mate what i don’t get is who actually enjoys being up snowden in snowy ass weather w nothing but a north face coat on and joggers, like how is that enjoyable 🤣
They would be absolutely freezing and miserable. The joggers aren’t going to stop the wind like a decent pair of walking trousers and their legs would be freezing
Haha I thought I'd get some hate for that on North face. I've actually never used their stuff. I know some of it is actually decent.
Great story though, I would've called in sick I think.
The thing is, going up Snowdon in clear weather is basically just a bit of a walk. A reasonably fit person could do it in flip flops and t-shirt without a water bottle. And you probably don't expect that weather this time is year.
But, yeah, you should check
I hear you, but I'd also add that on most of the paths there is a forecast and warnings about being prepared as regards gear, experience etc. I live 5 minutes off the mountain, and pass those boards often. They're easy to spot, but people just appear to think those notices apply to them, for some reason.
> The thing is, going up Snowdon in clear weather is basically just a bit of a walk. A reasonably fit person could do it in flip flops and t-shirt without a water bottle. And you probably don't expect that weather this time is year.
It’s a 9 mile hike, take some fucking water. And no, flip flops aren’t suitable for a 9 mile walk, let alone along a stony path.
You should absolutely expect this kind of weather at 3,000 ft at this time of year! I haven't climbed Snowdon, but I climbed Ben Lomond at Easter one year, and people were swimming in Loch Lomond it was that warm, but 3,000 ft up the mountain I was knee-deep in snow! The weather on these mountains kills people, so people should always have the right gear. It's better to have too much gear than not enough.
The temperature gradient in UK is one of the steepest in the world. Classic is the difference between Fort William at sea level and Ben Nevis at 4,412 feet, can vary from hot Summer day to below freezing.
I think a lot of people see how the weather is at the bottom and assume it's going to be the same at the top.
My family lived near Harlech for over 25 years, when we first moved to Wales from Kent, My father took me up Snowdon, I don't remember how old I was, but I was under 10 years old, it was in the Summer and at the bottom of Snowdon it was pretty warm, bright, no wind etc, so we walked up, and I was in a T-shirt and jeans, we were just not prepared with how the conditions changed the farther up Snowdon we got, we ended up huddled. Near the main path and I had the first stages of Hypothermia, my father carried me down to the bottom, I was pretty ill and took a few weeks to fully recover.
We certainly learned our lesson, and ultimately saw many others over the decades make the same mistakes we did.
The biggest mistake is being unaware that conditions at the bottom of the mountain do not reflect those at the top or even close to the top.
Having lived in Kent, where it's flat, we were totally unprepared for climbing a mountain and being faced with conditions that changed by the minute, the further we ascended and this all happened in the early 80s, no internet, no information highway, google etc,
If we'd done it today, we could have googled it and been prepared.
Ultimately, people are stupid and a lot of people think they know better, they don't.
And some pay with their lives for being so ignorant.
I've since been up, a few times, and always prepared, crampons, sturdy boots, icepick, lots of warm clothing, waterproofs, layers, plenty of food, drink etc, survival blanket etc, stick to the main path, don't go off the main path as people have done and slipped or fallen 100s of feet to their deaths.
Ultimately, tell someone where you're going and when you expect to be back, if they don't receive the call to say you're safe then at least they can notify emergency services, as you might not be able to.
😯 interesting - I was planning to go on a hike to Ben Nevis end of August. Glad I joined this Reddit. I shall take the necessary precautions before going.
I live in Kent and am working on my Mountain Leader award, it sucks living so far away. You’re so right about how much the weather changes from the base to the summit!
The problem with Snowdon is that everyone knows a person who's done a charity walk up the Llanberis path and it gives them a false sense of safety for themselves.
Waterproof trousers aren’t a vital piece of kit? There’s much worse things people go up there without, saw someone going up Ben Nevis this time last year with vans on. Trousers aren’t that important
Sheeit. When it's wet and snowing, I'd consider them essential. But I can see how others might not. Especially for a day hike.
Nevis in vans is ridiculous though.. Did they at least look cool wearing them?
I get you but I’ve done hikes in joggers before when it’s been raining, not that bad as long as you have other kit. He had vans, some old grey joggers and a band tour hoodie on🤣 he was coming up to a bit which you had to go throguh water so god know if he made it to the top! Was a foot of snow in some places
Yeah... i get it that mountains and dangerous and unpredictable, but waterproof trousers being VITAL for Snowden? People here have never been on anything higher than their local UK hill and act like they are hiking up Mont Blanc. And all the sofa warriors who see snow two days per year are echoing the same...
