Am in Snowdonia this weekend and spotted this in the calendar, may try and do it.
Anyone done it before?
Whats it like?
Looks as though its an out and back course from the website map?
Any info would be great.
Cheers
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Am in Snowdonia this weekend and spotted this in the calendar, may try and do it.
Anyone done it before?
Whats it like?
Looks as though its an out and back course from the website map?
Any info would be great.
Cheers
A few of us from Pennine did it last year for the first time and we really enjoyed it, especially the cosy pub afterwards. It's quite tough as you go up onto the ridge steeply and it then undulates to the summit over about 2 miles, so you've got about 4 miles of undulating terrain and it's remarkably easy to get disorientated - no big tracks here. The weather was cold, wet, windy and misty with big patches of sodden, deep snow last year.
You can read Alan's report here: http://www.penninefellrunners.co.uk/YrAran.htm
Hope you enjoy it!
Just noticed that you said you're in Snowdonia - be aware that it takes a long time to drive there cross country from Llanberis so give yourself plenty of time.
Richard
I may see you up there. I'm not racing (injured) but I was planning a long walk/jog up on the Arrans tomorrow anyway. I will be coming up from the other end and try to time it for the race - hangover permitting :(
If you see a scruffy little fellow with a daysac somewhere on the tops, probably me.
Navigation wise, there is a fenceline all the way to the top. Basically if you don't cross the fence to the right, and don't fall off the ridge to the left, and keep going upwards, you'll get there. Obviously there's a few sheep trods etc that cut corners (follow other runners), but you can't really go anywhere but to the summit.
Looking from home there was snow on the tops 3 days ago (I can see Arans on a clear day). I would expect majority of it to have gone by now, but bound to find a bit left up high.
It's a lovely ridge, but far better from the other end :D, enjoy it.
Would be there but for the little matter of a week's skiing, starting tomorrow - they have some real snow out there at the moment! Lovely!!
Molehill, I will be the scruffy little fellow with a red/green Ilkley vest on! Will shout out if I see you!
Thanks for the route advice, sounds simple enough even for me to follow!
Anyone else gonna be there?
On paper it looks an easyish race. Not too long, not too much climb & you can follow a fence all the way up & down, but I found it pretty demanding last year.
The terrain was rough, the route not too obvious, the weather made visibility a problem & the snow higher up scraped my shins raw.
I felt chuffed with myself when I finished.
Good luck all.
I'm going to give this one a go. I'm needing to get some AM's and AL's in to build up my strength. I'll be the one in black at the back...
I haven't done the race, but frequently train up there. I always come from the other end of the Aran. If one could race a loop from the South end, it would make a cracker of a course. Unfortunately not very practical.
It is a great ridge with some stunning views from the top, little chance for you to stop and enjoy them :( but return one day for a run out :).
Worth noting it is higher than Cadair - but with none of the crowds:D.
just done this one...what a brilliant day for it. the weather was unbeleivable.
thanks greame and marshalls it was a great race....
loved the hard slog up
a bit disappointed with my time, i got serious bonks and stitch coming off that hill before the summit on the way back and for the rest of the way down, lost loads of time but never mind there's always next year.
molehill, i think i saw you coming down when i was a third of the way up. could you have cheerily said to some completely demoralised knackered red faced sweat drenched puffer, "come on you've got miles to go yet"?
Well done P4T, I told you it was a wee toughy. How were the conditions? Was it boggy? Was there any snow to negotiate? Who won?
Yup, that was me - my idea of encouragement - I was right though, there was miles of uphill to bloody go.Quote:
Originally Posted by pilchards4t
Just jogging the ridge (down :) ) and enjoying the day made me realise what a sodding long slog it is, and seeing the summit in the distant haze can't exactly help matters for racers.
Good turnout, 103 starters I believe.
Did this myself today, fantastic race, my first over 1 hour fell race.
Hopefully good training run for forthcoming 3 Peaks race.
Really enjoyed the race (particulary coming back down!). Weather was glorious and I found it nice to have some wet boggy sections to cool my feet down. I really struggled with the climb, ran out of jelly babies well before the summit but the slight breeze on the way down revived me.Hardest event I've done so far.
Yesterday was 1 of those nigh on perfect days - even the drive back along the A494 as the sun was going down was a pleasure to behold. Really enjoyed the race (oops does that make me a fun runner (!), even stopped at the trig to have a drink & take in a 360 degree panoramic view.
