| Because of the weather conditions during this
walk (misty) most of the photos are all of
the immediate area. To give an impression of what the actual walk was like
I am going to cheat slightly and use some images taken on my last visit
to Snowdon in April 2002. I will differentiate between the photos by using
a border for all images taken on my last visit and a description in red,
like the one below. I am also going to try something different in the method
of describing the walk. I seemed to have taken so many photos along the
arete of Crib Goch that filling the spaces between with words would be
a pointless exercise. Crib Coch and Crib y Ddysgl are definitely places
where a picture can paint a thousand words! |
 |
| Crib Coch from Pen y Pass |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
 |
 |
| The park and ride car park at Nant Peris |
The very crowded car park at Pen y Pass |
| For some strange reason I thought that we would be able to
park up at Pen Y Pass. I suppose the sight of a queue of people at the
park and ride at Nant Peris was a bit of a give away but no, we had to
try the car park! Another give away was the fact that every blade of grass
that could fit a car on it on the way up the pass was taken, as well as
every space on the other side ! A return trip to the park and ride car
park and a wait of half an hour for the next bus was a lesson that I have
learned for next time! |
| |
|
|
From Pen Y Pass the path leads from the
top right of the car park towards Crib Goch. It is a wide path that resembles
a road in places. Today it was busy with the usual families but also
as it was the Welsh 1000M marathon it was busy with fell runners! They
always seemed to catch us up at the places where the path made its way
over rocky sections, and the runners did not always make much sound as
they approached us, this made for some interesting meetings! The path
is a nice start to the walk giving you time to stretch your legs with
a few "interesting" steep sections until you reach Bwlch y
Moch and decision time. |
 |
 |
| Looking towards Crib Goch |
The start of the Pyg track |
| |
|
From Bwlch y Moch there is a small path that heads of to the right. At
first it is very distinct, being one of those repaired paths, but a very
nice repaired path! This soon disappears as you reach rock. There is
the odd cairn or two but really any way up will do now! At first this
is nothing more than interesting choice of routes but soon we came
across a section that involved some hands on rock time! Unfortunately
we soon had to retreat as I had chosen a route that was shall we say
slightly above our abilities ! The group of student types that were following
us muttered something about "it's proper climbing that is!" before
having a curse at us for going that way! Our next choice of route was
just right for us but still seemed a bit much for the students that still
insisted on following us, we loved it! A few words of encouragement were
passed to the students and we left them behind. This was what we had
come here for, rock and lots of it, after the first few difficulties
the way ahead was just like walking up some steps. The rock was just
perfect and as the ridge started to narrow and get steeper the bigger
the smiles got on our faces! The only down side to it all was that it
was getting warm even in the mist and the midges made their presence
felt! What on earth are midges doing up here? I found them to be very
hungry and really annoying! Anyway, the ridge started to ease in gradient
and soon we found ourselves at the main event, the arête of Crib
Goch. |
 |
 |
| Bwlch y Moch |
The start of the path to Crib Goch |
| |
|
 |
 |
| Crib Goch in mist |
The fun begins |
| |
|
 |
| Y Lliwedd in cloud across Llyn Llydaw, the other half of
the Snowdon horseshoe |
| |
|
 |
 |
| Upwards............any way will do! |
| |
|
 |
 |
| Strange rock formations |
Y Lliwedd behind John and Sarah |
| |
|
 |
 |
| More fun bits! |
| |
|
 |
 |
| Rock, and lots of it! Gggggrrrrrrrrrreeeeaaaatt! |
| |
|
 |
 |
| Looking down at the crowds .............................Whilst
John and Sarah have fun! |
| |
|
 |
 |
| Heading upwards until the East Ridge makes its presence known |
| |
|
 |
 |
| Looking up and down the East Ridge |
| |
|
 |
 |
| This is what it is all about................. steep, easy
rock.................. In other words FUN !!! |
| |
|
 |
 |
| The author in heaven! |
Still loads more fun to be had! |
| |
|
 |
 |
| Nearing the end of the East Ridge |
Looking along the arête |
| |
|
Top
of Page
Crib Goch |
The arête of Crib Goch was the highlight of today. Last time here
was the first time for John and myself. I had just done my ankle in, and
traversed the ridge on two hands, two buttocks and one leg! It was so windy
that this was probably a wise choice as standing upright was not an option
anyway! It left us with a feeling of being scary, something just out of our
league, but totally memorable and probably for all the wrong reasons!