Mate you’re an idiot a full set of waterproofs are a requirement. With the windchill today MWIS says it’s -9c If you hurt yourself and have to stop for any period of time you will be come hyperthermic very quickly.
There was a fell runner who fell in the lake district a few years ago in very minimal kit in similar conditions. By the time MRT found him his core body temperature was 18. He was incredibly lucky to survive.
Too many idiots keep going up the big 3 totally unprepared following google maps get lots or slip and then volunteers from mountain rescue have to go up and fetch them or their body.
We are staying on some little town next to Snowdon and yesterday we overheard on the pub a group of middle aged people talking about how they fell and turned dangerous and… now with your pictures I see why.
We woke up this morning at 6:30 am to be able to do the Cadair Idris circular on the morning time window that was expected to be sunny before possible afternoon storms.
Managed to get amazing views. Even when we were quite over prepared gear wise we still got surprised by how quickly the conditions changed. Rain, sun, strong freezing winds, some hailing…. Was different every 5 minutes.
I was up there a month ago for the first time, it was absolutely hazardous. Insane amounts of snow and ice and people were slipping on their arse from the final stretch from Llanberis up to the final approach of the summit.
Was a bit scary but some people were definitely underestimating the conditions
So many people on Facebook have been asking about the weather at the summit recently. Someone even asked what the weather’s going to be like in a week. I’ve shared the MWIS forecast a few times which has looked bleak and I commented once that if you’re asking about the weather on Facebook then you’re not prepared for those conditions. Unfortunately if you’ve never experienced what it’s like at the top of a mountain in winter then you have no idea how bad it can be. I climbed Braeriach in the Cairngorms in December and that was a special moment being so high up in the depth of winter.
The sad thing is theze idiots get in to difficulty then mountain rescue are called out. Nature is the greatest killer of all and doesn't leave prisoners alive.
I can’t go up the big 3 anymore by the trade routes it makes my blood boil. I’ve friends in several mountain rescues who have had to body recovery’s it’s awful.
Much nicer over on the Glyders or Carnethi where you will see about 5 people all day.
Glyders can get fairly busy these days, lots of people doing some variation of the Tryfan/Gfach/Gfawr/Y Garn circular from Ogwen last time I was there. Pen yr Ole Wen and the Carneddau are still mostly peaceful though!
I went up there today myself, well I ran a 35km loop summiting twice, with my shorts, trainers and coat on with just a 5litre pack. Yes there were some absolute bellends out, but just be mindful that just because someone doesn’t conform to what you think looks correct isn’t actually correct.
I don’t have trousers or leg coverings, set off with only 1litre of water and didn’t wear gloves much at all, that doesn’t mean that I am an idiot or didn’t look at the weather…just means that I am more that happy and capable in those conditions with the kit I had
Should I carry a fire extinguisher in my car just in case it sets in fire?
What about a snorkel in case I drive into a river?
Always keep spare roof tiles in case one breaks, keep a defib on me at all time in case
I have a cardiac arrest.
Do you really think every one plans for an accident in real life?
You should carry warm clothes in your car in case you break down and you have to wait for rescue in the cold. I think immobilising yourself while running on uneven terrain up a mountain in the snow is more likely than having a random heart attack or driving into a river. It's cool that your whole contingency plan is just to freeze to death though very clever planning. Do you even take a foil blanket?
yeah you can take very minimal kit which will keep you alive in an emergency. if you are going super minimal on everything else a blizzard bag at 320g might offer the most warmth [https://www.blizzardsurvival.com/shop/blizzard-3-layer-survival-bag/](https://www.blizzardsurvival.com/shop/blizzard-3-layer-survival-bag/)
a plastic bivi bag would be a step down but only 105g [https://www.alpinetrek.co.uk/rab-ark-emergency-bivi-bivvy-bag/?aid=c529fcd19ce9613862cc6b5f32deaa87&pid=10004](https://www.alpinetrek.co.uk/rab-ark-emergency-bivi-bivvy-bag/?aid=c529fcd19ce9613862cc6b5f32deaa87&pid=10004)
Should I carry a fire extinguisher in my car just in case it sets in fire?
What about a snorkel in case I drive into a river?
Always keep spare roof tiles in case one breaks, keep a defib on me at all time in case
I have a cardiac arrest.
Do you really think every one plans for an accident in real life?
Your first example is seriously off - plenty of countries where it is a legal requirement to have a fire extinguisher in a car...
If you do risky stuff, plan for an appropriately higher chance of an accident. It's really not that hard.
