Summit Climb, Westport, County Mayo
Executive summary by darmansjah
Round-Trip: 8 miles, 1 day
When to Go: Spring through fall is best for weather, but the climb can
be done year round when the summit isn’t covered with snow and ice. Expect fog,
wind, rain, and hail rolling in off the Atlantic at any time.
A climb of this gnarly, holy peak
provides ample beauty, challenge, and spiritual power to really experience this
long-settled country. Croagh is the Gaelic word for "sharp
mountain," an apt term for this steep ascent of the 2,507-foot mountain
where St. Patrick is said to have spent 40 days and nights in prayer at its
summit. More than half the people who come to climb the rocky, exposed, and
lung-churning trail to the top are not hikers of any stripe, but pilgrims
paying homage to St. Patrick, who, with his Celtic cross design, symbolically
brought Christians and pagans together. Stunning views of Clew Bay and all of
verdant County Mayo are the payoff for making it to the top, with its tiny
white chapel. A Guinness in the centuries-old Campbell’s Pub at the base is the
mandatory finish. There, the most oft heard phrase is, “Wow, that was the
hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
Insider Tip: Myth says that if you climb Croagh Patrick seven times,
your entry into heaven is assured despite previous bad behavior.
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