Ras Y Gader/Cader Idris

[Invisible Man]

I'm planning to do this one at the end of May but it's a bit of a slog by public transport. I live in Bolton so if there's anyone round this way who's doing it, I would be very glad of a lift. I am willing to help out with the petrol costs.

[Manhar]

Mr Invisible - not withstanding the fact that I may not be able to see you (Sorry I couldn't resist) if you don't receive a more convenient offer as I am looking to do this race if you could get to Ashton under Lyne railway station or Stockport station I would be willing to drive you there. Would be willing to take you back to Bolton on the return journey.

[Invisible Man]

Thanks Manhar, Stockport will be easy enough to get to. Let me know what time and I'll check out the timetables.

[Manhar]

Mr Invisible

According to the AA route planner (poor man's Sat nav) from Ashton it will take 2 hrs 7 mins. Consequently if we aim to get there an hr before kick off (2:00) I would aim to pick you up at 10:45 approx if that is Ok with you.

[david]

According to the AA route planner (poor man's Sat nav) from Ashton it will take 2 hrs 7 mins.

I think I'd allow a little bit longer than that .

[Slippery Stones]

I think I'd allow a little bit longer than that .

Me too....took us an age to get there last year. will be making the journey to race again this year though. cracking race...just hope that the weather is a bit better this year, and that we will be able to see somthing of the welsh mountains this time ....foggy and damp last year, which made it interesting on the descent (well for me anyhow)

[IainR]

What's are the paths like underfoot on this race? Specifically how rough is the pony path?

I'm still not fully trusting the stability of my ankle so want to pick my races for the next month or so, but this looks like it may be a goer.

Also as it's mainly on paths what footwear do people go with? Are road shoes preferable, or are the paths still rocky and muddy enough to stick with proper fell shoes?

Thanks

Iain

[Zlod]

It's a mixture. The first section is on roads. Last year, there was a total swamp by the lake, then it is a rocky path all the way to the summit. I seemed to remember that the rocky path was the sort of thing where you could jump from rock to rock rather than worry about small rocks moving under your feet. That may be an unreliable recollection though. The descent is the same as the ascent, but you can cut some of the zig zags off by running through the heather.

I'd have thought that trail shoes would be OK and running shoes might be. You won't get much traction by the lake in road shoes, but I don't think anything would give you traction in swamp conditions.

I did it with an unstable knee last year and took a couple of huge flying lobs at the top. I still have flashbacks of my face potentially being rearranged on a boulder (my face missed, my hand didn't).

It's a great race with a great atmosphere and well supported by friends, families and tourists.

[Toffer]

Paths easy, smooth, not rough, bit rocky at the top but not much. Lots on the road so i would wear trail or road shoes not walshes. Very dry when we were going through there at the begining of May, no lakes!

[Zlod]

Llyn Gwernan dried out in early May? Last year, we were actually running through the lake on race day as it had risen above the path.