Snowdon via Crib Goch and the Pyg Track – Oldies’ Weekend (1st-4th May 2009) Sunday Trip

We braved the chance of inclement weather as we knew it was going to rain on Monday, and decided to stay above ground. We got up reasonably late and could have done with setting off much earlier, but in true DUSA style we went anyway. We were expecting to have to park in Llanberis and catch the park and ride bus back to Pen y Pass where the walk began, but instead we squeezed in on the side of the road about a mile away from Pen y Pass, and hotfooted it across the intervening bog. We began the walk in high spirits, following the crowds and marvelling at the views we got of Crib Goch. Natalie and Martin carried on up the Pyg Track, whilst Al, Zara, John, Leon and Hannah went up Crib Goch. The first part is a simple scramble up the nose of the ridge – a bit of exertion necessary but not too difficult. Then we popped out onto the ridge proper, and the fear began to set in. We didn’t all have the fear at the same time, but we all had it at some point. The ridge is very narrow, and loose, and there is a big drop to one side and a bigger drop to the other side. It was very exciting, and we weren’t put off by the hail or the wind, and made it safely to the summit. An excellent day, and a good meal and drinks for Martin’s Birthday back at the hut in the evening. We decided that we broke just about every rule of hillwalking. We set off far too late, none of us had done it before, we split into two groups but only had one map, not all of us had decent footwear… but it was fun anyway 🙂