Snowdonia questions

The message <[email hidden]>
from Darren G <[email hidden]> contains these words:

Quoted message said:

While we're up there we're planning to do the long route over the
Glyders and were considering starting off up Bristly Ridge. How does it
compares in terms of scrambling with, say, the ascent to Crib Goch or
Tryfan's N Ridge?

Bristly Ridge can easily be avoided by the scree to the left if it
proves too intimidating. Exactly how hard it is provoked some
controversy after we did it on Expedition 1. FWIW I think it is
considerably harder than either Tryfan NR or Crib Goch but Steve Ashtons
Guide doesn't agree putting all 3 in the easiest (grade 1) category.

--
Roger Chapman so far this year 55 summits
New - 33 (Marilyns 12, Sweats 5, Outlying Fells 21)
Repeats - 22( Marilyns 7, Sweats 16, Wainwrights 16)

Darren G said:

1. Are there any good wild camps spots en route. If so any grid
refs would be very handy. The only place that springs to mind that is
reasonably suitable is around Llyn Llydaw, Glaslyn & the causeway but
I'm sure there must be some more less public ones?

Well it's in a different valley, but if you fancy going up via the
Watkin path there's a nice little camping spot near Gladstone Rock at SH
6175 5218, which is conveniently out of sight of the main path.

Quoted message said:

While we're up there we're planning to do the long route over the
Glyders and were considering starting off up Bristly Ridge. How does
it compares in terms of scrambling with, say, the ascent to Crib Goch
or Tryfan's N Ridge?

Harder IMO, but not as long as the N ridge. I think a lot of the
difficult bits are avoidable, but I seem to recall one rather awkward
bit near the bottom. I wouldn't recommend doing it when it's wet.

Paul
--
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk
http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk

Quoted message said:

2. What is the best route for a nighttime ascent? First thoughts are
the PYG presents the best compromise between distance and complexity for
the dark, but I've only ever come down in the dark before. Any advice
born out of experience?

Been up and down the Pyg Track a couple of times in the dark, and generally
not a problem, although I found getting down easier than going up. The only
little problem we had going up was just above Glaslyn. The path here had
two options, one higher than the other. We ended up going too high and
having to travers left under Crib y Ddysgi, working our way round to the
start of the constructed path. It was also raining and low cloud so more
difficult to follow the path. I suppose the saving grace is that inevitably
it leads into the head of the valley were the stone path starts ......
although caution is still required.

Quoted message said:

And a 3rd :-)

While we're up there we're planning to do the long route over the
Glyders and were considering starting off up Bristly Ridge. How does it
compares in terms of scrambling with, say, the ascent to Crib Goch or
Tryfan's N Ridge?

Did a similiar route September 2002, although I kept to the left of Bristly
Ridge and followed the path up the scree. Great day out, although a little
low cloud on Tryfan, it did rise a little by the time I reached Y Garn.
Take a look at the photos at the following page of my website.

http://www.thewalkzone.co.uk/wales/walk_6/walk_6.htm

--
Sandy Saunders @ www.thewalkzone.co.uk

"Mountains or Mole Hills ..... reaching the
summit still brings the same excitement"

[email hidden] said...

Quoted message said:

2. What is the best route for a nighttime ascent? First thoughts are
the PYG presents the best compromise between distance and complexity for
the dark, but I've only ever come down in the dark before. Any advice
born out of experience?

PYG track is fine at night. I've done it twice, the first time
stopping short of the summit because of foul weather; the second
time getting all the way up. Watch out for the weather when you
join the railway track - it's suddenly very exposed after being
relatively sheltered all the way up. Oh, and make sure you keep
to the left as you ascend, unless you really fancy Crib Goch by
moonlight... The reason I did overnight walks was to see the
sunrise from the summit. Ha! Sunrise? What flippin' sunrise?
Fogrise, more like. And all the while people down below in
Llanberis were sweltering in the sun. Never mind, breakfast was
worth waiting for, thanks (of course) to Pete and his Eats.
Yumm!
--
I try to be a good example to my children, but they just see me
as a dire warning.