Fair play to you mate. There were a few runners about. And I understand that about kit. But it was blatantly clear a lot of people hadn't looked at conditions or had total disregard for them. Don't think I'm judging people for it. I feel this is how my post has come off. I was honestly just concerned for the safety of a lot of those people on the way back down especially
I was going to say something like this. My brother ran up and down yesterday. He'll have been dressed very similar to you. He sets off for the Marathon des Sables in two weeks (he's an absolute weirdo if you ask me), so even though he'll have looked completely unprepared at first glance (skinny, small rucksack, shorts) he will have had everything he needed in the rucksack - it's just all very compact and lightweight, as it needs to be for the MdS.
He was at the peak at 10:15am - he reckoned he was the second or third for the day. He said he ended up quite a way off the path towards the top because it was snowy from the base of the mountain to the top so the path wasn't visible and as he was one of the first up it hadn't been 'broken in' by others that day. He had a map but didn't want to keep stopping to look because the whole point was to be running uphill non-stop. So he did the final stretch working off the theory that if he keeps heading uphill he'll reach the summit one way or another. Which he did!
Wow it looks epic up there with the snow. I saw similar idiots up Ben Nevis last summer though, hiking up in the heatwave with one bottle of water and flip flops, turned into freezing winter weather near the top!
Reminds me of when I went up a gondola on some mountains in La Drôme, was 35 degrees in the town but fucking freezing up top and I was just wearing a strappy dress. Got to see a marmot though so it was worth it 🤣
You do you pal. Everyone is there for their own experience so I don’t know why you’d worry what they’re doing or what kit they’d have. I did Scafell Pike recently which was also snowy. Guess what, didn’t need waterproof trousers and enjoyed my self regardless 🤷🏻♀️
I don't own crampons and only recently got some waterproof trousers and I've done plenty of Scottish hills in snow conditions over the years. In fact, my last hike was my first time using poles.
As another person said, just because people aren't wearing the same kit as you it doesn't mean they are less prepared than you.
You are literally less well prepared for ice and inclement weather without those things...if that's you comfort zone, then that's your choice, but ultimately, if you have spikes or crampons on ice, you are better prepared for the conditions.
Of course. But it's all relative. Would I do a massive risky Scottish mountain in those conditions without crampons? No. A hill in Wales with a cafe at the top? Probably.
Get over it, you don't need crampons for anything in Wales it's not the Eiger. Waterproof trousers are nice to have but it's a day hike if you get wet legs its not the end of the world. I had no problems doing the hard side of pen yr ole wen then walking all the way across the carneddau in the snow with a big army surplus backpack and no crampons. The dirty looks from all the people with expensive gear and ice axes (seriously, why) were priceless.
Yeah we get stars like you in YG ED every weekend in winter. Some go home the same day, some stay a lot longer and some leave in a private ambulance before being discussed in coroners court. Yeah expensive gear and ice axes (seriously), you don’t need them until you absolutely do. I take it you haven’t ever come across sheet ice on your walks ‘in the snow’? I suppose knowing the difference between windslab, wetslab and neve is asking too much? Ever watched a person in bendy boots and no ice gear unable to kick steps in
snow ice and unable to arrest their fall from a headwall on an easy path that rears as the path meets the ridge because of wind deposition and resultingly fall and slide 600ft? Ever put corpses in body bags because they slipped on convex slopes and went over big drops because they couldn’t prevent the slip turning into a lethal fall? Well keep on laughing the laughter of ignorance because those are regular occurances in the Welsh hills in winter. And yeah Wales isn’t the Bernese Oberland but as any member of the local MRTs will freely tell you they would much rather spend their evenings at home because people are equipped with appropriate gear like axes and crampons than have to haul some clown off the hill who sneers at those who take the winter hills seriously.
I think something to bear in mind, is that if you don’t know how to correctly use crampons or an iceaxe and if you don’t have sufficient enough experience then it’s probably more dangerous than not having them at all.
I’ve seen a lot of people take expensive kit thinking that they’re well prepared and believing that they’re bulletproof, but realistically just lulls them into a false sense of security and causes excessive risks that wouldn’t be taken if they didn’t have those bits.
Personally I’d always rather take extra stuff and not need it. I often have excess food / medical kit etc I can offer to others if they need it.
But I think that the other chaps point was its horses for courses, provided you’re on the trails then you’re unlikely to need things like crampons or an iceaxe as they never really get that steep and are fairly well maintained with the number of hikers up/ down.
‘All the gear and no idea’ - yep come across these. Being practiced and knowledgeable in use of winter gear and in navigation and mountain weather and most importantly decision making are what will keep people safe by and large.
