BBC News...Danger on South America's highest peak

"Jolting along a mountain path in a park-keeper's jeep in Argentina's Mendoza State, we are surrounded by a series of beautiful, dry sand-coloured mountain ranges.
Pinks and violets, greens and blues emerge from the shadows in the landscape around us.
We've come to see South America's highest mountain, Aconcagua, in the park of the same name, which lies just ahead up the valley in full sunlight, its summit wreathed in snow.
The mountain, in the Andean range not far from the Chilean border, hit the headlines back in January..........for the full story, visit the BBC News website. "

John Desmond..........BHC webmaster

Concerns about Carrauntoohil route...

From the Kerry Mountain Rescue Website...(May 2009)
Concerns have been raised about about the current condition of the Devil's Ladder. Recent rains have caused some movement of rocks and scree in the gully and there are a number of significant sized rocks which appear to be a little unstable at present, particularly in the upper section. Extreme caution should therefore be exercised on the Devil's Ladder at the present time. Whilst many people are still using the route safely, some have suggested using alternative routes as a safer option.
In addition a similar situation exists on the 'Heavenly Gates' track, where a large rock has tumbled to a precarious position at the top of the steepest section of the track at the Heavenly Gates itself. Extreme caution should also be exercised here as it would appear to be only a matter of time before there is further movement and this rock will certainly tumble down the track itself.

.....John Desmond, BHC

Sierra nevada mountains Andalucia 2008

Club trip to Southern Spain in April 2008. Picture shows the start of a walk to top of Mulhacen 3485m. Tha walk was 25km long, ascended 1400m and took 7 hours - excellent walking given the difficult snow conditions especially at the summit with drifts of 6 to 8 feet. Further photos of the complete trip may be viewed on Flickr on the following ......gallery (click here)

......Michael Carey

Carrauntoohil via the Devil's Ladder...

I came across this well made video clip on YouTube and it shows a winter ascent of Carrauntoohil via the Devil's Ladder. While BHC do not usually use this route, it is still of interest.

.......John Desmond

First post to the new club blog...

This new blog has just been started and it's purpose is to replace the old BHC News page that used to exist before. Updating that page was a very time consuming process and it should be a lot easier now with this blog.

If any club members come accross any items of news that they may think would be of interest to other members then why not share it? You can find my e-mail address on the following webpage......http://homepage.eircom.net/~bishopstownohc/contact.html

John Desmond............BHC Webmaster