|
 |
A slightly modified image from
last time! Crib Goch to the pinnacles (left to centre) Crib y Ddysgl
(centre to top right) and the ridge to the snow covered summit of
Snowdon (centre top) |
|
| |
|
| Today the view was very intimate because of
the mist. On our left the slope down was about 45 degrees but on our right
the slope was anywhere between vertical and 70 degrees! Due to the mist
we could only see the rock disappear into nothingness below us, i'm still
not sure whether this was a good thing or a bad thing. Without pausing
we set off along the ridge. At first taking confident strides we made quick
progress, but then we caught up with some other walkers and had to slow
down. This was not a problem |
 |
until the student types came charging up behind
us at reckless speed. Believe me, this ridge does not really have "passing
places" I eventually found a place where I felt confident to stand
still and let the idiots past me and as I watched them pass within inches
of Sarah I went in to my panic mode!. Sarah was stood on a level area but
directly below her was a drop and I don't think she knew how far it was
down! The slightest knock by the student types passing her and it was goodbye
Sarah! I mentioned this to Sarah but she gave me the "If I'm not worried,
then you shouldn't be" routine again. Fair enough, but this did put
a bit of a downer on the |
| The first bit is the easy bit |
| rest of the ridge for me
as I was always conscious of the fact that Sarah had not seen what lay
below before! Don't get me wrong, I loved this ridge, it seemed to go
on for much longer than I remembered, I was just being cautious (a
function of my age!) Later talking with John he seemed to feel
that the ridge was not as long as he remembers it! One thing is for certain,
it is a popular place! Half way along the crowds started to catch us
up and I asked Sarah if she wanted to let them pass. Sarah just told
me that they would have to wait! The mist, the views down into nothingness
and the "sharpness" of this ridge just made us smile and think why couldn't
there be more places like this in the Lake District! |
| |
| A few minutes on our own before we join the crowds! |
| |
|
 |
 |
| Looking back |
Contemplating the way forward |
 |
John on the ridge in brighter but windier conditions |
|
| |
 |
 |
| Once you stop you tend to subconsciously lower your centre
of gravity! Getting up again and finding your balance is not as easy as
you would think as Sarah and then John demonstrate! |
| |
|
 |
 |
| The further along the ridge you go the narrower it becomes,
hands as well as feet are needed! |
| |
|
 |
 |
| Sarah telling me to stop worrying, before worrying me again!
How close is her rucksack to overbalancing her! |
| |
|
 |
 |
| The author and John ...........................................................loving
it! |
| |
|
 |
 |
| A crowd free section .......................................before
I look back and find the crowd! |
| |
|
 |
|
| Contemplating the pinnacles |
|
 |
Looking back to Crib Goch from just past Bwlch
Goch |
|
| |
Top of Page
The Pinnacles |
| At the end of the ridge you come to the pinnacles.
These are rock towers that block the ridge. You do have an alternative
way around them, and John and Sarah took this. A few of the crowds did
tackle a direct assault straight up and down them but the majority took
the same route as us. I spent a few minutes reacquainting
myself with the spot where I damaged my ankle on our last visit.
It was not as I remembered it but I still "stared" it down and showed it
who was boss! It made me feel a lot better, another fell walking ghost
laid to rest as it were! They say that when you fall of a horse the first
thing you should do is get back on, well it has taken me over two years
but I have finally remounted Crib Goch! The ;last pinnacle is the best,
there is a definite "way" up it, when you are on it it feels like a staircase
made for someone about ten feet tall, but perfectly safe. As you watch
people climb up it your adam's apple sort of rises up in to your mouth
as you look at the drop below! It's great! |
 |
 |
| Amongst the pinnacles |
John and Sarah taking an "easy" route ? |
| |
|
 |
 |
| That's where my ankle went "snap" two years ago! |
Another of the pinnacles |
| |
|
 |
 |
| The final pinnacle |
| |
|
 |
| Two walkers? making their way up the final pinnacle |
| |
|
 |
 |
| Looking back at the pinnacles |
John and Sarah find a spot for lunch |
| |
|
| |
|
 |
 |
| Bwlch Goch |
Y Lliwedd |
Top of Page
Crib y Ddysgl |
Dropping down from the pinnacles we stopped
for a spot of lunch. The mist lifted and we were treated to a bit of a
view at last. The views from here are just jaw dropping. Snowdon's summit
was still in the mist but across Glaslyn, Y Lliwedd looked like a ridge
should look like! When we were ready to set off again the mist lowered,
such is our luck. I seem to remember that from here at Bwlch Goch it was
only a short way to the summit of Crib Y Ddysgl or Carnedd Ugain depending
on which map you use. It certainly felt much longer than when we descended
this way. John felt it was shorter than he remembered!
