A video of the start of the Crib Goch traverse to the top of the last pinnacle, shot during a round of the Snowdon Horseshoe in winter conditions on 6/12/20.
Its strange there's something reassuring about having spikes in snow vs nothing in summer conditions. I did striding edge in winter and felt very secure with microspikes
This is pure class you can see you have taken care and planned well. I did this yesterday in good weather conditions. Ill soon be doing my winter mountaineering course possibly do something similiar. After i gain some experience in less hostile terrain
The snow must give that extra padding underfoot or should i say surface area, where as in summer all you get is jagged rock, lad's it looks so peace full. A huge respect go's out to all party members , great video guys.
Thanks for the comments :) Conditions were pretty good on the day, wind was low and while the snow wasn't ideal it was compact enough to be useful. As long as you've got previous winter experience with the gear and the judgement that comes with it, it's not really all that more difficult a route than in the Summer, as you say it kind of gets levelled out. Along the ridge itself anyway.
Great to see a straight forward video of ppl crossing the ridge, there are a lot of high action type videos out there that focus on the music/effects and high-octane effect - this is a great change!
Nice work, slow and steady and no rush - just as it should be done. Lucky for all that they had settled conditions, i.e. no wind, so they could enjoy the day and the delight of climbing in winter conditions.
There's certainly a few extra hazards to be aware of in winter conditions but it's only a grade 1 winter route and not all that much more difficult than in summer conditions if you've got the experience and gear. It's definitely the best way to do it if you ever get chance. Maybe hire a guide a guide for the day. Great fun.
At age 10 got stuck up on Snowden all night with my dad in late April in freak white out weather conditions. No axes, crampons and not dressed for the weather as it was totally unexpected. We'd traversed crib goch in similar snowy conditions, my dad fell off into the valley and slid about 500 feet, was lucky a large rock stopped his fall as the bottom was 2000 feet, luckier still that he saw the rock and blocked his face with his forearm. I waited for dad for 3hrs on the ridge which meant us getting to the top of Snowden at 5pm, we tried to descend but it was too dangerous and we had to dig in for the night. We got rescued at 4am, thanks to those mountain rescue men, a hot tea and mars bar and we followed them down to safety. Scrambled the crib goch + horseshoe route in summer and spring about 20 times, taking about 7hrs but it's nothing like in snowy conditions, add a whiteout and the wrong gear and it's lethal.
@@Shieldz01 My dad whose an experienced old school mountainer who believes in the spirit of free climbing and alpine style completely misread the conditions. This was 44 years ago now but I was in jeans, t-shirt, jumper and shower proof caghoul, expecting to be up and down in 5hrs as we'd done this scramble 3/4 times before. We were lucky that my dad survived his fall and that the mountain rescue were amazing, they searched on foot from 12am with no idea of our location as we'd started our descent down in the dark. We were found 6hrs later huddled in our snow hole. We made the national news, one paper led with "eskimo boy Mike saves dad" ha ha, my proud dad was fuming.
@@mikeheap7978 haha, amazing. Must have been terrifying but things going south is part and parcel of the game and it goes to show that even the most experienced people get caught out sometimes. Great story though, thanks for sharing 👍
@@justforthis3208 Yeah he fell about 500ft down the side, stepped onto a snow ledge that had no bottom and slid down with no means of arrest, he put his right arm across his face as he slammed into a boulder which stopped his fall. No broken bones but took all his skin off and revealed his bone. My dad climbed back up the mountain to where we were waiting on the knife edge. As it was getting dark we got to the top to the mountain cafe, everything locked up. We tried making it down via a few ŕoutes but in the dark it was too dangerous. We eventually dug a snow hole out, settlfed in for the night wet and very cold, we got rescued at about 4am.
Ive done the same route in worse conditions. Its a gamble trek tbf. Wide angle lens makes it look a lot worse than it is. We had to traverse below the summit due to 90mph winds. Easier footing across the top. But great vlogg lads
I did the route in summer in 1986 in my DM shoes... I didn't have a clue where I was heading, or what I was being set up for, but felt totally fine, apart from the gap with the long drop. Completely agree that the shooting of this video makes the slopes either side of the ridge look far steeper than they are.
