Howling Ridge, Corrán Tuathail
“In February 1987, I led a climb up snow and ice covered slabs and short towers that tapered as it went into a defined ridge paralleling Collins’ Gully on the East Face of Corrán Tuathail. It was virgin territory for climbers and the splendid winter route that emerged, I named Howling Ridge.”
[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” use_as_box=”” type=”grid” anchor=”” text_align=”left” background_color=”” background_image=”” section_height=”” border_color=”” padding=”” padding_top=”30″ padding_bottom=”20″ more_button_label=”” less_button_label=”” button_position=”” color=”” css_animation=”element_from_fade” transition_delay=””][vc_column_inner el_class=”” width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]On that first ascent which I shared with a teenager named John Cronin (from Cronin’s Yard ), I climbed the most aesthetic line in front of me, climbing a series of steps and prows straight-on that involved a handful short but technical moves, some overhanging before reaching An Túr (the tower) and An Mhéar (the finger) pitches near the top.
I had no idea coming off the hill that day that Howling Ridge would gain the popularity it has. A weakness or otherwise of the climb is of course that many of the more difficult steps encountered can be avoided. These are usually turned on the right-hand (northern) side, options clearly taken by the majority of people undertaking the climb.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner el_class=”” width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]In my mind, Howling Ridge is still a fabulous but rather serious outing under winter snow and ice. Without, it is an easy, exposed rock climb over shattered rocks and short walls – with the overhanging Prow providing a short VS pitch (4b or so) before the lovely V. Diff pinnacles above. Avoiding these little gems, especially low down on the route is the choice taken by the many people for whom ‘ doin’ Howlin’ sems to be an important tick off their list. On my guided ascents, the integrity of the original climb is honoured.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row parallax=”” parallax_image=”” row_type=”row” type=”full_width” anchor=”” in_content_menu=”” content_menu_title=”” content_menu_icon=”” text_align=”left” video=”” video_overlay=”” video_overlay_image=”” video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_image=”” background_image=”” pattern_background=”” section_height=”” parallax_speed=”” background_color=”” border_color=”” padding=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”30″ background_hover_color=”” color=”” hover_color=”” more_button_label=”” less_button_label=”” button_position=”” css_animation=”” transition_delay=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” interval=”3″ images=”15525,15524,15527,15523,15522″ onclick=”link_image” custom_links_target=”_self” column_number=”5″ img_size=”800×600″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row parallax=”” parallax_image=”” row_type=”row” type=”grid” anchor=”” in_content_menu=”” content_menu_title=”” content_menu_icon=”” text_align=”left” video=”” video_overlay=”” video_overlay_image=”” video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_image=”” background_image=”” pattern_background=”” section_height=”” parallax_speed=”” background_color=”” border_color=”” padding=”” padding_top=”10″ padding_bottom=”10″ background_hover_color=”” color=”” hover_color=”” more_button_label=”” less_button_label=”” button_position=”” css_animation=”” transition_delay=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]
Ann, thank you for a wonderful time, you truly made the whole trip happen. You are a very thoughtful person.