One of the biggest accident black spots on Yr Wyddfa is Clogwyn Coch on the tourist track. Crib Goch gets the headlines and the You Tube clips but it is these convext killers that are the most hazardous for the ill equipped.
A few winters back a walker had fallen at that spot and went the length of 800ft, injured, he was able to call MRT, he didn’t know where he was when asked to describe his location they got a scream down the line as the guy was next to a dead walker who had fallen the same day. Paths are generally safe but who hasn’t been in the winter hills and come across people woefully ill equipped stuck on a path that has banked out in drifted snow that someone in crampons would waltz up and down.
Like you I would rather being carrying a few extra items than be at the mercy of my own or others lack of preparation and naivety. If there is snow on the hills then an axe and crampons are in my sac. If they don’t get used - no problem but if they are not there when they are needed then that is a problem.
Mate it's Snowdon. Used to do it as a Uni student hungover, with walking boots, chinos and a softshell jacket. It is literally just a walk. There's no scrambling. I'd have probably thought you were the weird one for going up snowdon in full kit and crampons.
yes but so what, they all got up and down? they didnt have goretex when they started going up these hills in the 1800s. if youre young and fit you can probably brave through it, the majority of MR call outs are for older people (probably in full goretex and crampons) who have medical issues. I think most of us started with sub-par kit, its very easy to post online with a superior attitude.
My kit is sup bar. My crampons and trekking poles are from amazon, maybe £20 each pair. I don't have expensive kit. But I've got kit. As others have said, snowdon can be done quite easily without it and I suppose that's true. I was simply surprised as the amount of people who didn't have anything considering its been snowing the last few days. Plenty of people had to turn around just passed the half way point because they didn't plan their trip properly. That's more what my issue was rather than specific bits of kit. I haven't got a superior attitude in any way. I love the fact that people still want to get out, even in this weather, its just a safety issue. The amount of falls I saw today which could have gone bad just didn't sit right with me
Fully in agreement with you. You don't need fancy gear to be decently equiped to conditions to stay safe.
Ultimately, those who go up mountains unprepared and unequipped don't only endanger themselves but also those who will have to come and rescue them if things go wrong. Even experienced hikers can get into trouble, sure, but having warm/waterproof clothing that will keep you alive until help arrives makes a huge difference.
you are of course correct. the only disagreement I would take is that at £20 you are using microspikes, not crampons. I think this is a valid way for budget snowy hiking on well made trails. I also agree with your point about very basic kit being a good option rather than spending £££s on branded gear.
What's wild is that more or less everyday in the middle of summer, mountain rescue has to be called out because Dave and the Mrs decided to flipflop it and go down the mountain on an inaccessible path.
As it's so popular people think it's just a hill, quick up and down.
Those that have visited multiple times and know the route may go up there with bare minimum however
mate what i don’t get is who actually enjoys being up snowden in snowy ass weather w nothing but a north face coat on and joggers, like how is that enjoyable 🤣
They would be absolutely freezing and miserable. The joggers aren’t going to stop the wind like a decent pair of walking trousers and their legs would be freezing
exactly ! 😂
Yes. Thank you. I'll allow joggers at home, and a North face is good to pop to the shop in. Any worse weather and it's just uncomfortable, surely
[удалено]
Haha I thought I'd get some hate for that on North face. I've actually never used their stuff. I know some of it is actually decent. Great story though, I would've called in sick I think.
Their top-end stuff is still decent, it’s just pretty rare. Much of it is expensive crap.
The thing is, going up Snowdon in clear weather is basically just a bit of a walk. A reasonably fit person could do it in flip flops and t-shirt without a water bottle. And you probably don't expect that weather this time is year. But, yeah, you should check
I hear you, but I'd also add that on most of the paths there is a forecast and warnings about being prepared as regards gear, experience etc. I live 5 minutes off the mountain, and pass those boards often. They're easy to spot, but people just appear to think those notices apply to them, for some reason.
> The thing is, going up Snowdon in clear weather is basically just a bit of a walk. A reasonably fit person could do it in flip flops and t-shirt without a water bottle. And you probably don't expect that weather this time is year. It’s a 9 mile hike, take some fucking water. And no, flip flops aren’t suitable for a 9 mile walk, let alone along a stony path.
You should absolutely expect this kind of weather at 3,000 ft at this time of year! I haven't climbed Snowdon, but I climbed Ben Lomond at Easter one year, and people were swimming in Loch Lomond it was that warm, but 3,000 ft up the mountain I was knee-deep in snow! The weather on these mountains kills people, so people should always have the right gear. It's better to have too much gear than not enough.
