UKC

In reply to scott titt:

thanks, thats a useful link

I'm sure i'll be fine ... but slightly nervous about a relationship-ending epic with the ladyfriend!

In reply to Kemics:

I agree with what other have said, you probably won't know until you get up there, so I'd take ice axe and crampons - better the extra eight and leave them in/on your sack if you don't need them, rather than go all the way up there and find you will need them and haven't got them! Obviously you will need to wear crampon compatible boots.

If the gf is inexperienced I'd be inclined to chose a less intimidating route in winter. Crampons and ice axe won't be a lot of use to her if she doesn't know how to use them!

In reply to Kemics:

Next week is a long time off in weather terms. Just keep your eye open for the weather, forecast and an eye on the mountain weather forecast for conditions under foot at that hight. Personally I'd not do it in approach shoes in winter because you're feet/ankles are probably going to get soaked.

In reply to Trangia:


I can confirm from past poor experience that bringing the gf up an icy scramble with crampons and ice axe (but no knowledge) is totally daft. :/

In reply to Kemics:

I only just noticed the remark re girlfriend. I may be able to understand why you want to impress her, but I'd guess, unless she has experience and/or confidence at dealing with exposure, then this is going to end up badly. Summer, perhaps OK. Wet, cold and frightened is going to be her experience.

Is this her first experience of exposure? Is it her first experience of hill top winter conditions? And has she worn crampons before over rocky terrain?

In reply to Kemics:

Well its winter. "summer" conditions or not. Don't take approach shoes.

In reply to Dave Perry:

She has lots of hill walking experience and has seconded some multi pitch vdiffs without any drama but still, how she would deal with the exposure/mountain environment is a bit of unknown. EVen though temps for grib coch look above freezing I think it's a bit of a gamble.

Would anyone suggest any wet weather (forecast is pap!) days out for snowdonia that are less likely to end our relationship? :P

In reply to Kemics:


Zipworld! Followed by a fry up at Pete's.

In reply to Kemics:

I once did the Horseshoe in reverse in winter but no snow/ice in sight. We got all the way round without using crampons but when we got to the track just above Pen-Y-Pas it was covered in verglas and deadly. It took as long to walk the last mile as it did to walk the whole of the route.

Al