The mountain rises to 764 m (2,507 ft) near Westport in County Mayo, Ireland, and the path starts from the car park at Murrisk. More than 120,000 people climb it each year, according to the parish, and Mayo Mountain Rescue, whose members are volunteers, answers about 50 call-outs a year. A defined path is now in place on parts of the route, and climbers are asked to keep to it so that the eroded ground beside it can recover. The parish asks anyone who is unfit, has an existing medical condition or has trouble with limbs or joints to get medical advice before attempting it.
Good to know before you go: wear proper footwear and suitable clothing, and carry a walking stick, food and water. Check the forecast, because conditions on the summit can be very different from those at the base. There are no toilets on the mountain, and dogs are not allowed at any time, since the path crosses working farmland that climbers use by the goodwill of local landowners. Everyone climbs at their own risk.
Reek Sunday, the last Sunday of July, is the traditional pilgrimage day and the most crowded. The parish notes that pilgrims who climb at any time from June through September, or on St. Patrick's Day and during its octave, and who pray in or near the summit chapel for the Pope's intentions may gain a plenary indulgence, with Confession and Holy Communion on the summit or within the week. Signs in the car park and at the foot of the steps explain the traditional stations.