crib goch, snowdonia advice

[phildaintith]

Well i've just clocked off work for 2 weeks and what better way to start it than the infamous Crib Goch...

Just packing up my gear/ stripping down the bag to make room for the essentials decided on the 5dmk2 and 17-40 with my nd grads, and thinking if to bother taking my tripod or not, now i've taken it up snowdon before via miners and pyg track for sunrises etc but having never done crib goch, kind of wondering if its a good idea or not after watching several videos...

The plan is to get across taking a few pics in the day, hit the summit and then retreat back slightly to try and catch some nice light as the sun sets before heading back down miners track. and then to report back here with my findings

Anyhoo, what do you recon, to tripod or not to tripod?

 

[paulc]

I reckon that if you are planning on sunsets then a tripod would be worth lugging around, I have seen some ace videos from this place and envy you having two weeks off and visiting such a lovely spot too.

 

[phildaintith]

I reckon that if you are planning on sunsets then a tripod would be worth lugging around, I have seen some ace videos from this place and envy you having two weeks off and visiting such a lovely spot too.

cant argue with my 7 weeks holiday a year! looking like a good forecast at the moment too.

carting it around normally isnt an issue, its if its going to hinder me along those steep ridges...

 

[RBaker]

When you mention steep ridges, I d say no. Your safety is worth much more than even a great photograph.
When hillwalking in Scotland I take the Manfrotto 785b, which is very light, folds up to around 18 inches, and is sturdy enough, even in decent wind if extending only a leg or two.
Anything heavier really has an impact on mobility.
Paid around £50 a while back for it.
Enjoy your trip, but make sure you're around to enjoy another one next year.

 

[Kevin O'Brian]

I would say having climbed it myself, as long as you can attach your tripod to your bag you will be fine, it is very important to have the use of both hands whilst climbing this mountain as you will need them to pull yourself up on the odd occasion on route up.

And weather wise I would use another route if it is windy best take a look at the mountain weather for snowdonia before setting off, not a place you want to be in the wind for sure, and it does not need to be a strong wind too.

 

[droj]

Crib Goch involves scrambling & your priority has to be your purchase on the rock. Any pack carried should be compact, ie have no clumsy protrusions that could catch on the rock and unbalance you during awkward moves. Indeed during descent pitches (I recall one such there) it's safer to take your pack off and lower it either by cord or by chucking it down ahead of you. And note Kevin's comment above.

 

[Willid1]

Crib Goch involves scrambling & your priority has to be your purchase on the rock. Any pack carried should be compact, ie have no clumsy protrusions that could catch on the rock and unbalance you during awkward moves. Indeed during descent pitches (I recall one such there) it's safer to take your pack off and lower it either by cord or by chucking it down ahead of you. And note Kevin's comment above.

It's been a good few years since I traversed Crib Goch but I would echo the comments above and if the weather is in any way suspect then I would not even go up there. Not sure how experienced a walker/climber you are but this is one place not to be messed with.

IIRC one side is very steep field of massive boulders (but sharp corners not rounded) and the other side is a pretty much sheer drop - a long way down!!

Don't have any photos but I'm sure there must be some on the internet.

Good luck

David

 

[phildaintith]

Just got back in, all I can say is how brilliant a route it is. Unfortunately the whole thing was coved by clouds with the very odd break...

Ended up lugging my tripod up as it straps to my bag even though I didn't get a chance to use it! Infact I only ended up with about 10 shots due to the cloud waited at the summit till sunset which again was hidden by the cloud then retreated back through dusk and the last bit by torchlight.

Anyway hopefully there'll be another clear day over the next week or so when I can go back at it...

Think if I went again I wouldn't bother with the tripod and could comfortably do the knife edge with the camera round my neck/over my shoulder ready to snap away...