North Ridge - Errigal |
Location: Winter Routes. Errigal
Grade: I
Length: 300m
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| First ascent: Columba McLaughlin and Noel McLaughlin - April 1998 |
| Route Description: |
| Grade I/II: This route is 10 degrees NNE of Errigal’s lower summit. However, it is so close to North that the title North Ridge is appropriate. Access by road is available below Errigal’s North Face. Parking is not guaranteed. Climb until base of scree slopes at the base of North Gully and take the scree slope on the left skyline. Climb all small rocky outcrops that appear (just for enjoyment) until you reach the Col. Locate a slanting slab with very visible central crack and climb this and follow ridge until an overhanging rock forces a short move onto the Eastern Face for 4 meters. Then climb directly to regain the ridge and enjoy all the way to the lower summit. |
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| Comments |
Columba McLaughlin - 13/01/2010
Alan, thanks for the explanation. It might be best if the ridge was properly called the NWMC Ridge to save any futher confusion. Irrespective of its name, it provides a brilliant outing. |
Alan - 11/01/2010
This was always known as the North West ridge due to its long connection with the NW Mountaineering Club. People have been going up and down it in all conditions since at least the fifties, possibly before. It is as easy or difficult as you want to make it. |
Columba McLaughlin - 05/01/2010
Grade I/II: This is a very prominent ridge at 10 degrees NNE of Errigal's lower summit. No attempt is made here to claim this as a 1st Ascent. There is no doubt that this ridge has been climbed by others prior to Noel's and my outing. However, many people who ascend this route tend to avoid the obstacles by bypassing on the Western side. The direct approach to climbing this route has minimal protection and for competent climbers on a summer day and on dry rock it is a brilliant scramble and a sheer delight. On this occasion we had excellent snow and some ice conditions and, with exception to the overhanging rock, we kept to the Ridge Skyline. The video we made of this climb is a family treasure :) |
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