Croagh Patrick
Today, we made our pilgrimage to the top of Croagh Patrick, The Holy Mountain.
http://www.croagh-patrick.com/visitorcentre/holy-mountain
We are still trying to decide if the way up or the way down was more frightening. It took us a little over 2 hours to reach the summit and I kept praying I’d see an apparition of the Virgin Mother when I got there. Instead, I was reminded not to whine every time the barefoot pilgrim passed me. The path is far from smooth—covered with rocks and debris the entire way. In some spots, the loose rocks created an avalanche, causing us to slip and slide up and down the outrageously steep incline. This is one of those experiences where, half way through you think, what on earth have I just gotten myself into? Three quarters of the way through, you want to turn back and go have a hamburger. Once you reach the summit and have a little snack you begin your descent only to realize the way down is even more treacherous than the way up. You finally reach the bottom only to be humiliated by the fact that all the kids reached the bottom 30-40 minutes ahead of us and were warming themselves in the café waiting for some cash for snacks.
Anyway, we arrived prepared for whatever the mountain could throw at us--we had rain gear, hiking pants, hiking boots, some fruit, walking sticks and cameras. The weather was misty, rainy and cold. We couldn't believe some of the people climbing this thing. There was a barefoot man in a short-sleeved shirt, big kids, small kids, folks in Keds, folks in running shoes, old people, a few dogs. There was a school group in matching shirts carrying a cross up the mountain. A few of the boys actually stopped and gently applauded the barefoot pilgrim, who continued silently, bleeding, down the mountain, rosary dangling from his hand. It was a painful, cold, inspirational, exhausting day and I'm so glad we did it together.
Today, we made our pilgrimage to the top of Croagh Patrick, The Holy Mountain.
http://www.croagh-patrick.com/visitorcentre/holy-mountain
We are still trying to decide if the way up or the way down was more frightening. It took us a little over 2 hours to reach the summit and I kept praying I’d see an apparition of the Virgin Mother when I got there. Instead, I was reminded not to whine every time the barefoot pilgrim passed me. The path is far from smooth—covered with rocks and debris the entire way. In some spots, the loose rocks created an avalanche, causing us to slip and slide up and down the outrageously steep incline. This is one of those experiences where, half way through you think, what on earth have I just gotten myself into? Three quarters of the way through, you want to turn back and go have a hamburger. Once you reach the summit and have a little snack you begin your descent only to realize the way down is even more treacherous than the way up. You finally reach the bottom only to be humiliated by the fact that all the kids reached the bottom 30-40 minutes ahead of us and were warming themselves in the café waiting for some cash for snacks.
Anyway, we arrived prepared for whatever the mountain could throw at us--we had rain gear, hiking pants, hiking boots, some fruit, walking sticks and cameras. The weather was misty, rainy and cold. We couldn't believe some of the people climbing this thing. There was a barefoot man in a short-sleeved shirt, big kids, small kids, folks in Keds, folks in running shoes, old people, a few dogs. There was a school group in matching shirts carrying a cross up the mountain. A few of the boys actually stopped and gently applauded the barefoot pilgrim, who continued silently, bleeding, down the mountain, rosary dangling from his hand. It was a painful, cold, inspirational, exhausting day and I'm so glad we did it together.
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| The man who started it all! |
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| We made it!!!!! |
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| Names spelled out with stones way, way down in a valley. |
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| This was an more "gentle" part of the path! |
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| Caroline, CJ, Jackie--wiped out after their pilgrimage. |