A walking rope between climbers is standard practise for Alpine conditions. Wound around rocks as you go it will stop an uncontrolled fall - your buddy can also drop to the ground and lock off a slip. An ice axe won't stop you there as it's mainly ice and light snow over exposed rocks.. In those conditions a slip means a fall down the side. Crampons not much use there as there is too much rock and not enough hard snow. It's a simple dry weather route with basic care needed and no ropes. With snow over verglas the ridge needs a different plan. Lovely filming though....
Thanks for the comment. There was definitely enough useful snow for crampons to be essential that day. Agreed with the axe though, regardless of conditions the odds of you managing to arrest a slip on the main ridge of Crib would be minimal. The lads in front got into a bit of discussion about moving together roped up but the most experienced member of the party advised against it as it would have caused more issues than moving solo.
does the snow actually make it easier to walk across? In summer it's is a bumpy ride and you basically are crab walking the whole ridge, but looks like theres enough snow layer for you to dig your feet into flat, or is it a case of you can never trust your footing and even worse? Obviously the risks of not being able to see the 50/80 degree drops aside, how does it feel to walk on?
It does make foot placements easier in a way but walking in crampons does come with it's own problems. Conditions underfoot could have been better (thicker /more consolidated) but good were enough to inspire confidence.
Thanks for comment! The ridge is generally around a couple of feet wide although it does become a proper knife edge in places. The Gopro definitely makes it look more severe although imo it gives a better sense of what's its actually like than the flat effect you end up with from a standard focal width.
This reminds me of that time I climbed Crib Goch wearing ice skates after a PTFE powder storm. I'm still nursing my injuries. Anyone want to buy a pair of ice skates?
It certainly was the training ground for the 1953 Hilary, Tensing ascent if Everest Quote from Pen Y Gwryd hotel web site. "Pen-Y-Gwryd Hotel, a long established and traditional British mountaineer's hotel in Snowdonia, North Wales Our historic hotel at the foot of Snowdon is where Hillary and Tenzing trained for the first successful ascent of Mount Everest in 1953, " Chronic and severe health problems have kept me away for over 30 years but if memory serves me right I believe Hilary, Tensing and other team members signed the bar roof in the hotel. Not sure if they still are preserved.
@regreg5416 the guy said some wouldn't climb everest in these conditions that's what I was replying to...I think the conditions on everest are just a bit worse
@@benjaminwoodrowmusic6070Ah O.K. Just happy you reminded me of the Everest connection I had almost forgotten it .Do miss the place, hope you still manage to get out. Loved Grib Goch and Tryfan North both fabulous in their in their ways.
In these conditions it becomes a graded climb rather than an easy scramble. These will be climbers who are used to the conditions, have the gear and experience to use them and probably climb far harder stuff. The full traverse of the horseshoe in full winter conditions is a mountaineering classic
Does the person in front (from another party) in that situation, get seriously pressured to rush, take risks, and go faster, with strangers behind him? Thats how I would die up there. People staring at me. Even if they are not saying go faster, you will feel that pressure.
I'd hope not, and I'd certainly never make anyone in front feel like they were getting in the way. If someone's struggling a bit or clearly nervous in a situation like that I'd either do my best to reassure them/help them along or sit back for a while and let them get ahead.
Thanks for the comment! It's arguably a summer grade 2 under certain conditions I guess but only a grade 1 winter climb and didn't require protection in those conditions.
These go pros make it look twice as steep , I still wouldn't have the bottle to climb this but your camera's making it look far more dangerous than it is , kids stroll this in the summer
Having actually been up over Crib Goch numerous times I can confirm the camera makes the ridge seem far more pronounced than it actually is, not sure what you mean by dangerous though? It's clearly very straightforward. And yes, it's easy enough for a confident child to tackle. Thanks for the comment.
Sorry but this is just plain stupid one slip and ya gone ,don’t care what gear ya got your also putting other peps lives at risk if you have to be rescued,
Climbed this 2 weeks ago on a clear sunny day. You’d never get me up there with that snow! Respect.
