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Regions - Trip reports, destination advice, recommended routes, etc. => Wales => Topic started by: robrymond on 06:39:12, 30/05/17

Title: Snowdon trip report
Post by: robrymond on 06:39:12, 30/05/17
I climbed Snowdon on Sunday with two mates for the first time on the Rhdy Ddu path. We had originally planned the Ranger path but the car park was full by 9.30am. Luckily I got an on-road spot in the village which was lucky as even the official car park at the village was full.


The mountain forecast had been for early fog to clear by midday at the very latest but we lost the views after about 30 minutes of walking which was a shame. There was something eerie though about climbing in the fog as you can't see the goal ahead it adds an element of mystery about what is round each corner.


I also fail to see how you can really get lost even in the fog. We were worried about the conditions but when you see how many people you pass and the clearly defined path, it seems almost difficult not to know where to go.


Most of it was fairly straight foward at first until what I describe as the clamber up the waterfall as it had water running down. I think this is the only place where some people may be confused about where to head as they probably don't expect such a steep climb (though I find these the most fun) as I hate long drag ascents which I found was tough going on the zig-zag section which dragged and seemed to take up most of our energy for some reason.


Although it was foggy it was extremely humid and the sweat was dripping off us. Not used to thick fog and humidity, an odd combination. Some people on the way down said it was clear at the top which we didn't believe but is a possibility I guess.


I loved the turn onto the ridge which suddenly feels like your on the edge of the world, except the crowds. I think the people made it more dangerous than it should be really, but the sense of height was great here. Just a shame you couldn't see though I'm sure this is better for those who don't like heights!


The summit was insane though with people. There was a queue outside to get into the cafe and a queue up the first set of steps and then a queue for the summit stone. Every last rock seemed taken up by people eating too.


I feel this takes away from the achievement when you see how many people have managed to get up as it suddenly seems like 'anyone' can do it. There were people in gym trainers and 'active wear' littered about and it just felt like a place to pose in the latest gym kit.


There wasn't a breath of wind though which I believe is fairly rare so that was a bonus but the fog was still around. We decided to descend the Ranger path which I found quite hard going with loose scree and it hurt the legs more. I'm not sure I'd want to ascend on that route as it seemed a longer slog with less interesting things.


The fog cleared as we got the zig-zags even on the summit which was annoying as it was 3.30pm by this time, way after the forecast from Met Office said. It was really warm though with sun so can't complain. Interesting to see some people skinny dipping in the pool below the zig-zags, brave people!


The route back to the village via the slate mine is well signposted but boggy in parts and quite a long slog compared to what we originally anticipated but was interesting low-level walking. Not many footpaths take you directly up the slate anyway! And the waterfalls were impressive just past this section.


The pub in the Rhdy Ddu was heaving with a queue out of the door, not helped by people not using the full width of the bar! I wanted to hear some Welsh accents in the pub, but they were all European workers. This is the fourth time I've been into Wales and barely heard the accent recently (granted two were Llandudno and once to Shell Island). Also a word of note, card payments are £10+. When I questioned if there is a charge under the landlady went 'we can pass some if they are close'. What she means is they want cash in hand to presumably fiddle the books and deter card payments where possible. I know for sure that is costs pennies to now process card payments and most pubs charge 30-50p if under £5 (still wrong but better!).


So any recommendations for mountains with paths similar to Rhddy Ddu but not too dangerous to navigate especially in fog as my compass skills are not the best?

Title: Re: Snowdon trip report
Post by: midweekmountain on 11:17:32, 30/05/17
Sounds horrendous, thats why I stay home on bank holidays.

Title: Re: Snowdon trip report
Post by: Dyffryn Ardudwy on 14:03:47, 30/05/17
I am glad you enjoyed yourself.
Hope you parked sensibly, and not like a substantial number of visitors, who all received parking tickets by Gwynedd authority.

An article in this weeks North Wales daily Post, does not quite specify how many parking tickets were issued, but the video shows in excess of one hundred vehicles unwisely parking on the side of the road, leading up towards the Pen Y Gwyrydd.

To hazard a guess, at least 60, possibly more parking fines were given out, to visitors who parked illegally, and by the sheer number of poorly parked vehicles, that figure could be a lot higher.

The actual number of yellow parking tickets issued, has not been disclosed, but if every vehicle shown in the video got a yellow plastic bag on their windscreen, the figure could have been substantial.
Title: Re: Snowdon trip report
Post by: Murphy on 15:09:42, 30/05/17
 "What she means is they want cash in hand to presumably fiddle the books and deter card payments where possible. I know for sure that is costs pennies to now process card payments and most pubs charge 30-50p if under £5 (still wrong but better!)."


Thanks for your TR, sounds horrendous - a place to visit early and late season and certainly not Bank Holiday weekends.  Nevertheless sounds like you enjoyed it.   I do think it is a bit presumptuous of you to make the statement above though.



Title: Re: Snowdon trip report
Post by: ljmeerkat75 on 15:27:49, 30/05/17
Sounds horrendous, thats why I stay home on bank holidays.
Echo that sentiment mwm I foolishly went up Crib Goch a couple of years ago ona May bank holiday weekend there was a constant queue of people including a d#@! who despite there being slow moving people in front of me and being considerate I was giving them the time and space they needed to cross safely decided he wanted to pass and was catching my heels!! I firmly told him, " if I fall I am going to take you with me"
He backed off after taking my warning seriously, I tend to avoid Snowdon like the plague unless its a midweek winter day

I enjoyed your write up it seems you enjoyed your day up Snowdon in a Victor Meldew sort of way
Title: Re: Snowdon trip report
Post by: fernman on 17:06:48, 30/05/17
I wanted to hear some Welsh accents in the pub, but they were all European workers. This is the fourth time I've been into Wales and barely heard the accent recently (granted two were Llandudno and once to Shell Island).

