Finally paid a visit to the cave on Friday. Arrived at 10.30, low tide was at 10 according to Howth Yacht Club. Tim and I were cave virgins and Barry was our guide being a veteran of 4 visits. When we arrived Barry pronounced it drier than he has seen it before, the key probably was that the wind was blowing directly into the cave. We quickly got our shoes on and got climbing. The cave is everything I hoped it would be. Super steep, burely, technical, sequency climbing. Full body workout.
There are some easier more veritcal problems to be done on the cove passed on the walk in. There was chalk on the overhanging side of the little stack as well. Looked like a nice little traverse.
The walk in felt longer than I expected, apparently some people approached from the other direction, is that quicker?
The walk in down the steps is very straight forward. The climb that is nessacary if you stay til the tide has blocked the return by the steps is ok. I was a bit worried about loose rock and I wouldn't face it in high wind with a large pad. Would it be an idea to put in a stake and a heavy rope to batman down the slabby wall of choss? Would be discrete and we could stash the rope over the wall.
A large tarp would be very handy to keep your shoes sand free. Also a tea towel for drying holds.
Also Barry mentioned that his Da knew some myth about a cave in the area. Did you ask him about it Barry?
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ReplyDeleteThere were a few of us down bang on high tide yesterday. It was just about possible with a little bit of boulder hopping to get to the bottom by the high tide scramble. I reckon that if the tide is any higher that it would be cutting it fine though. The high tide yesterday evening was 3.25m's so anything higher than say 3.35m's would make it inaccessible by that route.
ReplyDeleteThis at least means that it can be accessible still at neaps high tides.