Legendary Stratus

July 16, 2012

“I conquered Croagh Patrick”. This was the saying on the shirts in the gift shop. My soaked shorts and muddied socks were all the proof I needed to gain the claim. Ten others including myself climbed Crough Patrick Mountain’s 2,500 ft. incline to the summit yesterday during a day trip to County Mayo.

The climb itself was physically demanding, scaling most of the way on loose gravel and jagged rock. The weather alone made the trek mentally demanding; as one gained elevation up the mountain storm clouds, heavy rain and 15mph+ wind gusts came out of nowhere. This differed dramatically from the bottom of the mountain, which was clear and sunny at the onset of the hike. Like any other place in Ireland, weather in one area couldn't predict weather in another, especially on a mountain. 

By the time we reached the summit, a small white church blurred on every side by a hazy white fog was there to greet us. Unable to see any view at all, we settled for the satisfaction of conquering this beast of a mountain. There were several notable look outs on the way up though, including a natural lake lined with rock-writing, a steep abyss with wild sheep along the edges and a mesmerizing view half way up of the surrounding islands.
           What locals told us would be a five-hour hike up and back took most of us just under three and a half hours. Some wore ponchos, some brought walking sticks, and one went shoeless (congrats Curtis). Popular legend behind the mountain tells the tale of St. Patrick, who once climbed the mountain barefoot in the 5th century. Once he reached the summit, St. Patrick fasted for 40 days, after which he threw a silver bell down the side of the mountain knocking the she-demon Corra from the sky and banishing all the snakes from Ireland. Although most say the snakes are a metaphor for early pagan faiths in Ireland, I still haven’t seen one slithering amphibian. It's a nice change from dodging rattlers on Hawk Mountain in Pennsylvania.