What’s Involved
- Traditional Route
- Slowly walk up to the top of Snowdon. This can be done very early in the morning (ideally in the dark), or on the evening before the challenge. There is an area for camping or bivvying that is normally fairly sheltered near the summit.
- Start the walk as soon as it gets light (the walk begins on Snowdon's summit).
- Walk the first three peaks down to the road above Nant Peris where you can drop off some kit and take on food and drink.
- Walk the five/six peaks of the Glyder section to Llyn Ogwen where you can take on more food and drink.
- Walk the remaining seven peaks of the Carnedd section to the finish point, Foel Fras (the final summit).
- Drop back down to your pickup point at Bwlch y Ddeufaen, or above Abergwyngregyn.
- Celebrate!
photo from www.walkingbritain.co.uk
- Crib Goch as the Initial Peak
- For those not camping on Snowdon, there is a popular alternative route for the first section. This is the fastest route for those not making the ascent to Snowdon the previous evening. However, it cannot be used for attempts to break the record. It is also unsuitable if you wish to climb the first peak in the dark, unless you know the area very well.
- North to South
- Another alternative is to complete the route in reverse ie. North to South (again, this cannot be used for record attempts). However, this website focuses on the South to North routes.
Support
Although a support team/individual is not strictly necessary, it is extremely helpful.
You will need:
- To get to the start point at Pen y Pass (SH 647 556).
There are several options, including:- Your support team can drop you off.
- You can leave a car here and pick it up later. (If you wish to park here for two days you can do so, but must buy two parking tickets. Alternatively, there's always plenty of space by the side of the A498 road down the hill.)
- You can park in Nant Peris (or preferably the lay-by below Blaen-y-nant for the traditional route), and get a Sherpa bus up from Nant Peris. This is a useful place to leave a car (see below).
- You can park at the Abergwyngregyn end-point and get a taxi here (at least £40).
- A car parked, hidden food or your support team waiting, in Nant Peris (or preferably the lay-by below Blaen-y-nant, SH 623 570, for the traditional route). You can drop off your tent/ bivvy bag here, and take on a smaller rucksack and some food/drink.
- Your support team or some food hidden in rocks somewhere around the Glan Dena area near Llyn Ogwen (SH 668 606).
- A car parked at the finish point, or your support team waiting for you (Bwlch y Ddeufaen SH 721 715 or above Abergwyngregyn SH 676 716).
In the ideal world a support team would drop you off at the start point; arrive at Nant Peris for about six o’ clock in the morning to cook some bacon barms over a portable grill; drive to Ogwen a few hours later with some hot soup; and be standing applauding at the end-point when you finish in the evening. It’s a lot to ask, so you may have to compromise on some of these points!