NJCC: Carrauntoohil Traditional Cache

This is a republished traditional in the NJCC series because it's too good to disappear. My family has its roots in County Kerry, Ireland. I would never have learned about this highest mountain in Ireland being right there near where my grandmother's side of the family lived for generations. I hope to travel with BriGuy there to see this beautiful mountain in person someday soon. Please continue to enjoy this geocache . - Lizrdh

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Carrauntoohil – (from the Irish: Corrán Tuathail meaning "Tuathal's sickle") is the highest peak in Ireland. Located in County Kerry, it is 1,038m (3,406ft) tall and is the central peak of the Macgillycuddy's Reeks range. The Reeks contain most of Ireland's highest mountains and lie at the eastern end of the Iveragh Peninsula. Iveragh is the largest of five adjoining peninsulas which spread like fingers into the Atlantic Ocean along the south west coast of Ireland. This picturesque peninsula is separated from its neighbours by the waters of Dingle Bay to the north and Kenmare Bay to the south. Iveragh is famous for the Ring of Kerry drive - a route which circumnavigates Iveragh by the coast and enjoys marvelous views.

Every year since 1987 the IMRA (Irish Mountain Racing Assoc.) has organized a running race up and down the mountain, which draws an impressive field from around the world. The race route is 12.4 kilometers round trip and the ascent/descent totals 1,192m. Local farmer John Lenihan from Glounageenty won the race for 11 years straight with a best time of 71min, 43sec in 1988.

The mountain is most often climbed from the north-east, along the Hag's Glen and up the steep Devil's Ladder to the col between Carrauntoohil and Cnoc na Péiste, and then north-west to the summit. The route has become more dangerous in recent years due to loose stones and crowding. No special equipment is needed to climb the mountain, but caution is advised. The weather conditions on the mountain are very changeable, and there have been a number of deaths due to many inappropriately dressed tourists attempting the peak each summer.

This cache is a nice 0.6 mile stroll from the posted parking location along the green trail, which brings you to about 140ft from the cache. The trailhead is behind and to the right of the tennis courts. There are some minor elevation changes along the hike. Cache is overlooking the Taylortown Reservoir. Please rehide so as not to be visible to casual passers by.

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Official NJCC Information

The Northern New Jersey Cachers (NNJC) are sponsoring the North Jersey Checkpoint Challenge series. This challenge is intended to take geocachers on a tour of Northern New Jersey (loosely defined as north of I-78). On the tour, we hope you will find North Jersey an interesting and beautiful part of the state.

Scattered around the area are 26 checkpoint caches and a final challenge cache - North Jersey Checkpoint Challenge (GC1NNJC). The names of the individual checkpoint caches are based on a phonetic alphabet using mountain names since North Jersey is the mountainous region of the state. The 26 checkpoints do not have to be completed in any particular order. See the NJCheckpoint bookmark for the complete list of caches.

Hidden within the 26 checkpoint caches are numbers to be used in determining the coordinates of the final North Jersey Checkpoint Challenge cache – please be sure to note them while you are there.

While there are no special logging requirements for the 26 checkpoint caches, there are special logging requirements for the final challenge cache. Complete information can be found on the North Jersey Checkpoint Challenge (GC1NNJC) cache page.