Paging the walkers

Having made target 1, Pen Y Fan about 6 weeks back, target 2 is looming
this week.

We're off to Snowdonia on Tuesday, with a plan to climb Snowdon on
Wednesday.

However, I'm a bit confused by all the info. out there.

Obviously, many thousands of people make the walk up each year - yet if
you read some websites, they make it sound like you'll get lost, fall
off a cliff and die from exposure if you just get out of your car in the
area.

So, what do I need to take with me and take into account?

(I have pencilled a list... map, compass, snacks, drinks, waterproofs -
anything missing?)

 

Wife?

 

Heh, yes... I generally don't need to put her on a list so I don't
forget her, though.

 

A mobile with 999 on speed dial, defibrillator and a decent pair of boots.

 

I'm fitter than I've been for a decade, so I'm not worried about heart
failure.

 

Fare for the train up to the cafe?

 

Jesus christ - just had a look at the fares.

25 quid. Each.

I'd rather walk...

 

Which route are you planning use?

 

Pyg up and Miners down.

(I know they're one in the same at the top)

 

You'll need to get to Pen y Pass fairly handily because the car park
gets full quite quickly. If you end up having to park by the Pen y
Gwryd hotel, use the (relatively) new pay and display layby parking.
The parking nazis were ticketing all of the cars parked on the verges
when I went past yesterday. The only problems you'll have with the
route is if you fail to look over your shoulder when you pull out into
the stream of pedestrians. On the upside if anything should happen to
you, you will lie undiscovered for no more than 3-5 seconds before
someone trips over you. Both routes are fairly benign (which is why
they are so popular) and the only really arduous bit is the zigzag from
Llyn Glaslyn to the col between Crib Goch and Snowdon, and that is only
arduous, not dangerous.

HTH

 

Was hoping that it wouldn't be too busy this Wednesday - kids back in
school and it's before the railway / cafe would usually have opened.

But I suppose a lot of people have, like me, booked a few days off this
week due to the bank holidays.

Are there any recommended ways to do this which are quieter, but not too
challenging?

 

Hang glider is quiet.

 

A ticket for the nice little train that takes you all the way to the top.

 

My standard hill list, I've never needed half of it, but I'd rather
have it than not.

Cereal bars, sarnies, etc. More than you think you'll eat.
Mint cake
Flask
Camelbak
Cashew nuts

Head torch
Contacts
Glasses
Painkillers
Hayfever pills
Plasters
First aid kit

Leatherman
Notebook and pens
Gaffer tape

Boots
Beanie
Hat
Gloves
Space blanket
Compass
Gps
Batteries
Map
Spare phone (off)
Camera

Extra clothing layers as appropriate.

Most importantly, is leaving a route with someone and a time you
expect to be back down. And don't alter your route. If you don't
turn up then at least someone knows roughly where to start looking for
you. Obviously, on a busy hill and known route like Snowdon this
isn't so much of an issue, but you'd be surprised.

I'll likely also be on Snowdon on Wednesday if the weather is decent.
Just going to take the basic Llanberis Path up and down. I've done
the Rhyd Ddu and South Ridge before, but the person I'm going with
doesn't have a head for ridges and exposure.

 

Bear in mind, you can't buy a ticket at the top for the journey back
down. So don't rely on it as an escape.

 

Snip>

Oh the lovely Peny G - memories of the eary 70s. Would send the empty
pint pot with pennies in in it to the front via all the people
between me and the bar. It would return some time later full of ale
and with any change at the bottom, if I recall correctly lots of
signatures of celever climby people, Joe Brown , Donn Willlans, Edmund
Hilary, ?Sherpa Tensing?, rope that hed been up Everest at the first
sucessful climb etc. It is totally possible, given I am pissed at
present that my memory is clouded with the passing of time or alcohol.
But I really like those memories. But Snowdon, a lovely walk if you
look straight ahead and ignore those others trying to do the same. A
bit of a slog but well worth it, but plaese DO NOT GO INTO THE BLOODY
CAFE at the top'ish. Enjoy the walk, I remain in the flatest of flat
places, Essex.

Brian

 

I'm kind of considering Rhyd Ddu up and Ranger down, as they're going to
be much quieter than Pyg / Miners.

Looking at your list... seems a bit extreme!

My list is:

iPhone - plus additional battery pack. Might dig out my old Garmin eMap
thing as a backup GPS, though. Or the phone I have that has GPS
integrated.

Food - lots of cereal bar type things.

1lt water, 2lt fruit squash between us.

Hat, gloves, waterproofs.

Lighter.

I'll add the first aid kit and spare glasses / tablets etc.

Don't have a Leatherman, do have gaffer tape.

 

Rhyd Ddu has a very narrow, very exposed piece near the top. You
walking on a 12in wide path with a vertical to your left of several
hundred feet and pretty much the same going up to your right. Passing
is tough. If you're good with exposure, you'll be fine, but I
wouldn't recommend it otherwise.

I enjoyed it in the rain and cloud because I couldn't see the drop

It's not actually that much when it's packed. I have a 30litre pack
that it doesn't even come close to filling.

And like I said, it's just a standard list I have for all sorts of
walking. I do a lot of stuff that is off beaten routes and on my own,
so it's nice to have a list of everything and pack that everytime
rather than adjust to different things and forget something. A lot of
it stays in the bag all the time.

I'd take more than that. You'll be out for a few hours, possibly in
decent temperatures. I've gone through 3 litres (my Camelbak)
comfortably on my own before and needed to fill up from streams.

I'm not sure about the possibility of filling up water at the top.

 

Ahhh, that's not good. More that K wouldn't like it.

So, it's back to doing the popular paths and the parking PITA that comes
with 'em.

I actually didn't realise, when I set myself this target, that I'd be
walking up there with hundreds of others - kind of ruins the experience.

When we did Pen Y Fan, we saw about 6 other people all the time we were
out.

 

That's why I don't normally do routes like that. I prefer the
solitude. But I'm taking someone else, and they want to summit
Snowdon, so that's the plan. We're planning to start walking at 7am
though, so we may at least get some quiet going up.

I may whizz up to the Lakes later in the week as I have some time off
and do something quiet up there.