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would love to give it a go wheeze! Can i tag along?. I cant navigate though and am scared of heights so crib coch is out, i believe i could wait there until others have done it then i can carry on?Quote:
Originally Posted by Wheeze
What sort of time would you do it in?
Thanks
I'll play!!
Will have had two hard weeks walking the GR20 so watch out....
I've had this to do for a while, but I'm only free the last weekend in August.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wheeze
Keepit updated and I'll see what I can do.
August Bank Holiday in Snowdonia?? uuummmmmmmm....nah! I like my mountains peaceful!
BW, would be great to sort something together.
Chamber34, no wimps allowed. You'll do Crib Goch or else! S'not that bad, really! And if you can't navigate, we'll have to think of something else useful for you to do. No room for klingons! How are you at carrying large quantities of flapjack and fennel??
AH! yes good point, What about a mid week effortQuote:
Originally Posted by Wheeze
camping in nant peris this weekend whilst supporting a PB, erm isn't Snowdon this weekend? could be busy!
Hi Ian,Quote:
Originally Posted by IanDarkpeak
A small group from the staffs moorlands are going down the BH weekend to hopefully do a 8 to 8.30 round if you are after a few folk to join in with. If so drop us a line and I will put you in the email chain.
Cheers
:)
I thought we were going for sub 8 this time pie boy?Quote:
Originally Posted by Dorian Grey
Especially the shape you are in at the moment, tu tut:p
cant do grib goch was scared going up pyg track lol. i will help out carrying etc!!! i can eat lots of flapjack though never heard of fennel!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Wheeze
maybe sum1 could give me some pointers on navigating on the trip???
I'll let you know when i get back from the hols, I'm getting lots of work coming in for most weekend from mid august until after the BG dinner, it's going to play havoc with my running:(Quote:
Originally Posted by Dorian Grey
I'm thinking of doing this myself later in the summer, just backpacked it over two days as a recce! Would offer to navigate as I know the route off by heart, but I'm not here for all of August.
Out of curiosity, what route are you planning on taking on the Snowdon section? Are you starting on the summit (and then doing Crib Goch the wrong way) or are you starting at Pen-Y-Pass. I'm starting at Pen-Y-Pass and I'm currently looking into what is the fastest way down into Nant Peris once I've been over Crib Goch and Snowdon - I tried descending directly from Clogwyn station the other day (there's a tiny little path leading down Cwm Glas Bach) but I've heard if you carry on past Llechog to just east of Halfway Station it might be a bit quicker?
The way you're doing it the descent into Cwm Glas Bach from Clogwyn is the quickest.
If you end up starting from the summit then it's supposed to be quicker to do Crib Goch out and back and then descend from Bwlch Goch into Cwm Uchaf and then Cwm Glas Mawr. This route avoids descending CG north ridge and is the one Colin Donnelly used on his record run.
There won't be much in it, we use the Lechogg descent, but the quickest way, peak to peak, is Snowdon first, so time not being that crucial don't worry. There will be 5-10 mins in it at most. We descend the ridge from Clogwyn station, above llanberis path, around Llechogg, then at the next stile descend down the RHS of a small cwm and eventually follow the ridge down to a wall, cross this and join a path which runs to Nant. This means no road section. Cwm Hetiau and a small road section could well be slightly quicker though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam Harrison
For speed..peak to peak..Snowdon first will be a lot quicker.
I shall be going from Pen Y Pass. 8 am start. I did Bwlch Goch last time but this time will go for the Clogwyn route.
Looking at Sat 6th Aug or possibly 20th as a fall back.
Would love to join in, but not up for it yet as too much on. But watch out 2012 when I plan to be a "retired gentleman fellrunner", and fit again!
Iain will know a lot more about the route choices than me - my comment on Cwm Glas Bach being quicker than Lechogg was based on one recce and what I've read. The reason we used it was partly because it was convenient for a breakfast stop at the Snowdon bunkhouse at Gwastadnant where we stayed. If we hadn't stayed there it might have been preferable to go via Lechogg and avoid the road. That's a few years ago when I walked it and I'd like to have a go running now, starting on Snowdon (possibly when I'm staying nearby from 5-29th August). There is one bit I'm not that keen on in this direction and that's the descent down the last Crib Goch pinnacle (well, first in this direction) - I've only done it once in this direction and it seemed very exposed going down (much more so than in the normal way in ascent). I assume there must be a way of avoiding this on the south (less exposed) side?
