Ras Yr Aran

[Glass Ankles]

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

[RichT]

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

[molehill]

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 , enjoy it.

[Boy Wonder]

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!!

[Glass Ankles]

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?

[(notsomuchofa)Fellrunner]

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.

[jimbob]

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...

[IainR]

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.

[GeoffB]

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.

[Jordan]

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.