Fran said:

Oh, and make sure you keep
to the left as you ascend, unless you really fancy Crib Goch by
moonlight...

Hey, that sounds like a really cool idea! Maybe I could bivi up there
to catch the sunrise?

Quoted message said:

The reason I did overnight walks was to see the
sunrise from the summit. Ha! Sunrise? What flippin' sunrise?
Fogrise, more like.

Ha! I started climbing Snowdon via the Watkin path a couple of years
ago at 5:30 in the morning. Thought I might reach the top before the
fog rolled in. Fat chance! It was great up to Bwlch y Saethau though,
the fog started pouring over the top of Crib Goch just as we reached
there, just before I could get a good shot of the Crib!

Ah, well, guess I'll just have to go back...

Paul
--
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk
http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk

In article <[email hidden]>, pvs1
@wildwales.fsnet.co.uk says...

Quoted message said:

Darren G said:

1. Are there any good wild camps spots en route. If so any grid
refs would be very handy. The only place that springs to mind that is
reasonably suitable is around Llyn Llydaw, Glaslyn & the causeway but
I'm sure there must be some more less public ones?

Well it's in a different valley, but if you fancy going up via the
Watkin path there's a nice little camping spot near Gladstone Rock at SH
6175 5218, which is conveniently out of sight of the main path.

Looks good, just behind Gladstone rock. might give it a try.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

While we're up there we're planning to do the long route over the
Glyders and were considering starting off up Bristly Ridge. How does
it compares in terms of scrambling with, say, the ascent to Crib Goch
or Tryfan's N Ridge?

Harder IMO, but not as long as the N ridge. I think a lot of the
difficult bits are avoidable, but I seem to recall one rather awkward
bit near the bottom.

OK

Quoted message said:

I wouldn't recommend doing it when it's wet.

which narrows the opportunities slightly!! But thanks for the advice.

--
Darren

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

2. What is the best route for a nighttime ascent? First thoughts are
the PYG presents the best compromise between distance and complexity for
the dark, but I've only ever come down in the dark before. Any advice
born out of experience?

Been up and down the Pyg Track a couple of times in the dark, and generally
not a problem, although I found getting down easier than going up. The only
little problem we had going up was just above Glaslyn. The path here had
two options, one higher than the other. We ended up going too high and
having to travers left under Crib y Ddysgi, working our way round to the
start of the constructed path. It was also raining and low cloud so more
difficult to follow the path. I suppose the saving grace is that inevitably
it leads into the head of the valley were the stone path starts ......
although caution is still required.

Did the same recently, but in reverse. We came down of C-y-D because
the weather was awful and traversed below it to pick up the paved path.
The scree was very loose and not much fun - with hindsight going over
the top would probably have been easier.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

And a 3rd :-)

While we're up there we're planning to do the long route over the
Glyders and were considering starting off up Bristly Ridge. How does it
compares in terms of scrambling with, say, the ascent to Crib Goch or
Tryfan's N Ridge?

Did a similiar route September 2002, although I kept to the left of Bristly
Ridge and followed the path up the scree. Great day out, although a little
low cloud on Tryfan, it did rise a little by the time I reached Y Garn.
Take a look at the photos at the following page of my website.

http://www.thewalkzone.co.uk/wales/walk_6/walk_6.htm

Yep - that's pretty much the route I was planning. Still not sure about
the route we'll be taking up Tryfan, as a one of the guys isn't a big
scrambler (dodgy knee) and I don't particularly want him to do his knee
in the the first few K. I can't visualise your route from memory and
was wondering how hard going was it.

Thanks
--
Darren

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] said...

Quoted message said:

2. What is the best route for a nighttime ascent? First thoughts are
the PYG presents the best compromise between distance and complexity for
the dark, but I've only ever come down in the dark before. Any advice
born out of experience?