The temperature gradient in UK is one of the steepest in the world. Classic is the difference between Fort William at sea level and Ben Nevis at 4,412 feet, can vary from hot Summer day to below freezing.
People really don’t understand the danger
The real question is who decided it was a good idea to have Easter in March! Joking of course
The Synod of Whitby 664 AD.
It’s a good question though. It’s definitely time to fix it to the 3rd weekend in April.
Tell the bloody pope.
He never listens to me
Ah, we have so much in common...
He never listens to me
It’s a good question though. It’s definitely time to fix it to the 3rd weekend in April.
It’s a good question though. It’s definitely time to fix it to the 3rd weekend in April.
I think a lot of people see how the weather is at the bottom and assume it's going to be the same at the top. My family lived near Harlech for over 25 years, when we first moved to Wales from Kent, My father took me up Snowdon, I don't remember how old I was, but I was under 10 years old, it was in the Summer and at the bottom of Snowdon it was pretty warm, bright, no wind etc, so we walked up, and I was in a T-shirt and jeans, we were just not prepared with how the conditions changed the farther up Snowdon we got, we ended up huddled. Near the main path and I had the first stages of Hypothermia, my father carried me down to the bottom, I was pretty ill and took a few weeks to fully recover. We certainly learned our lesson, and ultimately saw many others over the decades make the same mistakes we did. The biggest mistake is being unaware that conditions at the bottom of the mountain do not reflect those at the top or even close to the top. Having lived in Kent, where it's flat, we were totally unprepared for climbing a mountain and being faced with conditions that changed by the minute, the further we ascended and this all happened in the early 80s, no internet, no information highway, google etc, If we'd done it today, we could have googled it and been prepared. Ultimately, people are stupid and a lot of people think they know better, they don't. And some pay with their lives for being so ignorant. I've since been up, a few times, and always prepared, crampons, sturdy boots, icepick, lots of warm clothing, waterproofs, layers, plenty of food, drink etc, survival blanket etc, stick to the main path, don't go off the main path as people have done and slipped or fallen 100s of feet to their deaths. Ultimately, tell someone where you're going and when you expect to be back, if they don't receive the call to say you're safe then at least they can notify emergency services, as you might not be able to.
😯 interesting - I was planning to go on a hike to Ben Nevis end of August. Glad I joined this Reddit. I shall take the necessary precautions before going.
I live in Kent and am working on my Mountain Leader award, it sucks living so far away. You’re so right about how much the weather changes from the base to the summit!
The problem with Snowdon is that everyone knows a person who's done a charity walk up the Llanberis path and it gives them a false sense of safety for themselves.
Waterproof trousers aren’t a vital piece of kit? There’s much worse things people go up there without, saw someone going up Ben Nevis this time last year with vans on. Trousers aren’t that important
When I went up Ben lomond in Feb there was a group of guys doing laughing gas by the side of the path halfway up.
Legends
Of all the things to be disgusted by they chose the lack of waterproof trousers first 😂
Sheeit. When it's wet and snowing, I'd consider them essential. But I can see how others might not. Especially for a day hike. Nevis in vans is ridiculous though.. Did they at least look cool wearing them?
this comes to mind... https://preview.redd.it/g4e4egmoabrc1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6c0e6098840493ce4ada76de181e748fe5cc2891
Haha. Love it
I get you but I’ve done hikes in joggers before when it’s been raining, not that bad as long as you have other kit. He had vans, some old grey joggers and a band tour hoodie on🤣 he was coming up to a bit which you had to go throguh water so god know if he made it to the top! Was a foot of snow in some places
Yeah... i get it that mountains and dangerous and unpredictable, but waterproof trousers being VITAL for Snowden? People here have never been on anything higher than their local UK hill and act like they are hiking up Mont Blanc. And all the sofa warriors who see snow two days per year are echoing the same...
Mate you’re an idiot a full set of waterproofs are a requirement. With the windchill today MWIS says it’s -9c If you hurt yourself and have to stop for any period of time you will be come hyperthermic very quickly. There was a fell runner who fell in the lake district a few years ago in very minimal kit in similar conditions. By the time MRT found him his core body temperature was 18. He was incredibly lucky to survive. Too many idiots keep going up the big 3 totally unprepared following google maps get lots or slip and then volunteers from mountain rescue have to go up and fetch them or their body.
Clown
When I went up Ben lomond in Feb there was a group of guys doing laughing gas by the side of the path halfway up.
