Climbing Snowdon...

I'm on a bit of a health and fitness drive at the moment, stopped smoking and exercising regularly, so yeah will do something similar again (even though I don't even want to look at a hill right now) but now I know what to expect I will be better prepared. As you can imagine constant pain, out of breath etc doesn't make the experience fun, can't appreciate the sights but will use as motivation to get fitter.

I missed a trick with shoe laces technique to prevent toe crushing which made going down hill a pain more than it should have been.

Yorkshire three peaks is local (didn't even know about it till someone we we met at Snowdon mentioned it) would be something I would like to work towards.

Sounds like it's a lot harder and longer. Maybe can start of with one and build up towards three. Perhaps set a 3 months goal and build up fitness inbetween. Will probably need to shed some weight as regardless of how fit you are shifting 18st around isn't easy.
 
Craterloads said:
I'm on a bit of a health and fitness drive at the moment, stopped smoking and exercising regularly, so yeah will do something similar again (even though I don't even want to look at a hill right now) but now I know what to expect I will be better prepared. As you can imagine constant pain, out of breath etc doesn't make the experience fun, can't appreciate the sights but will use as motivation to get fitter.

I missed a trick with shoe laces technique to prevent toe crushing which made going down hill a pain more than it should have been.

Yorkshire three peaks is local (didn't even know about it till someone we we met at Snowdon mentioned it) would be something I would like to work towards.

Sounds like it's a lot harder and longer. Maybe can start of with one and build up towards three. Perhaps set a 3 months goal and build up fitness inbetween. Will probably need to shed some weight as regardless of how fit you are shifting 18st around isn't easy.
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Get yourself up Pen-Y-Ghent as a start. It's mostly a decent easy walk. Park in Horton early doors and get yourself up there. It's the start of the three peaks for most so make sure you take the correct route back to Horton along the way.

It does have a bit of a scramble at the top but not for very long. There's no shame in stopping for breaks and taking in the view behind you. Makes it more enjoyable. I **** about for hours while I'm out.

Doesn't need to take all day though. I've set off from Clitheroe way in the car early doors, gone up and been back home to the pub for my dinner by midday.

All the Yorkshire peaks have a scrable of some sort though, so be prepared for that. I did them in one earlier in the year. 24 miles and took us about 10 hours with the dogs. Even in poor weather I enjoyed it but I'm not wired up right.
 
Are they suitable doing in colder wetter weather?

For example PYG and miners path I would avoid like the plague in wet weather as would be a death trap for me.
 
Craterloads said:
I'm on a bit of a health and fitness drive at the moment, stopped smoking and exercising regularly, so yeah will do something similar again (even though I don't even want to look at a hill right now) but now I know what to expect I will be better prepared. As you can imagine constant pain, out of breath etc doesn't make the experience fun, can't appreciate the sights but will use as motivation to get fitter.

I missed a trick with shoe laces technique to prevent toe crushing which made going down hill a pain more than it should have been.

Yorkshire three peaks is local (didn't even know about it till someone we we met at Snowdon mentioned it) would be something I would like to work towards.

Sounds like it's a lot harder and longer. Maybe can start of with one and build up towards three. Perhaps set a 3 months goal and build up fitness inbetween. Will probably need to shed some weight as regardless of how fit you are shifting 18st around isn't easy.
Click to expand...

The pain and out of breath thing happens to people who walk regularly too on difficult ascents. The main difference is it perhaps takes a bit longer for the pain and breathlessness to cut in. Everyone is different too. I've always struggled with ascents, even when fitter than I am now, yet I can descend like a mountain goat. But I know people who are the complete opposite.

There's no shame in taking regular breaks. Use the excuse of taking in the view. It's better to stop before the point where you're bent double as recovery is faster and it's harder to enjoy the view staring at your knees.

While preparing, even regular walks on the flat will build up the fitness and as you do more you can push up your speed and distance.

I've always enjoyed climbing the peaks and fells in the Lake District. The Old Man of Coniston is one of the easier ones with a well-defined and safe path.
 
Craterloads said:
Are they suitable doing in colder wetter weather?

For example PYG and miners path I would avoid like the plague in wet weather as would be a death trap for me.
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Depends how much cold wet weather bothers you. Will you be going alone? I'd avoid ice, but wet and cold is fine really. Will be windy up top more than likely but you get out of it pretty quickly enough.

Whenrside is easy in that it's a better track up and down. The other two have scrambles and seem steeper, but Whenrside is actually the tallest.
 
Craterloads said:
Merrel Annex mid, yea grips good. Perhaps I'm just being a wuss but you can feel it on wet stone just giving way a little.
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Some boots are better on some surfaces than others. I currently have some Merrel Chameleon Mid boots and they have super grip on wet stone but are a bit suspect on wet grass. Whereas the Berghaus Explorer boots I had before were terrible on wet stone, they would even slip on wet paving stones, but wonderful on wet grass. I guess it's the tread pattern and / or the material the sole is made of.

A little bit of give / squirm underfoot might be ok as long as the boot doesn't completely break away. Perhaps test the breaking point somewhere safe so you have an idea of the limits.
 
Went up miners yesterday and down Pyg, I found it fairly easy, should have done it the other way around i think.

Wouldnt like to do it in the wet, but then again i was walking it in trainers.

My bad knee is aching a little today but i expected it as most of the functioning ligaments are nylon.
 
I did the Pyg/miners track at about this time of year last year, though I can't remember which one we went up and which one we came down. We were a bit stupid when we did it, driving up to Snowdon and back in one day as well as doing the hike up. It was a pretty tiring day but good fun. My friend and I are fitness mad and managed to do the climb in about 2 hours and a shortcut descent in about 1 hour 45.

I've since done the Crib Goch route and that's the more fun and challenging route, bit more technical than your standard hike. For anyone who has done them, what are Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis like in comparison to Snowdon? We're looking for a bit of a challenge if we go and do another British peak.
 
nicktay2605 said:
For anyone who has done them, what are Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis like in comparison to Snowdon? We're looking for a bit of a challenge if we go and do another British peak.
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Just as busy! Scafell Pike is a bit more of a slog but the CMD route on the Ben is decent. If you enjoyed Crib Goch, for more of a challenge, try something like the Bochlwyd Horseshoe in Snowdonia.
 
nicktay2605 said:
I've since done the Crib Goch route and that's the more fun and challenging route, bit more technical than your standard hike. For anyone who has done them, what are Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis like in comparison to Snowdon? We're looking for a bit of a challenge if we go and do another British peak.
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I've only done nevis on the tourist path, it's as you expect, a long but easy walk.

I've done scafell from langdale, wastwater and borrowdale and I'd only want to do langdale again, it's a more interesting walk and physically challenging, although not technically (going up by bowfell and back by angle tarn).

For a ridge and a bit of light scrambling Helvellyn from Patterdale is better (up to hole in the wall, over striding and back on swirral with a descent to Glenridding - the hotel bar opposite the coffee shop is best).
 
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