Ben Nevis
- Thread starter Clarkson
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Soldato
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I have been up Ben Nevis, Snowdon and Scafell Pike and they are all pretty easy - given the right path. You really need to make clear whether you are planning to climb Ben Nevis (i.e. with ropes) or walk up it (hill walking).
If the latter, I would suggest that rather than Fort William and the somewaht boring Ben Nevis, you should consider Keswick and some of the 'bad boy' mountain walks there (i.e. Jack's Rake, Striding Edge & Sharp Edge). You will find plenty of B&Bs in Keswck and you can get there by bus from Penrith Station - try to avoid school holidays if possible
Will be hill walking only! Nothing too extreme!
So is Ben Nevis a bit of a bore of a walk then? I will check out those other walks, cheers.
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Snowdon is a boring and very easy walk - there's even a path up it known as the "Tourist Road"... make sure you take lots of pics from the summit, I've gone half way up Snowdon as a child and that was good, if you're going with a friend are you going to be walking up it?
Require a much different focus and level of gear / preparation I'd imagine for going up it in a more complicated manner then walking
Now Jack's Rake is something else!
As to this thread being a year old . . . don't worry, the mountains are still there.
Snowdon is a boring and very easy walk - there's even a path up it known as the "Tourist Road"
It's horrible.
Did a route up snowdon which included two other peaks and that was a nice route. But as soon as you got to the top, it was so commercialised and heaving it was horrible. I came down the tourist road and that was equally unpleasant.
heh despite going walking and climbing in snowdonia for years i've never once gone up snowdon
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The summit is spoiled by the cafe, train and all the people but there is nothing wrong with the paths leading up there. I've been up about six times along different routes and it's always spectacular. Being local I am a bit biased though.
Never been up Ben Nevis but would love to one day. As mentioned, don't underestimate the danger of these mountains. Even Snowdonia has it's share of fatalities.
Soldato
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Snowdon is a boring and very easy walk - there's even a path up it known as the "Tourist Road"
There are plenty of routes up Snowdon that are far from boring. Add in a bit of Welsh weather and it can get very interesting.
Snowdon via Crib Goch can be fun, especially in the wind... However the top of Snowdon isn't where you want to be if you want peace and quiet.
heh despite going walking and climbing in snowdonia for years i've never once gone up snowdon
I do it occasional but I'm too much in love with Tryfan to spend my time with the tourists.
<3 Tryfan.
Good scrambling fun, want to do a more "climby" route some time though, need to brush up on my rope work first
Soldato
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I was heading up the Glyders via Devils Kitchen in a blizzard (wind chill was -20 once I'd cleared the climb with ice sheets on the Glyderau themselves) and was forced back by the conditions. I came back to find tourists trying to climb the Kitchen in jeans and trainers.
I have a motto that I chant before I head off "Respect the mountain or she will kill you"
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I was heading up the Glyders via Devils Kitchen in a blizzard (wind chill was -20 once I'd cleared the climb with ice sheets on the Glyderau themselves) and was forced back by the conditions. I came back to find tourists trying to climb the Kitchen in jeans and trainers.
I have a motto that I chant before I head off "Respect the mountain or she will kill you"
Had a very similar episode there last Autumn. Set off up towards Tryfan via the Devils Kitchen, weather turned on us very quickly, cloud descended and really heavy torrential rain. At this point we were just shy of the top of DK, managed to push on for another hour but turned back. Would have carried on but my GF isn't the most experienced walker so decided to head back down. Again there were people still heading up at around 3pm in October in completely the wrong gear!
Snowdon is a boring and very easy walk - there's even a path up it known as the "Tourist Road"
Now Jack's Rake is something else!
As to this thread being a year old . . . don't worry, the mountains are still there.
yeah not bad route done it a few times few years ago there are even better ones but depending on your experience obviously depends on what you can safely go for.
Soldato
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It is always better to turn back and try again another day. Better to be safe than dead. I really don't think some people understand how variable the mountain weather actually is.
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Good luck - I hope the weather is good with good views from the topDidn't know this got revived.
Anyway, finally going sunday/monday, and doing it via the carn mor dearg arete rather than the 'tourist track'.
At least twice as long, but hopefully at least twice as good.
When you get back, post an update on what that route is like, I have never done it but have just looked up THIS.
Again . . . good luck!
Soldato
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Did this a few weeks ago.
Drove up from Anglesey at 5.30 am, got out the car at 3pm~ish and headed up.
Got back down 9 ish I think. It took longer than expected because I was messed up from driving/lack of sleep + absolutely no prep. Every single step back down to the pub was exquisite agony.
Slept in the tent for the night and then headed back next morning.
I don't even want to figure out how much it cost me in fuel but I'd imagine more expensive than the train fare.
My mate had pre-booked train tickets way in advance from Manchester to Fort William and I believe they cost around £70. Needless to say I spent more in fuel.
Drove up from Anglesey at 5.30 am, got out the car at 3pm~ish and headed up.
Got back down 9 ish I think. It took longer than expected because I was messed up from driving/lack of sleep + absolutely no prep. Every single step back down to the pub was exquisite agony.
Slept in the tent for the night and then headed back next morning.
I don't even want to figure out how much it cost me in fuel but I'd imagine more expensive than the train fare.
My mate had pre-booked train tickets way in advance from Manchester to Fort William and I believe they cost around £70. Needless to say I spent more in fuel.
Soldato
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Double Post.
Last edited:
Soldato
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Lordesplodge / Tefal said:
I got caught out by Devils Kitchen not so long ago due to setting off too late and cloud cover. Lesson learnt.
Did Snowdon two weeks ago in really crappy conditions but the summit was positively metropolitan. Ridiculous. Wasn't even worth queuing for a cider.