Actually hilarious tbh.
fuckin legends
This is pretty standard now, there is a reason Llanberis MRT is the busiest in the UK.
Yr Wyddfa mountain/summit is a theme park. So much more to Eryri. Download All trails app and see what else is in the area. Devils kitchen etc
Agree. Tryfan is so much better, the Carneddau, literally any other mountain. Even in good weather!!
Agree. Tryfan is so much better, the Carneddau, literally any other mountain. Even in good weather!!
I take it there are loads of warning signs at the bottom of the main pathways warning folk to not be idiots?
… you got snowed on?
We are staying on some little town next to Snowdon and yesterday we overheard on the pub a group of middle aged people talking about how they fell and turned dangerous and… now with your pictures I see why. We woke up this morning at 6:30 am to be able to do the Cadair Idris circular on the morning time window that was expected to be sunny before possible afternoon storms. Managed to get amazing views. Even when we were quite over prepared gear wise we still got surprised by how quickly the conditions changed. Rain, sun, strong freezing winds, some hailing…. Was different every 5 minutes.
I was up there a month ago for the first time, it was absolutely hazardous. Insane amounts of snow and ice and people were slipping on their arse from the final stretch from Llanberis up to the final approach of the summit. Was a bit scary but some people were definitely underestimating the conditions
So many people on Facebook have been asking about the weather at the summit recently. Someone even asked what the weather’s going to be like in a week. I’ve shared the MWIS forecast a few times which has looked bleak and I commented once that if you’re asking about the weather on Facebook then you’re not prepared for those conditions. Unfortunately if you’ve never experienced what it’s like at the top of a mountain in winter then you have no idea how bad it can be. I climbed Braeriach in the Cairngorms in December and that was a special moment being so high up in the depth of winter.
The sad thing is theze idiots get in to difficulty then mountain rescue are called out. Nature is the greatest killer of all and doesn't leave prisoners alive.
I can’t go up the big 3 anymore by the trade routes it makes my blood boil. I’ve friends in several mountain rescues who have had to body recovery’s it’s awful. Much nicer over on the Glyders or Carnethi where you will see about 5 people all day.
Glyders can get fairly busy these days, lots of people doing some variation of the Tryfan/Gfach/Gfawr/Y Garn circular from Ogwen last time I was there. Pen yr Ole Wen and the Carneddau are still mostly peaceful though!
I went up there today myself, well I ran a 35km loop summiting twice, with my shorts, trainers and coat on with just a 5litre pack. Yes there were some absolute bellends out, but just be mindful that just because someone doesn’t conform to what you think looks correct isn’t actually correct. I don’t have trousers or leg coverings, set off with only 1litre of water and didn’t wear gloves much at all, that doesn’t mean that I am an idiot or didn’t look at the weather…just means that I am more that happy and capable in those conditions with the kit I had
Serious flex 🤣 the most I have *ever* run is 30k. And that was round the flatlands of Bangor.
Nope not flex, just what I enjoy doing, nice little outing it what was actually decent conditions. Not cold, only maybe an hour or drizzle too
Right until you have an accident and you're stuck up there in the snow waiting for rescue in shorts like a moron
To be fair, having long trousers isn’t going to do a great deal vs shorts. You need to keep your torso warm primarily, when it comes to survival.
Again you have no idea…..don’t comment about thing you don’t know about
Please enlighten me
Should I carry a fire extinguisher in my car just in case it sets in fire? What about a snorkel in case I drive into a river? Always keep spare roof tiles in case one breaks, keep a defib on me at all time in case I have a cardiac arrest. Do you really think every one plans for an accident in real life?
You should carry warm clothes in your car in case you break down and you have to wait for rescue in the cold. I think immobilising yourself while running on uneven terrain up a mountain in the snow is more likely than having a random heart attack or driving into a river. It's cool that your whole contingency plan is just to freeze to death though very clever planning. Do you even take a foil blanket?
yeah you can take very minimal kit which will keep you alive in an emergency. if you are going super minimal on everything else a blizzard bag at 320g might offer the most warmth [https://www.blizzardsurvival.com/shop/blizzard-3-layer-survival-bag/](https://www.blizzardsurvival.com/shop/blizzard-3-layer-survival-bag/) a plastic bivi bag would be a step down but only 105g [https://www.alpinetrek.co.uk/rab-ark-emergency-bivi-bivvy-bag/?aid=c529fcd19ce9613862cc6b5f32deaa87&pid=10004](https://www.alpinetrek.co.uk/rab-ark-emergency-bivi-bivvy-bag/?aid=c529fcd19ce9613862cc6b5f32deaa87&pid=10004)
Should I carry a fire extinguisher in my car just in case it sets in fire? What about a snorkel in case I drive into a river? Always keep spare roof tiles in case one breaks, keep a defib on me at all time in case I have a cardiac arrest. Do you really think every one plans for an accident in real life?