PYG track is fine at night. I've done it twice, the first time
stopping short of the summit because of foul weather; the second
time getting all the way up. Watch out for the weather when you
join the railway track - it's suddenly very exposed after being
relatively sheltered all the way up. Oh, and make sure you keep
to the left as you ascend, unless you really fancy Crib Goch by
moonlight... The reason I did overnight walks was to see the
sunrise from the summit. Ha! Sunrise? What flippin' sunrise?
Fogrise, more like. And all the while people down below in
Llanberis were sweltering in the sun. Never mind, breakfast was
worth waiting for, thanks (of course) to Pete and his Eats.
Yumm!

Thanks. We're hoping for a clear night for exactly the same reasons.
I'm due one as on my last 5 summits visibility has been about five
yards. And brekky at Petes will be mandatory!

Crib Goch by moonlight? interesting ... but perhaps not.

BTW, do they close Pen-y-Pass car park at night now?

--
Darren

In article <[email hidden]>, pvs1
@wildwales.fsnet.co.uk says...

Quoted message said:

Fran said:

Oh, and make sure you keep
to the left as you ascend, unless you really fancy Crib Goch by
moonlight...

Hey, that sounds like a really cool idea! Maybe I could bivi up there
to catch the sunrise?

Moonlight? Normally struggle to just get some sunlight.

Ever the optimists some people!

--
Darren

On 22/9/04 11:47 pm, in article
[email hidden], "Darren G" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

While we're up there we're planning to do the long route over the
Glyders and were considering starting off up Bristly Ridge. How does it
compares in terms of scrambling with, say, the ascent to Crib Goch or
Tryfan's N Ridge?

Some people do find this a bit intimidating. A good alternative might be to
start from the other side of the hills from Nant Perris, from which there
are several alternatives.

1. Leave the village and walk north for several hundred metres up the pass.
Opposite a small camping area on the right (Snowdon House?) there is a path
that climbs up to Lyn y Cwm. The Glyder climb is to your right and Y Garn to
the left.

2. Alternatively, from the Youth Hostel at Pen Y Pas take the style to the
left of the hostel and follow the path up onto the Glyders. Mess around
there a bit and then go down to Lyn y Cwm and then up to Y Garn. This is a
pretty good day out.

For both walks you can descend into Nant and right in front of the Vaynol
Arms. After climbing Y Garn keep walking in the same direction and descend.
After a style there is a faint but clear path that branches off to the left.
Follow this down (an easier route than it looks from the top) down into
Nant. You can keep going along the main traverse for a little longer before
you turn back for Nant.

You can see these routes easily on maps although the Pen Y Pas climb up to
the Glyders isn't shown on Harveys Maps (it is marked on the OS 1:25).

Both of these variants are a good day out. The Ciceronne 'Hill Walks in
Snowdonia' by Steve Ashton is pretty good for indicating all of the various
options here.

--
Andy Howell
Birmingham, UK

Paul Saunders said:

Fran said:

Oh, and make sure you keep
to the left as you ascend, unless you really fancy Crib Goch by
moonlight...

Hey, that sounds like a really cool idea! Maybe I could bivi up there
to catch the sunrise?

Is Crib Goch that extremely sharp ridgy thing up there? If so I *have*
done it by moonlight; it was absolutely superb!! A definite /wild/
experience!!! Be aware tho' that the "darkness" doesn't hide the
exposure 8-) Didn't camp there tho' was just a night hike.

SteveO

NE Climbers & walkers chat forum;
http://www.thenmc.org.uk/phpBB2/index.php

NMC website: http://www.thenmc.org.uk

SteveO said:

Is Crib Goch that extremely sharp ridgy thing up there? If so I *have*
done it by moonlight; it was absolutely superb!! A definite /wild/
experience!!!

I bet!

Quoted message said:

Be aware tho' that the "darkness" doesn't hide the
exposure 8-)

I'd bloody well hope not! I like to see where I'm going! If it was a
really dark moonless night I'd think twice about it.

