Hikers warned as three rescued from mountain
Two men and a woman had to call for help after they became trapped by Alpine-like conditions on a narrow ledge close to the summit of Carrauntoohil in the McGillycuddy’s Reeks, Co Kerry, on Saturday.
The highest peaks in the Reeks are snow and ice-bound after weeks of prolonged cold weather.
The climbing party at the daring rescue had made it to within 200m of Carrauntoohil’s summit, before becoming trapped by the treacherous conditions close to the top of Central Gully between O’Shea’s Gully and Curved Gully.
They used a smartphone to raise the alarm at 4.15pm and remained trapped on the exposed ledge until the rescue operation arrived.
The Coastguard used a GPS app on the smartphone to pinpoint their location.
The Shannon-based Coastguard helicopter, Rescue 115, was tasked as a 21-man team from the Kerry Mountain Rescue Team (KMRT) made its way to the Hag’s Glen.
The helicopter performed a fly-by to asses the area where the climbers were trapped. An airlift was ruled out amid concerns that the powerful downdraft from the aircraft’s rotors could blow the climbers off the exposed ledge.
It was then decided to airlift six KMRT members and their gear from the Hag’s Glen to the southern side of the summit.
As concerns mounted for the climbers, who were at risk of hypothermia, the KMRT team was flown to the summit, from where they abseiled to the trapped climbers.
They secured the climbing party with ropes, climbed with them to the summit, before escorting them in darkness off the mountain, via the Devil’s Ladder. There were no injuries. The call-out ended at 9pm.
KMRT spokesman Damien Courtney said conditions on the McGillycuddy’s Reeks are still very dangerous, with ice along exposed ridges and with hard-packed snow in all gullies, particularly around Carrauntoohil.
“Walkers and climbers are advised to stay away from steep ground in the Reeks unless they are experienced in winter mountaineering and are well equipped for winter conditions,” he said.
Ice axes and crampons, and knowledge of how to use them, are essential for the upper reaches, he added.
Several experienced and well-equipped climbers have made it through the challenging conditions in recent weeks to reach the summit of Carrauntoohil, leaving a trail of footprints in the snow in their wake.
It is understood that less experienced and ill-equipped climbers are now trying to follow those footprint trails to the summit.
Mr Courtney confirmed that stricken climbers are never billed for their rescue.
“We don’t even think about that when we get the call, and we don’t ask for it afterwards,” he said.
KMRT receives just a third of its running costs from the state, and relies on donations and fundraising to make up the shortfall.
