Crib goch - snowdon horseshoe

Has anybody ever climbed this route of snowdon before? I am going to give it a try some time soon. I normally go up the tourist path but im a little bored of that way now so want to try a new route. From what i have seen on the net upto now its ment to be an amazing walk but not good if your a chicken when it comes to hights - which i am

 

Don't go when it's windy unless you like helicopter rides! I thoroughly enjoyed Crib Goch, but then, I'm pretty sure-footed. It is ....airy....... but there's no place where you feel like you're just one trip away from plunging to your death. You'd need several trips and a bit of stupidity. But some people find it very scary - I'd get down on my hands and knees if necessary to make me feel more stable. As I recall, Striding and Swirral edges are a bit more scary than Crib Goch. I went down Crib Goch, not up it, if that makes any difference.

 

The tourist path is quite enough for me, thanks.

 

Thanks Madahhlia, i think i can see myself doing the entire thing on my hands and knees but that mite take a while lol!

In the past when i have done the tourist route i have always wondered where the cliff edges are that you hear about people falling from on the news/or jumping, im assuming crib goch and the striding and swirral edges (which i have not heard off before) are those spots

 

Actually there are quite a few parts of the tourist path where you could fall a very long way if you were really daft (and there's always at least one idiot on Snowdon!).

 

Crib Goch??

A couple of years ago, I took Mrs Trunky up the Pyg Track (!) for her first Snowdon ascent (second time for me).

Just as we reached the summit, the clouds cleared and we had an enjoyable half hour or so taking in the stunning views, before heading off back down the mountain.

As we descended, we saw the Crib Goch path snaking its way across the ridge in the distance, so I said "Why don't we try going back down that way?"

Ever wish you'd kept your mouth shut?

What starts off as a fairly rough but manageable rocky path soon becomes a hand over hand scramble/clamber over jagged rocks with, in places, an almost sheer drop on one or both sides.

Not for nothing is this path known as the Knife Edge. It is definitely not for the faint hearted!

"Are you sure this was such a good idea?" asked OH about an hour and a half later as the going became ever more 'challenging' and we realised time was getting on, while we were not even half way along the Crib Goch ridge.

Most married men will know how such a seemingly innocent question, when uttered in a certain way, can be laced with menace and induce a sense of deep foreboding, coupled with the knowledge that you will be hearing about this for a very long time afterwards.

At this point I decided the best course of action was to agree that, no, it had not been such a good idea. Although I didn't let on to OH, I was becoming increasingly concerned that if we continued along Crib Goch at our present snail's pace we would run out of daylight before we made it back.

We could still see the Pyg Track winding its way along a few hundred feet below us, so
we carefully followed a faint but definite track down off the ridge which eventually led us back onto the Pyg Track path. The remainder of the descent was done in a relieved but rather tense silence.

The Crib Goch path. This photo was taken By Mrs. Trunky, shortly before we set off along the ridge. Looks like a nice walk doesn't it? That's what I thought anyway.



Yours truly, a little way along the track, before it started to get really difficult.
Note the already slightly worried expression.

 

Hi, the horseshoe is a great walk, walked it a couple of times. Walked up most tracks and they all have their merits.
The crib ? Yes, as others have said, you have to be pretty sure footed and confident to attempt an ascent this way. The first time I went across it I was on my hands and knees most of the time because of the wind. Rooftop sums it up well I think. And I've seen the helicopter take people off on a couple of occasions. So from me, from what you have told us, it's a definite 'don't do it !'
There are other ascents that don't involve the crib, check them out on the web. It's also a good idea to check out the met weather as well before you go.
Today looked to be a busy day from what I saw through the binoculars. Good weather though.
gazania

 

Thanks everyone thats exactly what i needed to know really. What i think i will do is, do the pyg track next, from what i have read on another website that has a good view off the snowdon horseshoe so it will be a new track for me to do and i will be able to check out the snowdon horseshoe at the same time

 

Oi, Hydrogen,

I lived in Snowdonia for 5 years. I've been up mountains that no one has given a name to. I've stood on bogs that have grown over upland lakes that if you slipped down into they would never find the body, found roman roads in the mountains that aren't on the maps.

Go for it, but take a full survival pack, GPS and a Bible.

 

If i get stuck on the edge of a cliff or anything, i know who to call then