Starting down from Cnoc Iochtair towards Skregmore.

 

Tackling the renowned Coomloughra Horseshoe, I had reached the first summit of the day, Cnoc Iochtair, and was now heading down its eastern slope towards the second, Skregmore.  I had been faced with the worst high winds I’d ever experienced, to the extent that I was blown over several times, and had to stop and crouch down sometimes and wait for extreme gusts to pass. As I dropped down to the low point between Cnoc Iochtair and Skregmore, it eased a little, which I was glad of as I made my way up through the rocks on Skregmore.  It seemed as if the whole mountain had been shattered by some cataclysm.

 

 

 

A look back to Cnoc Iochtair.

 

 

 

 

 

Looking across Coomloughra and Lough Eagher to Caher.

 

 

 

The summit of Skregmore ahead, as I made my way up through the shattered rock.

 

Caher on the right and Carrauntoohil on the left.

 

 

 

 

 

The Dingle Peninsula in the distance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I reached the summit, marked with a cairn, it appeared that the extreme winds hadn’t died, I had just been sheltered on the leeward side of Skregmore.  With the shelter gone, they returned with a vengence, and again, it was almost impossible to just stand up let alone take sharp photos.  I took a lot of unusable shots just to get a few that I could use to show the summit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cnoc Iochtair, now below me.

 

 

 

The way ahead, with Beenkeragh prominent, and Carrauntoohil beyond, capped by clouds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once again, now I began to drop down leaving Skregmore and heading for Stumpa Barr na hAbhann, but for this stretch, the walking was easier with less rock.  The wind also eased again as the mountain ahead sheltered me.

 

Looking east towards Killarney.

 

Time to ascend again – Stumpa Barr na hAbhann ahead, with Beenkeragh behind.

 

Two summits done, and the next, Stumpa Barr na hAbhann would be pretty easy as very little height was lost between it and Skregmore.