I could be wrong so don't quote me on this, but I'm sure there's a bit of a path that works its way around the south side of the pinnacle making it a lot easier. I've been up there a few times recently and have noticed a few people going around the side, and I'm pretty certain when I did it as a kid I never went straight over the pinnacle either.Quote:
Originally Posted by GregC
Just been over Crib Goch today and can confirm there's definitely an easier path avoiding the last (or first) pinnacle! In reverse the trickiest bit would definitely be the very end (that is, the initial scramble up to the ridge doing it the normal way) - I was deliberately trying to pick the easiest path just to see how fast I could do it, and all the tricky bits on the actual ridge (i.e. the pinnacles) are avoidable by going around their south side, but that scramble up from (or down to) the Pyg track definitely isn't.
Just a note of thanks to all who've contributed their experience & line choices on this thread, IainR especially :thumbup: Went out on Saturday starting from Pen-Y-Pass at 6:55am, finished at Aber at 4:45pm after a terrific day on the hill. My on-the-ground familiarity with the route varied from moderate to non-existent but I had no nav problems despite some mist on the Carnedds at the end (nice & cool after a sunny morning).
Hope the chap I met going up PYOW on a solo PBR made it round... he was looking strong & put my effort to shame.
And many many thanks to my friend & climbing partner Lisa who volunteered to spend a perfectly good Saturday doing road support when she could have been out climbing or mountain biking instead..!
Well done big brother and about time ... 27 years since we gave up at Devil's Kitchen. Good thing I didn't come with you, I'd have slowed you up, all over again!Quote:
Originally Posted by elliptic
Wheeze! Well? Have you done it?? Have been reading through waiting for the ending and I feel like I've borrowed a book from the library and some git has ripped the last page out!!
Well done on your run elliptic, nice one!
RWMS
I'll be having a go at this on Sunday, starting at Pen y Pass. Forecast is good and I'm just back from a week in the Alps so looking forward to a great day out.
Good luck Scodler. Looks like this coming Friday for me.
When you guys do a run like this, what do you do about food and drink?
I assume you take a small pack with you, but what do you carry? How much food?
Do you use a drinking bladder?
Do you replenish at Nant Peris and Ogwen? Do you have a support team, or just leave a car/stash?
I did this as a walk last month, we all drank more water than we could have carried, and really relied on having a good scoff at the two meeting points to get us through.
Does your training mean you can do with less food and drink?
The Welsh 3000s, now that is an idea. I'm staying in the Conway Valley w/c 17th September, and having now fully recovered from the Lakeland 10 Peaks back in July, methinks another challenge is definitely in order. Especially one like this, a truly superb route out on some fine mountains (and by mid/late Sptember hopefully not too tourist-infested!)
Glad I spotted this thread, I now have inspiration, and a goal to aim for!
In my case... carried a two litre Camelbak-type water pack filled with weak Hi-5 (it's also got a little pocket for keys, credit card etc and a bungee on the back for stowing a thin jacket) and wore a cycle jersey top with phone and food stashed in the back pockets. Ate a pack of buttered maltloaf and a banana per leg.Quote:
Originally Posted by Joester
Plus road support at Nant and Ogwen... refill water pack, drink pint of sweet tea, eat bacon roll / tin of rice pud / bakewell slices, stash more maltloaf in back pockets. I actually spent 25 minutes relaxing at each stop, which was a bit excessive but Lisa had volunteered to spend the day driving round and it would have been churlish not to take full advantage :)
Maybe up to a point, but I keep munching steadily on the move and the liquid intake is crucial.Quote:
Originally Posted by Joester
Cheers Wheeze. I had a good day considering the weather. It was pretty wet with poor visability until I got to Tryfan so was moving pretty slow over wet, slippy rock.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wheeze
From Pen y Pass to Aber I did 9hrs 20mins.
Summit to summit time was 7hrs 50mins (first summit Crib Goch)
Should be able to get under 7hrs in dry conditions.
