Crib Goch Attempt 1 AKA Failure is always an option – Eryri
It may not have been the day I originally had planned, but no time spent in the mountains is ever wasted. My original plan for the day was to join a guided scrambling day on Crib Goch, in the Snowdon Massif. This knife edge arrete is a grade 1 scramble with exposure that is known as an accident hotspot. Not for the faint hearted or those with a nervous disposition, Crib Goch has become more and more popular with the ‘social media’ crowd, prompting local mountain rescues to issue stark warnings against the risks of tackling dangerous ridges or hikes beyond the experience and preparedness of some (especially younger, male) hikers.
After my Moel Siabod and Tryfan scrambling days, plus an introductory climbing course, I was confident in A) My head for heights and B) My scrambling experience. What typically lets me down in guided experiences and groups is my pace. I am naturally a slow plodder. There’s no question of my endurance and mental stamina, but my pace is generally slower than most average hikers. While I’ve made peace with always being the one being overtaken by the old people, three legged dogs and children, in group settings this usually leads to me being the one at the back while everyone else is steaming ahead and leaving me behind. On Tryfan, the group (led by Rusty of Snowdonia Walking and Climbing) was happy for me to set the pace, with no time pressure or expectation of having to make summit by a certain time or be a certain pace. On Moel Siabod with Gemm.uk and Ray of Sun Adventures , when I expressed concern about my pace and feeling weak due to a barrage of hormones, I was met with encouragment and support from the group to get to the top and make the most of the day on the mountain.
My group experience this time, however, had a different outcome and that’s ok.
Setting off from Pen Y Pass, my body was feeling good and back to normal after my battering on Moel Siabod. The weather was intermittently showery but looked to hopefully clear later in the day. From the off, the pace was strong and steady, with a couple of breaks to don waterproofs, and while I was working hard up the immediate uphill slog that is Pyg track, I felt good. As we continued up and the gradient started to increase, I naturally slowed down occasionally stopping to take a break and focusing on keeping my heartrate down so as to not end up blowing all my energy trying to keep up before even getting to Crib Goch. Sadly, it became evident that I simply wasn’t going to keep up with the group without pushing a pace that would use up vital energy that I would need for the actual ridge scrambles to come. The lady I was hiking with was an experience ultramarathon runner and Hyrox athlete. To try and keep pace with someone of that elite fitness level despite being a otherwise fit, enthusiatic and able hill walker/mountain hiker was never going to be achieveable and is always my concern when doing any group activity.
Mixed ability groups are notoriously hard to predict fitness and experience wise. I was fully prepared to tackle Crib Goch head on, aware of managing my energy levels and felt good (albeit breathless as Pyg track makes you WORK, especially when you’re trying to keep up with someone pushing the pace). Increasingly self-conscious that I was holding the group back and this was her second attempt at Crib Goch, there was expectations on summit time and unpredictable weather, I ended up deciding to ‘take one for the team’ and bow out to allow the faster pace person to get to the ridge at their own pace.
It didn’t feel good, I won’t lie. Sometimes though, it’s better to take a hit for the benefit of the team than to think selfishly. When asked if I could push the pace, I was proud of myself for knowing my limits and that while I could have pushed, it would have been at the expense of energy that I was going to NEED for the long traverse to Crib Goch, Bwlch Coch, Crib y Ddysgl and The Pinnacles. Accidents happen when people rush, push themselves outside of their abilities or otherwise feel pressured to have to ‘achieve’ something every single hike. The stats from @llanberismountainrescue speak for themselves with a huge increase in call outs to ‘inexperiences or underprepared people’ tackle dangerous terrain without thought of the potential risks or consequences if something were to go wrong.
As disappointing as it is to not achieve what you’d set out to do, I’m not going to rush or mess about with a dangerous ridge like Crib Goch. Part of being a responsible mountaineer/hiker is knowing when to turn back or change plans because it doesn’t feel right.
So while my initial plan went out of the window, instead I decided to head up to the lesser trodden paths of Craig Fach and The Horns, directly opposite Crib Goch. I ended up exploring the area completely at peace, with just some sheep and a huge goat to share the trail, still making the most of a wonderful day in the mountains. I have no interest in being competitive with myself or others out on the mountains, and only aim to make the most of every moment out in the wild and that’s exactly what I did. Craig Fach/The Horns area directly above the Pyg track is gorgeous, with sweeping 360 views around the Snowdon Massif and neighbouring Glyder Fawr. I’m so glad that I made the decision to explore there, rather than plowing onto the Yr Wydffa summit and the Saturday crowds. I literally saw one person the whole time, and was able to do a bit of scrambling, exploring photography and drone flying entirely at peace.
It’s always nice to get an unexpected reminder that bagging a trig or conquering a new summit or ridge is just an added bonus, not an essential requirement. The Snowdon Massif may be popular for the Yr Wydffa summit views and Crib goch, but the range has so much more to offer than just the tourist routes.
Until next time, Crib Goch!
Drone footage from Craig Fach and The Horns, just to the south of Crib Goch and above the Pyg Track and Miners path’s up to Yr Wydffa/Snowdon. This beautiful part of the range was quiet, with barely a soul in sight. A far cry from the ‘tourist routes’ up to Wales’ highest peak that see crowds of hundreds of people.
Leave a comment