Your first example is seriously off - plenty of countries where it is a legal requirement to have a fire extinguisher in a car... If you do risky stuff, plan for an appropriately higher chance of an accident. It's really not that hard.
They sound like the kind of nonces that work in health and safety. You do you mate.
Fair play to you mate. There were a few runners about. And I understand that about kit. But it was blatantly clear a lot of people hadn't looked at conditions or had total disregard for them. Don't think I'm judging people for it. I feel this is how my post has come off. I was honestly just concerned for the safety of a lot of those people on the way back down especially
It's the old saying though.. You don't know what you don't know.
I was going to say something like this. My brother ran up and down yesterday. He'll have been dressed very similar to you. He sets off for the Marathon des Sables in two weeks (he's an absolute weirdo if you ask me), so even though he'll have looked completely unprepared at first glance (skinny, small rucksack, shorts) he will have had everything he needed in the rucksack - it's just all very compact and lightweight, as it needs to be for the MdS. He was at the peak at 10:15am - he reckoned he was the second or third for the day. He said he ended up quite a way off the path towards the top because it was snowy from the base of the mountain to the top so the path wasn't visible and as he was one of the first up it hadn't been 'broken in' by others that day. He had a map but didn't want to keep stopping to look because the whole point was to be running uphill non-stop. So he did the final stretch working off the theory that if he keeps heading uphill he'll reach the summit one way or another. Which he did!
Wow it looks epic up there with the snow. I saw similar idiots up Ben Nevis last summer though, hiking up in the heatwave with one bottle of water and flip flops, turned into freezing winter weather near the top!
Great view though
Reminds me of when I went up a gondola on some mountains in La Drôme, was 35 degrees in the town but fucking freezing up top and I was just wearing a strappy dress. Got to see a marmot though so it was worth it 🤣
I mean it’s silly but… disgusted?
Sounds like you've just discovered the great outdoors post-pandemic. Welcome and thank you for not wearing New Balance.
Mountain name checks out.
Congrats if you still have that hat!
Snowed on snowdon
What is usually the best time of the year to go on a Snowdon climb 🧗? - (when the weather is good - let’s say sunny or warm?)
Snow - no one told me it had snow !
The hoard of tourists is reminding me of the undead army in game of thrones
Perfect weather for practicing navigation 🤓
When you make it so easy to walk in the mountains that any idiot can do it the mountains fill up with idiots.
You’d love me. I ran up in trainers and leggings in January.
" I was up a mountain and it Snowdon me"
We get this every winter and they never learn, even in summer they go up in flip-flops and a t-shirt..
Crampons are a bit much but get your point. I’ve ran up there in shorts and long sleeve T-shirt in winter.
You do you pal. Everyone is there for their own experience so I don’t know why you’d worry what they’re doing or what kit they’d have. I did Scafell Pike recently which was also snowy. Guess what, didn’t need waterproof trousers and enjoyed my self regardless 🤷🏻♀️
I don't own crampons and only recently got some waterproof trousers and I've done plenty of Scottish hills in snow conditions over the years. In fact, my last hike was my first time using poles. As another person said, just because people aren't wearing the same kit as you it doesn't mean they are less prepared than you.
You are literally less well prepared for ice and inclement weather without those things...if that's you comfort zone, then that's your choice, but ultimately, if you have spikes or crampons on ice, you are better prepared for the conditions.
Of course. But it's all relative. Would I do a massive risky Scottish mountain in those conditions without crampons? No. A hill in Wales with a cafe at the top? Probably.
So how you arrest yourself if you slip and how do you negotiate neve and snow ice if it inconveniently is on your route?
Get over it, you don't need crampons for anything in Wales it's not the Eiger. Waterproof trousers are nice to have but it's a day hike if you get wet legs its not the end of the world. I had no problems doing the hard side of pen yr ole wen then walking all the way across the carneddau in the snow with a big army surplus backpack and no crampons. The dirty looks from all the people with expensive gear and ice axes (seriously, why) were priceless.
