Picture from lewvalton
by lewvalton 3 Apr 2006
Driving north along the N59, the craggy and deeply corried frontage of Maumtrasna presents a very different aspect to the other (splendid) Connemara ranges, one ripe with gully and buttress scrambling potential. We had a crack at the very obvious gully (OSi 38, 65/94) running down Luga Kippen above Houston's Bridge. Anyone familiar with 'gill' scrambling in England's Lake District will recognise its appeal immediately. By contrast with many popular Lakes gills (ravines/gullies), care was needed with some loose rock and handholds, a sure sign of little if any previous human passage. The first half up to the obvious fork in the stream offers very enjoyable Grade 1 scrambling, with a fair volume of water on our day making a drenching unavoidable. However, great care was needed on a wholly speculative venture not to get into a situation we couldn't retreat from. At around the half-way point, despite this, a detour out onto the innocuous-looking left hand side of the ravine to avoid a shortish but very wet and greasy pitch resulted in us getting stuck on that wall where the heather, grass, mud and rock were all shockingly loose, and much steeper above than expected. A very awkward bit of self-extrication with the rope (thank God we'd brought it) was needed to get two of the three of us back down safely to the stream bed, from where a safe retreat back down and out on to the hillside was possible. The photo shows us at roughly that point (nb the slopes to figure's right are in reality v.steep) The upper gully shown is much more enclosed, with sheer inescapable walls on either side and signs of steep impassable falls. The entire route looks to require near-drought conditions and full gear for belays and possible abseil retreat. But parties with rock climbing or high-grade scrambling experience should definitely note this route, and indeed take time to explore the largely undocumented possibilities Maumtrasna and the Partrys hold.(Comment Rating 4.62)
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by mikek 21 Aug 2004
With a few hours to spare on a trip to the Nephins I decided to try a walk N of Lough Nafooey. My plan was to follow the skyline above the Dooletter Valley taking in Skeltia on the ascent and Leynabricka on the descent. I parked the car at the carpark overlooking the lake (Ref: 983603 (Point A) ) and headed up the hill. On reaching Skeltia my curiosity was aroused when looking at the map by the deep valley running SE from Mám Trasna summit, and from which the Srahnalong River flows. I headed E to have a look and once I had sight of this magnificant valley from above my route plan immediately changed. It is narrow, deep, with tumbling streams, and layer after layer of craggy edges running up the NE face of the valley. I decided I simply had to descend through this wonderful place. I first headed NW and then made my way into the head of the valley N of the major stream feeding the river below. The descent was steeper than it needed to be,as I made my way to the NE side of the valley to the foot of the craggy edges before dropping down to the river. Once the river was reached it was a pleasant walk out the valley. It was well worth it, and it reminded me of a scaled up craggy version of the Macha na Bo/Glennahoo valley E of Beenoskee on the Dingle Peninsula. Stay on the L bank as the land the right has been broken up with loads of fencing at right angles to the river. Returned to the car via the bog roads and col at Ref:992607 (Point B) and a heathery descent to the road (not recommended). Plan to return.
Point A: L983 603
Point B: L992 607
(Comment Rating 4.58)
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Picture from simon3 : Some of the many corries from the SE
Picture: Some of the many corries from the SE
by simon3 5 Oct 2005
HC Hart [Climbing in the British Isles 1895] gives an alternative name for this summit of Formnamore. He wasn't overly impressed with it, saying of this and the Devil's Mother (they) ".. form a series of high barren tablelands, dotted with pools, and of no interest whatever". But then he was looking for climbing.(Comment Rating 4.57)
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Picture from simon3 : The rocky summit.
Picture: The rocky summit.
by simon3 4 May 2005
You can walk over 1100 metres east to west on the summit and climb and fall only about 10m. Maumtrasna is very much a plateau and the summit area is a bare or nearly bare rock. You can see some of it in this picture of what may be the top. The rock is conglomerate with pieces of earlier stones embedded in something like rough sand.(Comment Rating 4.20)
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by micky 10 Aug 2004
the top of this mountain is such a vast area and it's easy to feel that walking to the summit is just not worth it . But the 360 degree panoramic photo on my office wall is one of the best photos i've ever taken, on a clear day the view is suberp. Also if there is snow on the ground this is a fantastic summit for a running snowball fight
(Comment Rating 3.69)
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by cha 3 Aug 2006
There's a great route up the south side of the lough nadirkmore coom, some scrambling and steep trudging but an amazing view of the valleys on each side. the plateau is unpleasant work to the summit, i wouldnt bother
(Comment Rating 3.00)
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(End of comment section for Maumtrasna.)
Maumtrasna, 682m
BleckCra
eamonoc
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simon3
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