enthusiasts who were in a small tent next to us. We all decided to climb Croagh Patrick as the summit appeared to be clearing.

It was a long, hard ascent of about 2,500 ft. It is hard to believe people of all ages do this as an act of faith. We made it to the ridge just as our Scottish friends were coming down! The final climb to the summit was up a steep scree slope which we climbed with great care. A church was built on the summit in 1905. We completed the round trip in just under six hours. The average time is three and a half!

Frances and Catherine joined us for an enjoyable supper in the van and did the washing up.

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