Lost a few places on the rocky descent as I knew I would but I for one like these out & back races where you get to see the front runners approaching and admire their superior athleticism.
Good to meet Paul H & Glass ankles - cu at the 3 peaks.
Lightweight......:rolleyes:
Really enjoyed this one, the weather and views were fantastic. My legs were completely gone by the time we hit the fields at the finish. It was certainly demanding but a great mix of rock, bogs, grass and even a bit of road!
Won by Chris Waters? (Ambleside), 2nd Roland Stafford (Mercia), not sure after that...
Mrs GA did it as well, practically her first run after 8 weeks out with a bad back, but she came back ok.
Everyone seemed to agree that this race is quite a toughie!
I saw you and your Mrs in Ilkley shirts, I daid say "come on Ilkley" but you didn't seem to have a lot of breath for a chat :rolleyes: .
Good long drag up there, very up and down, so must be hard to find a good rythmn. Well done anyway, lovely day out, but glad I was watching not racing.
Any doing this on Saturday?
Think I will, planned to do it as my first fell race back, but feel knackered,s ore calfs and a cold, following Rhayader 20 last weekend. But feeling a bit brighter today.
It's over 11 miles, so longer than the 10 quoted, and feels quite a long run. In bad weather runners will be very exposed to the winds as a good 2-3 miles is along the summit ridge. Gale forced Northerlies predicted.
Did this a couple of years ago in real winter conditions. It's an excellent route, even though we didn't see much of it due to the snow on the ground & mist in the air.
Despite it being an out and back route along the ridge there's definitely scope for local knowledge. I got to the summit before Jackie (about half an hour after Lloyd!), but on the way back down, as I emerged out of the mist I could see this figure racing down the hill about half a km ahead of me. It turned out to be Jackie. Even though I never saw her come past me, she must have got a much better line than I did.
It's toughy for sure, esp if weather is again you. I think the down is as hard as the up as it's just so rough under foot. There are indeed a few route choices, including heading right just before the duckboards and following a faint ATV track. Easy to see whilst going down, but not so easy on the way up.
Yeah that's the main short cut, plus following the fence at the tops, but coming up I'm not sure the quad track is that much of a short cut.
Ran this route last week,had it down as 9.5 mile.didn't do the little loop at the finish mind which would have made it up to about 10.I was a bit concerned i didn't quite reach the summit(over 2900'),but pretty sure i got to the top.You seem to drop slightly before you go over the stile,then up a short climb to an open flat summit with large cairn.The one section before the stile crossing has a very narrow path,close to fence and rock,could be interesting on way back with people coming the other way.It was very wet and boggy last week after sats rain,at least the wind will blow us up !!Quote:
It's over 11 miles, so longer than the 10 quoted, and feels quite a long run. In bad weather runners will be very exposed to the winds as a good 2-3 miles is along the summit ridge. Gale forced Northerlies predicted.
Seems like DazH and I will be there tomorrow. I'll look forward to meeting you - watch out for the Pennine vests. Is there any snow on the tops?Quote:
Originally Posted by IainR
Quote:
Originally Posted by IainR
That should blow us uphill!
Yeah, a bit, a dusting really, in main Snowdonia anyway, it'll make a few sections 'interesting', mainly the summit. Snow above 2000ft.
Rodders, are you sure you went to the far peak? 3 of us measured it on GPS as 11. something. You must have really, because Aran Benllyn would only be 8 miles, so to even be 9.5 it must have been Aran Fawddwy.
Think I'll do it now, decided not too this morning, and went out for a steady plod around the start of the glyders PBR section with some Penistone/DPFR lot and felt OK. So reckon I will.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marvin
eh:D
id best sort some kit out then
its still chucked in the shed from the hobble
Light covering of snow on Moelwyns and Arenig Fawr - whcih usually means there'll be a bit more on Aran, could be very similar conditions to 2 years back............................................if you aint done it before there's usually a superb trailer caravan thing selling organic Aran lamb burgers - perfect apres race..................