Having done the same route in the same conditions I still get that chill when I’m watching someone else’s video 👍👍👍 awesome job
Best channel I’ve found yet. What an amazing adventure you documented and we get to enjoy and view. 🎉
In 2004 we picked a perfect April day to come down from the summit along Crib Goch. Was absolutely amazing. No way would I try this!, respect 🤜
Its strange there's something reassuring about having spikes in snow vs nothing in summer conditions. I did striding edge in winter and felt very secure with microspikes
This is pure class you can see you have taken care and planned well. I did this yesterday in good weather conditions.
Ill soon be doing my winter mountaineering course possibly do something similiar. After i gain some experience in less hostile terrain
The snow must give that extra padding underfoot or should i say surface area, where as in summer all you get is jagged rock, lad's it looks so peace full. A huge respect go's out to all party members , great video guys.
Thanks for the comments :)
Conditions were pretty good on the day, wind was low and while the snow wasn't ideal it was compact enough to be useful.
As long as you've got previous winter experience with the gear and the judgement that comes with it, it's not really all that more difficult a route than in the Summer, as you say it kind of gets levelled out. Along the ridge itself anyway.
Great to see a straight forward video of ppl crossing the ridge, there are a lot of high action type videos out there that focus on the music/effects and high-octane effect - this is a great change!
Yes! I love music but not on most videos. Less is more in cases like this… it’s more than enough
Nice work, slow and steady and no rush - just as it should be done.
Lucky for all that they had settled conditions, i.e. no wind, so they could enjoy the day and the delight of climbing in winter conditions.
"enjoy the delight" of this climb????😳😳😳😳who are these extraordinary people???
Anyone else watching this thinking "yeah I'll have a go at that", I suggest doing a winter skills training course with a reputable mountain leader.
I feel like I could throw up just watching this! Much respect Lee you mad MoFo’s.
Incredible
I did the crib this week in beautiful sunshine
Cannot even contemplate it doing what your doing
Amazing 👍🏼
There's certainly a few extra hazards to be aware of in winter conditions but it's only a grade 1 winter route and not all that much more difficult than in summer conditions if you've got the experience and gear.
It's definitely the best way to do it if you ever get chance. Maybe hire a guide a guide for the day. Great fun.
This looks fun but so is staying in with a nice cup of tea ☕️👍🏼
Great stuff and thanks for not adding music!!
I just did Crib Goch yesterday for the first time, I couldn’t imagine doing it in snow, respect to you all. Jack.
At age 10 got stuck up on Snowden all night with my dad in late April in freak white out weather conditions. No axes, crampons and not dressed for the weather as it was totally unexpected. We'd traversed crib goch in similar snowy conditions, my dad fell off into the valley and slid about 500 feet, was lucky a large rock stopped his fall as the bottom was 2000 feet, luckier still that he saw the rock and blocked his face with his forearm. I waited for dad for 3hrs on the ridge which meant us getting to the top of Snowden at 5pm, we tried to descend but it was too dangerous and we had to dig in for the night. We got rescued at 4am, thanks to those mountain rescue men, a hot tea and mars bar and we followed them down to safety. Scrambled the crib goch + horseshoe route in summer and spring about 20 times, taking about 7hrs but it's nothing like in snowy conditions, add a whiteout and the wrong gear and it's lethal.
That's one hell of a story, you and your Dad are extremely lucky.
@@Shieldz01 My dad whose an experienced old school mountainer who believes in the spirit of free climbing and alpine style completely misread the conditions. This was 44 years ago now but I was in jeans, t-shirt, jumper and shower proof caghoul, expecting to be up and down in 5hrs as we'd done this scramble 3/4 times before. We were lucky that my dad survived his fall and that the mountain rescue were amazing, they searched on foot from 12am with no idea of our location as we'd started our descent down in the dark. We were found 6hrs later huddled in our snow hole. We made the national news, one paper led with "eskimo boy Mike saves dad" ha ha, my proud dad was fuming.
@@mikeheap7978 haha, amazing. Must have been terrifying but things going south is part and parcel of the game and it goes to show that even the most experienced people get caught out sometimes.
Great story though, thanks for sharing 👍
Your dad fell off Crib Goch? And survived? That's crazy. Was he injured?