In my experience you're more likely to hear Scouse accents in North Wales rather than Welsh ones, lol  ;D
Title: Re: Snowdon trip report
Post by: phil1960 on 18:56:49, 30/05/17
Oh dear that doesn't sound good at all, never mind give me a call and you can listen to my Welsh accent to cheer you up  ;)
Title: Re: Snowdon trip report
Post by: Dyffryn Ardudwy on 18:58:44, 30/05/17
The true hotspot locations for the Welsh Language, is from Caernarvon towards Penrhyndaedraeth.
llanberis has seen so many incomers over the years, that Welsh is no longer the mother tongue of many of the locals, you can hear it spoken by some of the locals, but not everyone living there is fluent in the language.

Caernarvon, Penryhndaedraeth, and communities in and around the main A487 road towards Porthmadog, this is the heart land of the welsh language.


Pant Glas, the tiny village along the A487, is where Bryn Terfel was born, and this community of around eight farms, is totally welsh.


I am almost willing to bet that every habitant of Pant Glas has Welsh as their first language.


My mother who was born in Llanfair PG on Anglesey, could not speak or understand any English until she was seven, Welsh was the only language she knew or could understand.

Anglesey also has its large welsh speaking areas, but even Ynys Mon is losing its Welsh identity as the decades roll on.

Visit the community of Rhostryfan outside Caernarvon, and virtually the entire community are fluent in the language.

The llyn Peninsula has lost its Welsh identity, and so has Porthmadog, but just about every small community along the A487 back towards Caernarvon, is where the welsh heartland can be found.
Title: Re: Snowdon trip report
Post by: Glyno on 19:28:32, 30/05/17
I love it when people complain about the crowds on Snowdon but fail to see the irony of how they're part of it.
Title: Re: Snowdon trip report
Post by: Penygadair on 19:38:39, 30/05/17
 ;D ;D  Agreed.
I now avoid Snowdon on any day with a 'y' in it.
Title: Re: Snowdon trip report
Post by: DK on 19:39:51, 30/05/17
I love it when people complain about the crowds on Snowdon but fail to see the irony of how they're part of it.

Too right Glyno  ;D

It was wonderfully quiet the week before, had the south ridge to myself on a sunny Wednesday. The previous day I had the Cantlever Stone to myself during an eerily people free Glyderau day, first time I have seen it empty apart from mid weekwinter days.

If I have a Snowdonia day during high season I stick to the Carneddau or Nantle Ridge, usually fairly quiet and quite satisfying looking across at the crowds on the Glyderau and Yr Wyddfa   O0
Title: Re: Snowdon trip report
Post by: DK on 19:46:13, 30/05/17

So any recommendations for mountains with paths similar to Rhddy Ddu but not too dangerous to navigate especially in fog as my compass skills are not the best?

The best way to progress beyond a route like Rhyd Ddu is get yourself some navigation training. Mark at Snowdonia Adventures is an excellent and knowledgable instructor, book on a training course and the mountains will begin to open up to you  O0

http://www.snowdonia-adventures.co.uk/summer/skills-courses/navigation/


Title: Re: Snowdon trip report
Post by: robrymond on 06:39:57, 31/05/17
Thanks for the feedback. I am a bit of a moaner  O0


Glad that there are still Welsh pockets around since it seems to rare to hear any these days. I knew it would be busy being a Bank Holiday weekend but hadn't anticipated how busy. Sadly it was the only day that me and my friends could commit as one was coming from Bristol and needed to the Bank Holiday Monday as a buffer before going back to work.


I still very much enjoyed it and got a bug for doing some more climbs. I'm nearer the Peak District but there isn't the height on a lot of the hills there to match Wales. I'm pretty good at visual navigation and reading OS maps etc and having a great sense of direction, but my compass skills were left back in Scouts. I imagine I could probably if I needed too but I relay on my phone and GPS too much now. I try to keep it away where possible and use line of sight rather than watching a phone as it spoils it.
Title: Re: Snowdon trip report
Post by: midweekmountain on 06:27:27, 01/06/17
So any recommendations for mountains with paths similar to Rhddy Ddu?

If you are looking for similar experiences, you could try Ben Nevis by the tourist route on a bank holiday, I have climbed Nevis many times, never by the Tourist Route BUT it looks right up your street.

Or you could try any of the popular Lake District hills in August, I hear they have stoned some of the Borrowdale roadsides cos of the volume of parking problems.
Title: Re: Snowdon trip report
Post by: Dyffryn Ardudwy on 06:50:18, 01/06/17
I agree, as i was extremely lucky last October, when i made my first ascent of Ben Nevis, using the Tourist path from glen Nevis in gorgeous weather.
It was very similar in climbing Snowdon, but much longer.
Even though the sun was shining and hardly any clouds in the sky, i made the mistake of taking my gloves off at the summit to handle my camera.

BRASS MONKEY'S   bitterly cold.
Title: Re: Snowdon trip report
Post by: welshwiz on 22:22:47, 01/06/17

Dyffryn There is no V in Caernarfon >:(