I hope so Iain,i think we went to Benllyn initially thinking that it was the top.There is a small cairn on top,but it was only after about 3.7 mile,which i knew was too short.The cloud was down and so we couldn't see far ahead.Decided to carry on,it seems to undulate and pass a small lake on the right and then drop down before going over the stile and up to a much bigger cairn.It was tempting to carry on as there are some more distinctive paths coming from the other direction.I was looking forward to a fast descent but its much more technical than you imagine when climbing.Quote:
Rodders, are you sure you went to the far peak? 3 of us measured it on GPS as 11. something. You must have really, because Aran Benllyn would only be 8 miles, so to even be 9.5 it must have been Aran Fawddwy.
Looking forward to it mind :)
Not sure, the summit is at the top of a very steep rocky section, almost 200ft of vertical ascent, there's a few cairns along the route at pt 872m and pt 885m. But the col and style add up so maybe it was. Anyway find out tommorrow :-)
Yeah agree re the descent, it's quite a bit harder than you think, a few rocky sections, so under snow I'll be careful on those sections, real scope for some serious slips. That final climb towards the end is only short but long enough to hurt.
Forecast for tommorrow, not that bad, MWIS is more optimistic, but it'll be bloody cold -3 or -4 on the summit ridge and strongish winds so we'll feel it.
http://www.mwis.org.uk/mountain/SD.PDF
and
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/loutdoor...snowdonia.html
The summit, Aran Fawddwy, Has a trig point standing on top of a massive heap of stones. It sounds as though Rodders rambler went only as far as the middle peak, which is about 1km from the summit.
Yiannis
:)Quote:
The summit, Aran Fawddwy, Has a trig point standing on top of a massive heap of stones. It sounds as though Rodders rambler went only as far as the middle peak, which is about 1km from the summit.
Yiannis
Looking forward to finding out tomorrow :)
Just scanned the map again and convinced i got there.The paths leading in the opposite direction from the summit were quite well worn,which makes sense as there are official paths leading from it.The summit i got to had a massive heap of stones (about 20' x 15' ) The top was 2900+ which adds up,the other tops are closer to 2750' and 2830'.
Winds should be interesting along the ridge.This is a north Wales champ counter,so should be a good turnout.
Really sorrry I won't be there, (have shingles :mad: ) as it is my favourite training range of hills - though I come up from the Dinnas Mawddy end. Missed it last year also due to injury, but walked up from the other end to see all the runners coming through.
Hope you all have a good day. The true trig is as described, top of a rough scramble section, you look directly down onto the lake below, vertical drop the lake, so don't overshoot the top :D.
Expect it to be cold, it does catch the breeze up there.
Rodders Rambler:-
It's no more 9.5 miles that I am a international sex kitten! Don't know if it's more than 10.5, but it's a bl**ding hard 10.5mile that's for sure. Forecast for tomorrow is hardcore, you know the score!
its snowing hereQuote:
Originally Posted by Jordan
just setting off:eek:
Quote:
Originally Posted by molehill
You must have got to the summit then. The middle top has not got such a big cairn as you describe. Paths carry on S of the summit.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rodders rambler
Yr Aran is the highest hill in my Meirionnydd round (Cadair Idris, Rhinogs, Arenigs, Arans, Dyfi Forest). Anyone interested? harder than the BG but wild and more remote.
Yiannis
PS: In the race today you do not need to visit the two other tops, only the trig.
Yeah agree sounds like the summit to me too, have got the M Round in mind eventually, but having a year of just racing and doing/trying to do the UTMB this year, but will start to visit the area, from what I've seen it looks hard going to say the least.
Had a poor race today - glad they curtailed it at Benlli with the weather as it was.
I got well dressed to go up to the top (-18 degrees windchill I was told!) but overheated on the way up - by the time I realised that was the reason I wasn't getting going, I thought if I take a layer or two off I'll catch pneumonia cos by that time it was cold!!!
Had fun coming down though - hope to go all the way next year.
Yeah i was the same, over heated but then the temps suddenly dropped about half way up. Didn't feel I had a good run, walked most of the hills, and was blowing snot out the whole way which wasn't too nice. Glad to get a fell run in though.
Pity not to do the full run, but glad of the call as I wasn't feeling great, but understandable anyway. Don't think they had any option with all that ice and strong winds.
Shame i didn't get to find out if my recce was correct.Never mind.I think i followed you all the way up Iain,came past about a third of the way down.Thought it might have been you and was expecting you to be cautious on way down with your arm etc.Had far too much kit on,could have run in shorts,i always seem to overdress.Not a bad habbit i suppose,better than the other way round.Good race,thanks to the marshalls for standing at top in the winds.