I first did this 7 years ago in 18hrs 30mins, so not a bad improvement! :thumbup:
Hi Joester.Quote:
Originally Posted by Joester
I don't need as much food when I'm running but I make sure that I eat loads for a few days before. I also eat constantly when I'm finished.
On the route I carried a couple of gels and a snack bar for each leg. For water I carry a small water bottle in my hand and fill up whenever possible. My wife met me at the road crossings with some proper food such as pasta or a sandwich.
For kit (not including food) I just carried an emergency blanket, hat, gloves and a mobile phone.
Well done Scodler - and thanks for the info (both of you).
I really aspire to this kind of thing - it's some way off yet, though!
Aye good effort scodler, I had better weather for mine, dry all the way.
Joester: just give it a go on some smaller scale outings in fine weather, you might be surprised how fast you can move along with kit stripped back to what fits in your pockets. It's not about flat out speed just keeping some momentum... I'm a pretty rubbish runner by most standards
Great stuff Scodler. Your timings are really helpful. That is about what I am aiming at.
Re: Scoff and Quaff. 1.5 litre camelbak in a small backpack with prepacked wraps (easier than sarnies to hold) and flapjacks is all I need to for this. Top up drinking with sips from streams if needed. The key is NOT to knock yourself out. Ruddles Rule is crucial.
Thanks for the encouragement.
I'll admit I had to Google it, but yes - that would suit me just fine. Do you think the 'Snowdon Rollercoaster' would be a good start? (Llanberis, Moel Eilio to Moel Cynghorion, up the Ranger to Snowdon, back down Llechog and the long ridge down to Llanberis).Quote:
Originally Posted by Wheeze
(I know those mountains well, my fitness is coming along nicely - most of my runs are around 10 miles with hills, I walked the 15 Peaks without very much difficulty back in July).
Is this too ambitious?
I've really no idea! Depends on age, raw ability etc etc. But if you Ruddled it, I would say no problem given you are doing 10 mile runs etc. Thats a very nice course incorporating the best of the Moel Eilio race route.
Hi Wheeze, are you still aiming for tomorrow? Having been away for almost three weeks (GR 20 was just awesome!) I'm needing to spend time on work / relationships so will be limited to being with you in spirit. Catch up with you soon.
How did it go? Weather not too bad I think, hope you had an enjoyable day, which is the main thing.
Baled at Nant Peris. Started out against my better judgement with early signs of a lurgy. But, ya know, when you've booked leave, looked forward to it etc etc etc! So, I set off from Pen Y Pass to try the Crib Goch/Ugain/Yr Wyddfa order. Took me 46 minutes to get to Crib Goch. Weather had closed in so I started in thick mist. Made the Crib seem pretty perilous and I was nearly crag fast at one point. However, gathered it back in and made good progress skirting the Pinnacles on the south side. But by Crib Y Ddysgyl, I knew I was in trouble. Everything was taking too much effort. Took Yr Wyddfa still in dense mist and then made off down the tourist track. Popped out of the mist at Clogwyn and then found the descent via Cwm Glas Bach. Very straight forward. Got to nant Peris and, despite the weather picking up, I wasn't. Started on the climb up Eilidir Fawr but realised I probably was not going to make it safely so I binned it.
Feeling cr*p now so it was a good call.
Third time lucky I hope!
Sorry to hear about that, never mind, the mountains aren't going anywhere soon and they'll be waiting for your next go. 3rd time lucky as you say. Hang on till next spring and I may be joining you, with body and soul back in one piece and running properly again :thumbup:.
Better luck next time Wheeze. It's been on my "must-do" list for a long time too. Maybe I'll come along next time.
And I'll be there too.... hopefully a little sooner than next spring (18 miles along the river from Bristol to Bath yesterday... feeling good!)
Sorry to hear that the run out did not go well Wheeze. At least you are safe and hopefully recovering from the lurgy. Next time.
Take it easy mate.
Thanks guys. Yep, a mass run next spring would be nice. Still gotta scratch that solo itch tho' !
Good to hear that Moley and BW are itching to go! Just gotta get that Toffer moving now and it can be a proper Steam Bunny attempt!