Walking: A memorable scramble across Crib Goch

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The day started at 6:00 as I rose from my sleeping bag, having pitched up in Nant Peris late the night before. Having spent the first half of the week exploring southern Snowdonia with peaks such as Moel Ysgyfarnogod, Foel Penolau, Rhobell Fawr, Dduallt & Y Garn (Gwynedd), I'd been drawn north by the lure of higher tops! A warm cuppa, a couple of bacon rolls & I was in the car heading for pen-y-pass & the start of a good day's walking. I began the gentle ascent of the pyg track at 8am with some menacing cloud hovering above & a light drizzle that made me question whether the day would pan out as I hoped. A couple of hours passed before I found myself at the daunting start of Crib Goch's infamous ridge. Rewind 12 hours when I'd planned my route, I looked for a circular route, taking in Snowdon & as many other peaks I could realistically manage in a day. What I hadn't realised at the time was that as I ran my finger over Crib Goch, Garnedd Ugain and Y Lliwedd the route I was planning was in fact the much loved Snowdon Horseshoe.

Back to Crib Goch & I was in a bad place, cloud was quite thick, the path looked precarious & I was on my own, I genuinely hadn’t realised quite how challenging this was going to be and so I bottled it and turned back. Fortunately a fellow walker was on his way up as I began my descent, a few words of gentle persuasion & I was back on the ascent, with my new mate leading the way, having tackled Crib Goch the previous summer. We tackled the ridge with me mostly lagging behind but landed at the summit cafe still with a decent walk ahead but quietly pleased with our efforts so far. Packed lunches consumed, we continued on up and over the delectable Y Lliwedd, taking a glance back to marvel at Crib Goch & what was a truly amazing morning’s walking.

The descent down to the miners track back to the car was easy going & a chance to reflect on the days exertions. We landed back at the car park around 5pm, I bode my new friend farewell & drove back down to the solitary tent occupying the campsite. It was 12 hours since I’d been preparing my bacon butties and quite simply the best 12 hours I could’ve hoped for, a truly remarkable day out in the finest Welsh countryside available. When I looked back over the day, I realised I had only seen about 10 other people (with the exclusion of those milling around at the summit café which probably ran into the hundreds). Whilst tackling Crib Goch and Y Lliwedd, it had been a virtually solitary experience, albeit with a friend for the day to keep me company.