@@justforthis3208 Yeah he fell about 500ft down the side, stepped onto a snow ledge that had no bottom and slid down with no means of arrest, he put his right arm across his face as he slammed into a boulder which stopped his fall. No broken bones but took all his skin off and revealed his bone. My dad climbed back up the mountain to where we were waiting on the knife edge. As it was getting dark we got to the top to the mountain cafe, everything locked up. We tried making it down via a few ŕoutes but in the dark it was too dangerous. We eventually dug a snow hole out, settlfed in for the night wet and very cold, we got rescued at about 4am.
What adventure! Thanks friend for sharing with u this incredible experience! We join your channel ❄🏔
Ive done the same route in worse conditions. Its a gamble trek tbf. Wide angle lens makes it look a lot worse than it is. We had to traverse below the summit due to 90mph winds. Easier footing across the top. But great vlogg lads
I did the route in summer in 1986 in my DM shoes... I didn't have a clue where I was heading, or what I was being set up for, but felt totally fine, apart from the gap with the long drop. Completely agree that the shooting of this video makes the slopes either side of the ridge look far steeper than they are.
RESPECT for doing that. You must be very experienced. Push your limits always 👍
Insane. Different humans 🫣
Have done this in the summer really want to try in the winter, imagine it would look amazing
Lol
It was my first ever mountain I climbed and I thought I was going to die.
In this conditions that would be a suicide
A walking rope between climbers is standard practise for Alpine conditions. Wound around rocks as you go it will stop an uncontrolled fall - your buddy can also drop to the ground and lock off a slip. An ice axe won't stop you there as it's mainly ice and light snow over exposed rocks.. In those conditions a slip means a fall down the side. Crampons not much use there as there is too much rock and not enough hard snow.
It's a simple dry weather route with basic care needed and no ropes. With snow over verglas the ridge needs a different plan.
Lovely filming though....
Thanks for the comment. There was definitely enough useful snow for crampons to be essential that day. Agreed with the axe though, regardless of conditions the odds of you managing to arrest a slip on the main ridge of Crib would be minimal.
The lads in front got into a bit of discussion about moving together roped up but the most experienced member of the party advised against it as it would have caused more issues than moving solo.
@@Shieldz01 Fair enough.. Team effort, team decision... Great day out.. Far from Covid news as well
Why.
Superb.....REAL youtubers do it in the snow👍
Looks MEGA
Wow that’s one sketchy climb hats off to you earned a sub with that traverse 🏔👍
i cant wait to do Crib Goch........................in the summer time
Done crib many times, thick fog first 3 times, but enjoyable in the summer on a clear day. Don't get it in this weather but hey ho
Did it 14 times one year and only got a clear view once, It certainly does seem to love its fog and rain
Balls of steel!
Looks amazing!
does the snow actually make it easier to walk across? In summer it's is a bumpy ride and you basically are crab walking the whole ridge, but looks like theres enough snow layer for you to dig your feet into flat, or is it a case of you can never trust your footing and even worse?
Obviously the risks of not being able to see the 50/80 degree drops aside, how does it feel to walk on?
It does make foot placements easier in a way but walking in crampons does come with it's own problems. Conditions underfoot could have been better (thicker /more consolidated) but good were enough to inspire confidence.
Nice vid mate 👍 We were hoping for these conditions yesterday but we got wet and fog instead 👀
Gutted. Winter has been a bit of a let down so far eh? There's still time for a good bit of snow though.
Amazing. So brave. Turns my stomach!! Is that wider than it looks ?
Thanks for comment! The ridge is generally around a couple of feet wide although it does become a proper knife edge in places.
The Gopro definitely makes it look more severe although imo it gives a better sense of what's its actually like than the flat effect you end up with from a standard focal width.
@@Shieldz01 Could never do that. Good on you. Subscribed x
This reminds me of that time I climbed Crib Goch wearing ice skates after a PTFE powder storm. I'm still nursing my injuries. Anyone want to buy a pair of ice skates?
Is this a training run for Everest? , All i can say is BALL'S of STEEL..some wouldn't climb Everest in these conditions..
No they just climb everest in minus 20 with oxygen tanks 🙄
It certainly was the training ground for the 1953 Hilary, Tensing ascent if Everest
Quote from Pen Y Gwryd hotel web site.