Quoted message said:

Didn't camp there tho' was just a night hike.

It would be quite possible to camp on the grassy col between Crib Goch
and Crib y Ddysgyl I presume, provided it isn't too windy.

Paul
--
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk
http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk

In article <[email hidden]>, Paul Saunders
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

SteveO said:

Is Crib Goch that extremely sharp ridgy thing up there? If so I *have*
done it by moonlight; it was absolutely superb!! A definite /wild/
experience!!!

I bet!

Quoted message said:

Be aware tho' that the "darkness" doesn't hide the
exposure 8-)

I'd bloody well hope not! I like to see where I'm going! If it was a
really dark moonless night I'd think twice about it.

I did it at night one time in thick fog / cloud. Plan was to be on the
summit of Yr Wyddfa for a spectacular sunrise but the fog never lifted
:-(

The bloke in the Pen-y-Pass car park hut was not impressed at us leaving
on my motorbike just as he arrived for work - seemed to think I ought to
have paid him. See ya mate!

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Didn't camp there tho' was just a night hike.

It would be quite possible to camp on the grassy col between Crib Goch
and Crib y Ddysgyl I presume, provided it isn't too windy.

Lots of traffic (people) going by though. If I wanted to stay up high I
would prefer to the NW of the summit of Crib y Ddysgl / Garnedd Ugain
away from the beaten track. Lower down I have camped in Cwm Glas to the
north of Bwlch Goch

I have also camped up in Cwm Tregalan a wee bit off the Watkin path at
about 450m up.

--

Dominic Sexton
http://www.dscs.demon.co.uk/

Paul Saunders said:

SteveO said:

Is Crib Goch that extremely sharp ridgy thing up there? If so I *have*
done it by moonlight; it was absolutely superb!! A definite /wild/
experience!!!

I bet!

:-)
It was, I'd forgotten all about it until just now, I've got a feeling
I've got some photos somewhere (honestly no idea where)... taken with
my first Canon "brick"; a Powershot from the time when there were
brand spanky new to the market and IR focus was unheard of, well
almost ;-) Akshally, I reckon that the current brick is the same size
as that old one... wonder if they used the same tools?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Be aware tho' that the "darkness" doesn't hide the
exposure 8-)

I'd bloody well hope not! I like to see where I'm going! If it was a
really dark moonless night I'd think twice about it.

It was a full moon with clear sky :-) proved to be all the motivation
whoever first suggested it needed, we followed like lollygaggiing
sheep ;-)

Hoagy fun!

....where's that bliddy photo likely to be?

SteveO

NE Climbers & walkers chat forum;
http://www.thenmc.org.uk/phpBB2/index.php

NMC website: http://www.thenmc.org.uk

Dominic Sexton said:

Quoted message said:

It would be quite possible to camp on the grassy col between Crib
Goch and Crib y Ddysgyl I presume, provided it isn't too windy.

Lots of traffic (people) going by though.

At night? Get there late, get up early.

Quoted message said:

If I wanted to stay up high
I would prefer to the NW of the summit of Crib y Ddysgl / Garnedd
Ugain away from the beaten track.

Ah but you're missing the point. The reason for camping right next to
Crib Goch (on top might be a tad uncomfortable and risky) is in order to
be able to take the classic "Snowdon from Crib Goch (Pinnacles in
foreground)" photograph at sunrise.

Quoted message said:

I have also camped up in Cwm Tregalan a wee bit off the Watkin path at
about 450m up.

I remember you mentioning that. Looks like a good spot, was it?

A DoE leader recently recommended his favourite wild camping spot on
Snowdon to me, somewhere in Cwm Clogwyn (choice of three lakes). Take
the Snowdon Ranger path and bear right at Llyn Ffynnon-y-gwas to follow
Afon Goch up to Llyn Coch. Must try that sometime.

