Snowdon and Y Lliwedd (Eastern Horseshoe). Pen y-pass Parking Lot (359m) up the Pyg Track to Bwich Glas (998m) and up to the Snowdon Summit (1085m). Then off the East slope on Watkin Path, turning off Watkin at Bwlch Ciliau (744m) to scramble over the West Peak (898m) and then East Peak (893m) of Y Lliwedd, and then Lliwedd Bach (818m) then dropping off the ridge line to the Minors Track at the Foot Bridge (440m) nearing the Causeway, and continuing back to the Pen-y-pass car park.
Total Time: 5 hours 48 minutes; Total Distance:12.97km; Total Ascent: 1,322m
Having recently completed the western half of the Snowdon Horseshoe via Crib Goch (on a 5 day Scrambling Course with Plas-y-Brenin) this route was planed to complete the eastern side of the Horseshoe via Y Lliwedd. Having hiked Pen-y-Ole Wen/Carnedd Dafydd the day before (December 21) in the Carneddau, I had combined the route planning for both walks prior to traveling to North Wales, with a weather update at the Moel Siabod Caffi both mornings.
Weather assessments were conducting using MWIS, including regularly watching the "Fleeting View" most days. Also reviewed the Met Office "Specialist Forecast" for Snowdonia, and XC Weather for hour by hour analysis. Having recently experiencing two 'named' storms that had dropped significant early snow and ice on the summits, followed by a stable High Pressure, which brought warmer weather that was melting away the deposits from those storms, I needed to ensure the route was within a QMD remit. With the exception of about a 50m patch of snow field near the top of the Pyg Track at Bwlch Glas, the trail up to the summit was mostly clear and dry. At the summit the atmosphere was initially clear. However, as I descend southeast on the Watkin Path clouds arrived, and at Bwlch Ciliau it started rain and sleet falling heavily, which turned to steady rain as I started the scrambles up the peaks of Y Lliwedd. It rained the rest of the way (the second half of the route) back to Pen y pass. The weather forecast had called for rain to start at around 4:00pm. It started at 1:00pm. At least I knew it was going to rain.
Route planning was conducted with an OS OL17 1:25000 map, the OS mapping software on my computer, which provided distances and times (as well as a 3D visual of the route). Though it is interesting to note that none of the visuals, the OS Map or the software, provided an accurate picture of the scramble routs over the peaks of Lliwedd. Also included in route planning was a favorite new guide, "Great Mountain Days in Snowdonia" Terry Marsh, Cicerone publishers.
I took many photos on the way up to the summit of Snowdon as it was fairly clear. As I descended east off the top it began to rain a sleet, heavily at times, so I took few photos on the way down, traversing the Y Lliwedd summits.
Area :
Snowdon Massif
Snowdon (Welsh: Yr Wyddfa) is the highest mountain in Wales, at an altitude of 1,085 metres (3,560 ft) above sea level, and the highest point in the British Isles outside Scotland. It is located in Snowdonia National Park (Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri) in Gwynedd, and has been described as "the busiest mountain in Britain". It is designated as a national nature reserve for its rare flora and fauna.
