Kerry Mountain Rescue have called on the public to avoid the high mountain terrain if you do not have the proper equipment and experience required.
Nine people required assistance from rescue crews on the Devil’s Ladder on Carrauntoohil on Tuesday.
Volunteers in the Kerry Mountain Rescue have called on the public to avoid climbing Ireland’s tallest peak without the proper equipment and experience required.
The mountain rescue team said that four separate groups required assistance on the mountain on Tuesday due to the icy conditions.
Speaking on Morning Ireland on RTÉ Radio 1, Colm Burke of the Kerry Mountain Rescue Team said they were called to assist one person who had become stranded on a section of the mountain shortly before 1pm.
During the course of the rescue, another party of three people came into difficulty in the same area and required assistance.
After helping these two parties, two more groups attempted to descend from the Devil’s Ladder without the appropriate equipment and required assistance from the mountain rescue team.
“Even traditional walking routes or what might be considered “easy walking routes” up and down Carrauntoohil are now quite treacherous because because of the icy conditions,” Burke said.
In a statement on social media, Kerry Mountain Rescue asked the public to be aware of the limited resources the organisation has during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Kerry Mountain Rescue are asking all hill-goers to be considerate of the resources of the Emergency Services at this time by avoiding high mountain terrain such as the McGillycuddy’s Reeks, sticking to lowland paths and walkways while strictly observing social distancing principles and the 5km travel restrictions recently re-imposed by the Government,” it wrote online.
“Given the current wintry conditions on the hills in Kerry, and recent observations by team members of extremely ill-equipped parties, we would also like to remind people who are considering venturing into the hills at this time to ensure they are properly equipped (including ice axe and crampons), have sufficient winter mountaineering experience and are complying with Government guidance on travel restrictions.”
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