We had some difficulties finding our way up, having to retreat and change
route once or twice but generally we had an easy time going up. Because
I remembered it as a short distance I felt myself rushing all the
time, this got frustrating after a while as the summit never arrived! At
one point it felt like we were on Crib Goch again as the ridge narrowed
, defiantly cant remember that bit! Eventually the summit appeared out
of the mist complete with two race marshals. Evidently the racers were
going up the Pyg Path to the monolith, turning right and running up here
before turning around and heading for Snowdon. Why? |
 |
 |
| Looking up towards Crib Y Ddysgl |
Glaslyn |
| |
|
 |
 |
| An easy section .................before things get steep
again! |
| |
|
 |
 |
| Looking back to the easy section....................before
looking forwards to some more fun! |
| |
|
 |
 |
| Why do we always choose the hard way! |
Just like Crib Goch, but different! |
| |
|
 |
 |
| More fun! |
The summit of Crib Y Ddysgl |
Top of Page
Snowdon |
| Once past the summit we had an easy down hill
walk, passing by the fell runners who by this time were defiantly not
running! When we reached the path that comes up from Llanberis we joined
the crowds. The path runs along the top of the ridge up towards Snowdon,
in places the rail way tracks run parallel with the path. In these conditions
you can smell the summit before you can see it! Dodging the crowds going
both up and down, this was worse than the Trafford Centre before Christmas,
we reached the summit. We only stopped long enough to have a quick photo
before heading back. This was not for us, crowded and smelly! It stank,
I presume it was the smell of the trains, whatever we decided that we had
had enough and promptly left, dodging the crowds on the way down now! |
 |
 |
| The path alongside the train track |
The busy summit area |
| |
|
 |
 |
| The terrible trio at Snowdon's summit |
| |
|
 |
 |
| A train! |
The monolith at Bwlch Glas |
| |
|
Top of
Page
The return via the Pyg track |
| This was my third visit to Snowdon and my second
attempt at doing the horseshoe. The first time was when I did the three
peaks and I have to say it was the easiest, why we did not save it to last
is beyond me! As far as the horseshoe is concerned I now realize that
driving down from Blackpool, doing the horseshoe and returning home is
too much for one day! Next time I will stay in the area and do it, a sort
of third time lucky thing! Back to today and as we dodged the sweating
family's, wondering if it was much further to the top, headed down the
zig zags and along the Pyg Path. As always I stopped to take a few photos
and soon found myself behind John and Sarah. Today I had worn my Brasher
walking shoes, now I was beginning to suffer for that. The soles off these
shoes are quite soft and all the scrambling and rock of Crib Goch now made
its presence felt in my feet, should have worn my boots! It was not until
Bwlch Y Moch and the point where we had set off up Crib Goch that I rejoined
John and Sarah. As it was now late afternoon the sun came out just to
make us feel guilty about not staying on Snowdon for a possible view. In
fact it became quite warm in the sun. The further down the path we went
the less crowded it was. As a way up to a mountain over 3500' high, this
must be one of the easiest paths that there is. Looking up to Crib Goch
it somehow did not look as intimidating as when you are actually on it,
across the other side of the horseshoe Y Lliwedd looked, well one day I
will do it and tell you all about it! It is impressive! |
 |
 |
| The zig zags |
At the end of the zig zags overlooking Glaslyn and Llyn Llydaw |
| |
|
 |
 |
| The path above Glaslyn |
Looking up to Crib Goch from the Pyg path |
| |
|
 |
 |
| Nearing Bwlch Y Moch |
The start of the path up Crib Goch |
| |
|
 |
 |
| Nearly back at Pen Y Pass |
The queue for the bus |
Once back at Pen Y Pass we had a wait of
about half an hour for the bus back to Nant Peris. An ice cream from
the cafe was a welcome refreshment. I was grateful that we had not missed
the last bus!
So that was another attempt at the Snowdon Horseshoe, next time.......We
returned North and ended up at that huge shopping centre near Ellesmere
Port looking for something to eat. John and Sarah had decided that it
was going to be Pizza Hut, the queues said it was not, we eventually
ended up in a Kentucky and stuffed ourselves before dropping Sarah off
and heading even further North! When I got home I was knackered! A 300
plus mile round trip is defiantly too much, but then again Sarah does
the same thing every time we head north to the Lake District!
I had planned this as a start to my 40th birthday celebrations. I was
not disappointed that we had not done the full horseshoe, Crib Goch on
it's own is a highlight, Like I have said next time we will stay locally,
start earlier and crack the Snowdon Horseshoe. Half a horseshoe is better
than nothing! |
