Hiking in Snowdon next week

[RoboCod]

Hi,

Im off to North Wales next week for 5 days. I've been there before (about 6 years ago) but was just wondering what are people's favourite sites in that area?

Im Going on the Tuesday and camping around the Nant Francon valley area here that night. Walking around the the valley top the next day and camping out again someweher a little closer to Snowdon. Im then goin up Snowdon on the Thursday and again on the Friday (different route). Not planned the Saturday yet but I think its going to be a rest day in the local pubs of llandudno.

Has anyone else camped in this area? Are there any good sites you know of? If I feel the need to stay in a hostel (hopefully shouldn't!) where would you recommend?

I hope I get over this cold I have by then!!!

 

[RoboCod]

Erm, week off work and thought "I need to do something!". There isn't much planning needed to go camp somewhere, you do need to have a good idea of where you're going and you also need to be organised with your equipment (nothing worse than sleeping out and not being able to get warm/dry/fed/asleep!). Im very much looking forward to testing out my new Canon camera up in the valley's though! Snow would be amazing but also hard going I think its given out to be miserable all week too so the views aren;t goin gto be fantastic - shame.

 

[RoboCod]

I presume you're winter skilled and equipped given the recent weather?

MWIS forecast for Snowdonia (PDF) is worth keeping an eye on. Forecast for Tuesday is -17c in the wind at 900m.

Sleeping in a winter suited tent in a Firewalker III sleeping bag which effectively keeping me comfortable down to -12c. Completely thermalled up in 3 Layers of clothing suited to climb the highest of mountains I should imagine. Gore-tex'd to the max to keep me dry and breathing and with my Scarpa's I reckon Snowdon will be a few feet lower when Ive finished up there! LOL

EDIT: the forecast for tuesday says excellent visibilty! YIPEE!

 

[RoboCod]

Yup - sounds cool (or should that be warm?)
Although an ice axe for self arrest would also be on my list when there's snow and/or ice on the ground.
And unless you like being bored ****less while scrambling on rubble, then avoid the Bridle path, the one that stays fairly close to the railway lines.

Ooh no! Staying away from the rail track, Im a man! lol! Probably Pyg track and Watkin path. SOmething intrepid and awful at least!

 

[RoboCod]

You doing this alone ?

Originally, yes! But now Im only alone on the Tuesday night, my mate is joining me on the Wednesday night. More fun with company and of course a little safer!

 

[RoboCod]

Sounds like fun. I will be there in a week.

Are you camping or stopping in Hostel? Id defintely recommend the Nant Francon valley and Llyn Idwal on your visit (google image search llyn idwal!) - beautiful area

would fancy doing something like this ...

And what's stopping you?

 

[RoboCod]

You say your a man yet your taking the pyg track, take a proper route, crib goch is particularly fun in the winter

Well its up in the air at the moment - I'll decide when I get there

Just been to Tesco's and stocked up on food and water. Practiced putting the tent up to make sure I hadn't forgotten how. Very excited now, almost as excited about my interview for the RAF in the morning! As soon as I come out of that interview Im jumping straight in the car and shooting over to the Welsh land! If I cant camp on the side of a mountain in sub zero conditions then Im not fit for the Armed Forces I reckon

Wish me luck

 

[RoboCod]

...SNIP...

Thats so geeky its cool! The screen stopped working because it was too cold you say?

 

[RoboCod]

Hi,

got back today, was amazing... and COLD!!!

A few pics too:

Day 1 we went over the Glyders and managed three peaks;Tryfan, Glyder fach and Glyder Fawr, all just under 1km high.

Amazing view looking down off tryfan!


Glyder Fach (994m). Nearly at the top of here we veered off the track to climb some vertical ice. I had a precarious moment here where I lost my footing and slid about 5metres down before being able to dig in and save my ass. Christ I panicked a bit then.


My life savers:


This is how cold it was:

 

[RoboCod]

Day 2, after a nice well deserved sleep in the tent we got up early to conquer Snowdon.

Even colder today and the climb up Snowdon, depending on the route, isn't easy. We didnt take Crib GOch, far too dangerous over th rocky ridge there!


We packed lightly to make it easier for us, this meant minimal food. The only warm food we brought was soup. After taking 15mins to find a sheltered area and cook it (which seems an eternal age when you're freezing stood still) my mate decides to spill the lot! What a waste of time. I saw the funny side and LOL'd rather a lot. Howard didnt see the funny side so much:


I dont like the wind on me face:

 

[RoboCod]

Always more fun sitting in a nice warm room looking at these type of pics

It was nice to come back home and get in a nice hot bath but thats half of enjoying an exerting trip away isn't it

 

[RoboCod]

I don't have the kit so i better stay at home, plus it will be very wet and wet is always worse than cold.

If you have thermals you can hire the boots and crampons. There is a great hiking/activity centre in Capel Curig. They will rent you a decent pair of Scarpa's and Crampons for just £10 for the day (better than paying in excess of £300 for them to keep!)

Currently trying to persuade my mates to go up there for a weekend of youth hosteling and walking

I say an OcUK walking expedition is on the cards

Ahem!



I have more pics if you're interested?

 

[RoboCod]

Currently trying to persuade my mates to go up there for a weekend of youth hosteling and walking

We stayed a night at the Youth hostel at the top of Nant francon valley. We camped outside and although this was £8.50 each it included use of the indoor facilities and a pitch ato pthat great view!. Would have been wussey to have spent the night in the hostel for an extra £5 though

 

[RoboCod]

Just a few more pics

Beginnning of the Snowdon walk:

and half way up:


Nant francon from Glyder Fach:

Snowdon from Glyder Fach:

 

[RoboCod]

More views of Tryfan:



Lake Idwal's serene setting:

More frozen waterfalls at the back of Idwal:

 

[RoboCod]

A friendly tip for your photos. Cameras under-expose for snow so if you have Photoshop load them in and press shift+ctrl+l. Its the auto levels adjuster. It makes the photos brighter basically.

Ah thats good, thanks!

I should really try learning more post editing with Photoshop. Any guides in the photography about it?

 

[RoboCod]

Well done for climbing snowdon, it looks a bit harsh up there!

Of course Snowdon was a good accomplishment for a novice climber like me but with more experience and practice I hope to take on a real challenge in the near future; a colleague of mine climbed Mount Blanc 3 or 4 months back, at 4807m its over 4 times higher than Snowdon and in much more extreme conditions. One day sooon I'll be up there