Wednesday, 12 September 2018

Day 2 hike: Beara Peninsula



Tuesday's hike started out on a much better footing than yesterday because it was not raining and none forecast until 4ish. We had a 2 hour bus ride down to the bottom of the Beara peninsula to Garnish Landing, an active fishing harbour, with a fabulous viewpoint stop along the way in Healy Pass. 

We walked along the shoreline of Ballydonegan Bay then up and along a ridge trail with the most beautiful views across Kenmare River & Bay - the hills behind and the rocks and surf below. I took so many pictures it was hard to chose which ones to use.

We dropped down quite a steep slope to come out onto a small road where we were going to have our lunch stop. All 11 of us and the 2 guides today as everyone wanted to do this walk classified by HF as the easier one. This turned out to be very fortuitous as our English gal Fran slipped on some wet grass coming down and did major damage to herself. She was just in front of Tim, one of the guides. Her husband was quite a bit ahead of her and he dashed back after hearing her shriek. It took an hour or so before the two guides had arranged for the mountain rescue people to come out with an ambulance and once that was arranged the rest of us carried on to the end of our hike, another 2 hours to Allihies and our pub spot. We were right on the coast and could look back to see Fran's rescue unfold. 3 ambulances arrived and the paramedics decided on a medivac by helicopter to Tralee. For 3 1/2 hrs she was on a boggy hill with her husband and Tim, the guide waiting for her rescue. They had to take her up in a basket as there was nowhere to land. We heard later that evening from Roger, her husband that both bones in her leg were broken and she would be operated on in the morning. That certainly had the rest of us watching every footstep!

We had dinner at the hotel with our group that is now down to 7 Canadians and 2 Germans along with our 2 English guides.







1 comment:

  1. Glad to see you both enjoying yourselves. I enjoy reading about your adventures, as well as the meals.

    Norm

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