Climbers warned of Alpine conditions

CLIMBERS and hill walkers throughout the country are being warned that an ascent of any Irish mountain was now tantamount to “alpine winter mountaineering”.

In Kerry the local Mountain Rescue Team have placed warning signs on approaches to Carrantuohill highlighting the dangers posed by snow and ice on the hills. The signs are urging hill walkers not to go onto steep ground without ice axes and crampons (spiked footwear for use in snow and icy conditions).

Hill walkers are also warned of the risk of avalanches and deceptive snow drifts in mountain gullies. Mountain Rescue Ireland spokesman Gerry Christie said all potential hill walkers were not aware that the ascent of any Irish mountain in present conditions is essentially “Alpine winter mountaineering”.

He said a group of climbers escorted off Carrantuohill, on Sunday, would not otherwise have made it safely down.

“Safe ascent and descent is dependent on the skilled use of technical equipment such as ice axes, crampons and associated mountaineering skills such as navigating in blizzard or ‘white out’ conditions,” Mr Christie pointed out. He said difficulties sometimes arose after people climbed up an icy slope without technical equipment, but that was not possible coming down, with slips more likely if not inevitable.

“Once you slip you will not be able to halt that slide. Serious injury and death are extremely likely,” he added.

In recent years, people not properly prepared for winter conditions had slipped to their deaths on the Kerry hills, he added.

Road conditions had kept hill activity down over the recent holiday period and there had been no reported serious incidences.

“As the roads improve, the hills will become more accessible. Arctic conditions on the hills will persist at altitude, possibly for weeks. Walkers depending on luck alone will inevitably generate serious accidents,” Mr Christie stressed.

“Avalanche is virtually inevitable in some areas, given the burden and consistency of snow in the hills.

“Please keep off the hills unless you are equipped materially and mentally to cope with winter Alpine conditions or unless you are supervised by skilled mountaineers,” he advised.