New track paves the way

I am happy to report that Carrick no longer presents the complicated challenge of negotiating multiple forest tracks. Unfortunately we didn't know this until we were on the way down. First the wrong way: Having ascended via a start point at A'owle Wd (T21899 93543), we followed a track south for 1.5km to C (T220 926), turned left back toward Carrick and followed a relatively straight track for 2km, where it narrows considerably, but then meanders all the way up to the summit. Don't go this way!
Start at A'owle Wd (T21899 93543) as before. About 150m up this track is a T-junction of sorts. Go left. The track swings to the east for for about 600m (it is a relatively newly-laid track with shiny white-grey stones). This intersects the track at D (T228 937) (that we had mistakenly taken on our ascent), leaving you only 500m from summit. Our journey up was 3.5km. Our journey down was 1.6km! Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/865/comment/20570/

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Like Machu Picchu

Map & compass were heavily in use when I climbed Carrick Mountain today. Those who programme summit coordinates into GPS units and let it guide them would have completed this hike in half the time. As it was I spent a long time searching extremely difficult forestry for the elusive summit, which was hindered by the fact that Carrick Mountain actually has several rocky outcrops along the summit.
I started at the Coillte forestry entrance at BLusk Q (T246 960). A local man gave me directions which proved invaluable as I negotiated the forest tracks and junctions.
From the forest entrance I took the following route: Walk uphill for a few minutes until you arrive at a junction. Go left. A few minutes more brings you to another junction-turn right. After a hundred metres or so the track branches again. Turn left. The track now meanders uphill and after a few hundred metres look out for an obvious muddy path leading into the trees on the right. Follow this path and it will lead you uphill towards the northernmost rocky outcrop on Carrick. The path is churned up in places and evidence of scrambler activity is everywhere. The path eventually rejoins a forestry track that skirts the southern slopes of Carrick.
The summit here was treeless and when I looked up I could see a few rocky outcrops. I spent a long time reaching the top of the highest. This was hampered by chest high ferns and many boulders hidden underfoot. When I climbed to the top of the rock I spied a higher summit sticking out of the trees a few hundred metres further to the south. Trying to reach this second summit involved heading into almost impenetrable forest- the kind that literally had me crawling. I gave up after 15 minutes and had to use my compass to navigate back out.
I made my way downhill to the forest track and followed it into the forest. After a few minutes I then repeatedly battled my way into the trees in vain attempts to locate and reach the summit. Several times I had to navigate back out with compass. This forest was claustrophobic, dark and it was easy to become disorientated. I found a few rocky outcrops but none had the trig point marked on the map. This had become a bizarre experience and I decided to see it to through to the end. Eventually I crawled out of the trees and saw the beautiful trig point sitting on its rock. I felt like Hiram Bingham discovering Machu Picchu!
The views were great although there was cloud on most of the distant mountains. I could identify, amongst others, Croghan Moira, Trooperstown, Derrybawn, Turlough Hill (that flat top is an excellent aid to identification), Tonelagee, Djouce and the Great Sugar Loaf to the north. In fact the whole spectrum of the Wicklow Mountains was on view, hampered only by cloud cover on the higher summits. The coast was visible for dozens of miles along its length. This truly was a hard won and memorable summit. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/865/comment/3295/

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If I got there quicker than you it's because I was...

Visited on a beautiful, mild sunny day in Dec 2017. Parked at the forest entrance at Ballylusk as suggested by Track 1291, which I followed. Also had the benefit of the East-West Mapping East Wicklow map which just about includes the bulk of Carrick Mtn, showing the various forest tracks and trails, well at least those needed for this approach.

Lots of evidence that this area is well used by mountain bikers and horse riders. A proliferation of tracks are to be found, but thankfully in a largely pristine forest, no evidence of dumping - long may that continue.

I was conscious that I was effectively standing on the shoulders of giants given the info and forewarnings on this site, the map and gps. In fairness it seems the tracks marked on the OS are relatively useful. If you follow the OS tracks you can get to an altitude of 350m from where you will need to find one of the tracks to the true summit.

Still, I managed to be drawn initially to the rocky prominences near E (T23504 94425), from where the views northwards were stunning and unobstructed. This meant I had to find my way through dense forestry to the true summit, and clamber up some slippery rock, over large fallen trees, etc.

However, from the summit proper there is now a very clear track emerging almost directly east which I descended from and which by my reading leads you out onto the forest track at F (T23444 94039). If you or your group are looking for the easy way to the trig pillar do not get drawn to the earlier rocky prominences and instead keep a careful eye out for this narrow track.

Worth the trip this one. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/865/comment/19814/

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Trail to the top

The pic shows the view to the south west of Carrick. When the forest track comes to an end, a narrow, dusty trail meanders all he way to the large rock outcrop at the summit, and is just visible in the shot on the left. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/865/comment/20571/

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View of Croaghanmoira from Carrick

Summit View from Carrick Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/865/comment/20529/

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