Camaderry April 17th 2013

From Upper Car Park, Glendalough, Wicklow, Ireland. April 17th 2013 (not Camaderry)

I needed some time alone after events of the last couple of weeks. I set off on my own........

My brother Tom died suddenly an the 6th of April. I was just about to sit down to dinner in a Dingle restaurant when I got the phone call. We had climbed Mount Brandon and we were looking forward to some good food and maybe even a few pints. I received a call from a friend in Dublin, he told me had just discovered Tom. I left the restaurant immediately and drove back to Dublin to be with my father who lives across the road from Tom. I remember nothing about that 4 hour drive. My mind was racing .....

So, it has been a very stressful time and I needed some time alone. I had a lock of Tom's hair and his Rosary beads in my backpack. I'm not religious but Tom had great faith. He gave me the rosary beads before Brenda and I set off for our US road trip late last year. Initially I refused his offer. He asked me to just leave them in my luggage. I agreed just to keep him happy. I have since transferred them to my backpack and they come with me on every outing, just for Tom. I had them in my backpack when we  were struck by lightning on Kilimanjaro on 2nd January. Tom said this is what kept me safe. Me, well I have my own view.

I arrived at the Glendalough upper car park around 10am. By 10:15 I was ready to set off. I took one photo from the car park before setting off (see above). There was a strong wind and it had started to rain. I took the pathway by the Educational Centre rather than the steep climb our group usually take. 

The rain was getting worse but I was prepared and determined to take Tom to the top of the mountain with me. I passed about 50 deer. They all had their white bottoms towards me but their heads turned, staring at me. They had no fear, I think they were puzzled by this eejit out walking on the mountain with the weather conditions continuing to deteriorate. 

I reached Camaderry East Top and considered turning back. I was being blown around like a rag doll the rain was blowing horizontally and with such force that it felt like hail. I pushed on along the long pathway to the actual summit. I was blown off the path many times. Sometimes as far as 20ft to the right. I was stopped in my tracks and used my poles to stop being blown over. I can honestly say I have never been out in such strong winds and driving rain. It was exhilarating, it gave me such a rush. I was thinking what Tim said about not going out on my own. But, being alone in this weather was a real rush, I loved it. Stupid I know but I loved it.

Summit Camaderry

Once I reached the summit I called Brenda. The call only lasted a couple of seconds. I just wanted to tell her 'we' made it to the top together. After the phone went dead I took a few quick photos with the phone camera. The quality is very bad but I wanted to record the event. There was no way I was going to take out my camera in the weather. Anyway I needed to get out of there as quickly as possible. Visibility was poor but I could make out the muddy trail back down to the main pathway.

I arrived back in the car park at about 1:30pm and enjoyed my ham rolls and Tea. I was soaked through but  delighted to be back in the car.

The temperate was OK and I only needed to use my gloved around the summit area. I did not meet one person anywhere on the mountain.