"Pen-Y-Gwryd Hotel, a long established and traditional British mountaineer's hotel in Snowdonia, North Wales
Our historic hotel at the foot of Snowdon is where Hillary and Tenzing trained for the first successful ascent of Mount Everest in 1953, "
Chronic and severe health problems have kept me away for over 30 years but if memory serves me right I believe Hilary, Tensing and other team members signed the bar roof in the hotel. Not sure if they still are preserved.
@@benjaminwoodrowmusic6070it actually was the training ground for the first succesful ascent of Everest by Hilary and Tensing in 1953
@regreg5416 the guy said some wouldn't climb everest in these conditions that's what I was replying to...I think the conditions on everest are just a bit worse
@@benjaminwoodrowmusic6070Ah O.K. Just happy you reminded me of the Everest connection I had almost forgotten it
.Do miss the place, hope you still manage to get out. Loved Grib Goch and Tryfan North both fabulous in their in their ways.
Great video. I do wonder why people feel the need to do Crib Goch in those conditions 😂
It's by far the most enjoyable and memorable way to do it.
Simple...because it's there and some people have spent years acquiring the skills to do it safely and really enjoy it...hats off to them
In these conditions it becomes a graded climb rather than an easy scramble. These will be climbers who are used to the conditions, have the gear and experience to use them and probably climb far harder stuff. The full traverse of the horseshoe in full winter conditions is a mountaineering classic
Does the person in front (from another party) in that situation, get seriously pressured to rush, take risks, and go faster, with strangers behind him? Thats how I would die up there. People staring at me. Even if they are not saying go faster, you will feel that pressure.
I'd hope not, and I'd certainly never make anyone in front feel like they were getting in the way. If someone's struggling a bit or clearly nervous in a situation like that I'd either do my best to reassure them/help them along or sit back for a while and let them get ahead.
Just looks unpleasant :D
Why? Remember it’s the mountain rescue that have to turn out when it all goes wrong. Enjoy the mountains responsibly
I did not know that! Cheers for the advice 👍
Its a grade 2 if wet, should really be roped, but great climb lads!
Thanks for the comment! It's arguably a summer grade 2 under certain conditions I guess but only a grade 1 winter climb and didn't require protection in those conditions.
@@Shieldz01 Fair comment Lee, it wasn`t a critciism, you guys look like you know what you were doing!
These go pros make it look twice as steep , I still wouldn't have the bottle to climb this but your camera's making it look far more dangerous than it is , kids stroll this in the summer
Having actually been up over Crib Goch numerous times I can confirm the camera makes the ridge seem far more pronounced than it actually is, not sure what you mean by dangerous though? It's clearly very straightforward. And yes, it's easy enough for a confident child to tackle.
Thanks for the comment.
Would you say this is possible without crampons and and axe?
Possible yes, but extremely risky and not at all fun. I wouldn't recommend it.
@@Shieldz01 Alright thanks for the heads up, probably will just stick to the main path
Did the horseshoe in April, stunning. Supposed to be doing it again Christmas time , not looking forward to it 🥶
I had the clearest views ever in winter. If you have the right gear and experience, it will be amazing!
I did this in the wet and it was scary as fuck. I'd only do it in future on a dry sunny day with no wind 😂 it's normally overcrowded anyway.
Piolet-------🫣
I did this in winter worse than this, no ice axe, no crampons, freezing and scared but boy did I enjoy the achievement!
of course you did
That's not an achievement. You took many unnecessary risks and emptied your bag of luck considerably.
If it even happened ofc!
Terrifying 😂 fair fucking play
Now do it on a unicycle while juggling fire….
good way to get the ridge to yourself
Mentalist
Sorry but this is just plain stupid one slip and ya gone ,don’t care what gear ya got your also putting other peps lives at risk if you have to be rescued,
The trick is to not slip.
And members of MR teams do this kind of thing in their spare time too.
Could say that about literally anything. Why shouldn't people do it if they have the experience. Ridiculous comment
@@benjaminwoodrowmusic6070 sorry your talking out ya arse
that's part of the fun, you just gotta risk it. i can't even imagine the huge sense of achievement after doing crib in these conditions
@@MonnaMonkey320 not fun for the rescue peps because of your stupidity
Puir doddle.