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Up The Cardiac Steps & Onto Torc Mountain

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On Sunday 24 February the club walk was on Torc Mountain in Killarney. We left town on a grey overcast day. As we traveled west the sky brightened. Reaching our destination we found the car park full. Some volunteers were engaged in clearing fallen timber, and battling with the ubiquitous rhododendrons.This invasive shrub is destroying the native habitat. Full marks to the volunteers who give of their time so that we can enjoy the national park. We had to park at the Torc Waterfall Park.
Today we had two options. One was to go up the Cardiac Steps , or to start at the old Kenmare road car park. There were no takers for the second option.
Suitably dressed we set off. Our path took us parallel to the N71,  we crossed it and continued  along a track until we came to a branch to the left. The steps start here.
From here it's practically straight up the north face of Torc Mt. , through woodland and rhododendrons. Behind us views of Kilarney's lakes opening up. Up & up the steps went, we pondered why we didn't take the second option , maybe we had made the wrong decision. As our lungs and legs ached. Still like the British & Brexit, even though we had doubts about our choice we ploughed on

Eventually the steps gave way to some level ground and we veered west. We met some more steps but then we continued down hill.  One thing about the Cardiac Steps route is that you loose most of your hard won altitude. When we turned south at the side of the mountain we were met with a fairly strong headwind. We continued along the old Kenmare road in the valley between Mangerton and Torc. Mangerton was shrouded with fog. Reaching the path to the right for Torc we regrouped. It was somewhat colder now so we put on an extra layer.
The path up the south flank of Torc is mostly sleepered. Below us the Old Kenmare road snakes through through the valley.
Finally we reached the summit at 535 meters. There was a sharp breeze, so we found some shelter.

Here we had refreshments. Thick fog was blowing, but occasionally the veil would lift slightly to offer tantalizing views of the lakes and the Black Valley. Torc Mountain is part of the Mangerton range. As any one from Kanturk area would know Torc means boar. Legend has it that Finn killed a boar with a golden spear on the mountain. We retraced our steps.



We turned right crossing the Owengarriffe river. Down we went with the river tumbling through the undergrowth below us to our left. Torc Waterfall came into view with the usual gaggle of tourists. Eventually we reached the car park.  It was a good day out and the weather held up. Nice to see such big group out. Young and young at heart... Rugby and Soccer matches on TV meant that people were anxious to get home so the usual tea / coffee was not really an option.


  “Walk as if you are kissing the Earth  with your feet “ .......Thich Nhat Hanh




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