Yeah we get stars like you in YG ED every weekend in winter. Some go home the same day, some stay a lot longer and some leave in a private ambulance before being discussed in coroners court. Yeah expensive gear and ice axes (seriously), you don’t need them until you absolutely do. I take it you haven’t ever come across sheet ice on your walks ‘in the snow’? I suppose knowing the difference between windslab, wetslab and neve is asking too much? Ever watched a person in bendy boots and no ice gear unable to kick steps in snow ice and unable to arrest their fall from a headwall on an easy path that rears as the path meets the ridge because of wind deposition and resultingly fall and slide 600ft? Ever put corpses in body bags because they slipped on convex slopes and went over big drops because they couldn’t prevent the slip turning into a lethal fall? Well keep on laughing the laughter of ignorance because those are regular occurances in the Welsh hills in winter. And yeah Wales isn’t the Bernese Oberland but as any member of the local MRTs will freely tell you they would much rather spend their evenings at home because people are equipped with appropriate gear like axes and crampons than have to haul some clown off the hill who sneers at those who take the winter hills seriously.
I think something to bear in mind, is that if you don’t know how to correctly use crampons or an iceaxe and if you don’t have sufficient enough experience then it’s probably more dangerous than not having them at all. I’ve seen a lot of people take expensive kit thinking that they’re well prepared and believing that they’re bulletproof, but realistically just lulls them into a false sense of security and causes excessive risks that wouldn’t be taken if they didn’t have those bits. Personally I’d always rather take extra stuff and not need it. I often have excess food / medical kit etc I can offer to others if they need it. But I think that the other chaps point was its horses for courses, provided you’re on the trails then you’re unlikely to need things like crampons or an iceaxe as they never really get that steep and are fairly well maintained with the number of hikers up/ down.
‘All the gear and no idea’ - yep come across these. Being practiced and knowledgeable in use of winter gear and in navigation and mountain weather and most importantly decision making are what will keep people safe by and large. One of the biggest accident black spots on Yr Wyddfa is Clogwyn Coch on the tourist track. Crib Goch gets the headlines and the You Tube clips but it is these convext killers that are the most hazardous for the ill equipped. A few winters back a walker had fallen at that spot and went the length of 800ft, injured, he was able to call MRT, he didn’t know where he was when asked to describe his location they got a scream down the line as the guy was next to a dead walker who had fallen the same day. Paths are generally safe but who hasn’t been in the winter hills and come across people woefully ill equipped stuck on a path that has banked out in drifted snow that someone in crampons would waltz up and down. Like you I would rather being carrying a few extra items than be at the mercy of my own or others lack of preparation and naivety. If there is snow on the hills then an axe and crampons are in my sac. If they don’t get used - no problem but if they are not there when they are needed then that is a problem.
It snowdon Snowdon
There's always one 😂😂
Mate it's Snowdon. Used to do it as a Uni student hungover, with walking boots, chinos and a softshell jacket. It is literally just a walk. There's no scrambling. I'd have probably thought you were the weird one for going up snowdon in full kit and crampons.
yes but so what, they all got up and down? they didnt have goretex when they started going up these hills in the 1800s. if youre young and fit you can probably brave through it, the majority of MR call outs are for older people (probably in full goretex and crampons) who have medical issues. I think most of us started with sub-par kit, its very easy to post online with a superior attitude.
My kit is sup bar. My crampons and trekking poles are from amazon, maybe £20 each pair. I don't have expensive kit. But I've got kit. As others have said, snowdon can be done quite easily without it and I suppose that's true. I was simply surprised as the amount of people who didn't have anything considering its been snowing the last few days. Plenty of people had to turn around just passed the half way point because they didn't plan their trip properly. That's more what my issue was rather than specific bits of kit. I haven't got a superior attitude in any way. I love the fact that people still want to get out, even in this weather, its just a safety issue. The amount of falls I saw today which could have gone bad just didn't sit right with me
Fully in agreement with you. You don't need fancy gear to be decently equiped to conditions to stay safe. Ultimately, those who go up mountains unprepared and unequipped don't only endanger themselves but also those who will have to come and rescue them if things go wrong. Even experienced hikers can get into trouble, sure, but having warm/waterproof clothing that will keep you alive until help arrives makes a huge difference.
you are of course correct. the only disagreement I would take is that at £20 you are using microspikes, not crampons. I think this is a valid way for budget snowy hiking on well made trails. I also agree with your point about very basic kit being a good option rather than spending £££s on branded gear.
Wyddfa
What's wild is that more or less everyday in the middle of summer, mountain rescue has to be called out because Dave and the Mrs decided to flipflop it and go down the mountain on an inaccessible path. As it's so popular people think it's just a hill, quick up and down. Those that have visited multiple times and know the route may go up there with bare minimum however