Paul
--
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk
http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk

In article <[email hidden]>, Paul Saunders
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Dominic Sexton said:

Quoted message said:

It would be quite possible to camp on the grassy col between Crib
Goch and Crib y Ddysgyl I presume, provided it isn't too windy.

Lots of traffic (people) going by though.

At night? Get there late, get up early.

There are the odd folk like Steve O n me that you might meet up there on
a dark, dark night.

But seriously I always try to get away from the busy bits even if I am
up and moving early.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

If I wanted to stay up high
I would prefer to the NW of the summit of Crib y Ddysgl / Garnedd
Ugain away from the beaten track.

Ah but you're missing the point. The reason for camping right next to
Crib Goch (on top might be a tad uncomfortable and risky) is in order to
be able to take the classic "Snowdon from Crib Goch (Pinnacles in
foreground)" photograph at sunrise.

For that I would bivvy just down from the pinnacles where few people go
even if they are up there.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I have also camped up in Cwm Tregalan a wee bit off the Watkin path at
about 450m up.

I remember you mentioning that. Looks like a good spot, was it?

Yes. The spur 614533 I camped on was good and very convenient for the
path and the flat area at 611534 is also good but a bit further from the
path(s).

Quoted message said:

A DoE leader recently recommended his favourite wild camping spot on
Snowdon to me, somewhere in Cwm Clogwyn (choice of three lakes). Take
the Snowdon Ranger path and bear right at Llyn Ffynnon-y-gwas to follow
Afon Goch up to Llyn Coch. Must try that sometime.

I have been through there and from what I remember it would be good for
a wild camp.

--

Dominic Sexton
http://www.dscs.demon.co.uk/

Dominic Sexton said:

There are the odd folk like Steve O n me that you might meet up there
on a dark, dark night.

Better watch out for *me* then! You get some very strange people
camping up on mountain tops! ;-)

Quoted message said:

But seriously I always try to get away from the busy bits even if I am
up and moving early.

Yes, but that wasn't the point. The point was that it would be a good
spot to camp in order to take a particular photograph. No good camping
off the beaten track if you're in the wrong place for the photo!

Quoted message said:

For that I would bivvy just down from the pinnacles where few people
go even if they are up there.

Don't know it that well. Is it practical to bivi there? On the south
side of the pinnacles?

Paul
--
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk
http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk

In article <[email hidden]>, Paul Saunders
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Dominic Sexton said:

There are the odd folk like Steve O n me that you might meet up there
on a dark, dark night.

Better watch out for *me* then! You get some very strange people
camping up on mountain tops! ;-)

Quoted message said:

But seriously I always try to get away from the busy bits even if I am
up and moving early.

Yes, but that wasn't the point. The point was that it would be a good
spot to camp in order to take a particular photograph. No good camping
off the beaten track if you're in the wrong place for the photo!

Why not, you can get nicely off the beaten track and out of view in five
minutes in a lot of places.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

For that I would bivvy just down from the pinnacles where few people
go even if they are up there.

Don't know it that well. Is it practical to bivi there? On the south
side of the pinnacles?

Yes, you can drop down to the south and bypass the pinnacles completely.
IIRC there are a number of spots you could bivvy in a couple gullies.
You would have to take a bit of care in choosing a spot that is safe
from stone fall.

--

Dominic Sexton
http://www.dscs.demon.co.uk/

Dominic Sexton said:

Quoted message said:

No good
camping off the beaten track if you're in the wrong place for the
photo!

Why not, you can get nicely off the beaten track and out of view in
five minutes in a lot of places.

Yes, but I didn't think you could get off the beaten track on Crib Goch!

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Don't know it that well. Is it practical to bivi there? On the
south side of the pinnacles?

Yes, you can drop down to the south and bypass the pinnacles
completely. IIRC there are a number of spots you could bivvy in a
couple gullies. You would have to take a bit of care in choosing a
spot that is safe from stone fall.

Hmm... Wouldn't it just be simpler to camp on the col?

Paul
--
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk
http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk