Riding Snowdon
Discussion
I've wanted to do this for years, of course as per my usual level of organisational skill it's only come back to mind today - the last day you're allowed to as per the voluntary agreement with the Rangers.
Anyone done it? What the terrain like? I assume it's more technical and slower pace than the average trail centre, but is it fun to ride or something you're proud of finishing after the event?
In regards to the agreement. It states "from the 1st of May to the 30th of September no riding on the mountain between the hours of 10am and 5pm" does that mean no bikes on the mountain, or would you be allowed to push up during those hours? I'm told it takes about 3 hours to get to the top ether pushing or riding/pushing up, if we set out at 5pm we'd run out of daylight, just as we're hoping to come back down.
Anyone done it? What the terrain like? I assume it's more technical and slower pace than the average trail centre, but is it fun to ride or something you're proud of finishing after the event?
In regards to the agreement. It states "from the 1st of May to the 30th of September no riding on the mountain between the hours of 10am and 5pm" does that mean no bikes on the mountain, or would you be allowed to push up during those hours? I'm told it takes about 3 hours to get to the top ether pushing or riding/pushing up, if we set out at 5pm we'd run out of daylight, just as we're hoping to come back down.
ewenm said:
Ride up early and descend by 10am 
Always an option I suppose, we're hoping to do it on Sunday. I live 3 hours away, it's 3 hours up, add in an hour for pre-climb chatting and the inevitable minor technical mishap and of course 2 hours down (to be safe) I'd need to set off at about 1am, which is pretty bloody early, it would also mean a 5am start on the climb - is it even light then? 
The Wife would be happy though, I'd be home again for lunch.
How much do ropey Vauxhall Fonterras go for these days....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wale...
Disposable uplift.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wale...
Disposable uplift.
My vague memories of doing it over a decade ago tell me that it isn't worth a 3 hour drive just to do it. I'd combine it with a weekend away and do some other routes too. That way you can stay somewhere near the bottom and get up early to do it rather than drive there in the middle of the night.
I did it about 15 years ago when I think it said you couldn't go up before 1600. Anyway think it took just under 2 hours to get up and about 20 minutes to get back down. As has been said make a week end of it and aim to be at the gate at the bottom by 1700 and not leaving Llanberis at that time.
Done it.
Went up and down rangers. Did it with a mate at the end of a week's riding round Scotland. (We went up to watch the W/C then did 7 rides in 7 days finishing up with Snowdon).
Started at about 2am with head torches, took about 2 hours pushing and riding to the top. Waited a bit of time for dawn to break. Necked a bottle of Becks (hey it was the last day of the holiday). Clambered up for pic on the trig point and then headed down Rangers. It took about an hour, its all ridable except one part that is very tech rocky, I reckon its doable but would need a few goes. (We walked that bit).
All in all glad I've done it, would do it again if there was a crew going but don't have a yearning to go again.
Have fots somewhere...
Went up and down rangers. Did it with a mate at the end of a week's riding round Scotland. (We went up to watch the W/C then did 7 rides in 7 days finishing up with Snowdon).
Started at about 2am with head torches, took about 2 hours pushing and riding to the top. Waited a bit of time for dawn to break. Necked a bottle of Becks (hey it was the last day of the holiday). Clambered up for pic on the trig point and then headed down Rangers. It took about an hour, its all ridable except one part that is very tech rocky, I reckon its doable but would need a few goes. (We walked that bit).
All in all glad I've done it, would do it again if there was a crew going but don't have a yearning to go again.
Have fots somewhere...
Here you go.
Was about 3 or 4 years ago when I had my old 06 enduro
On the way up thinking WTF
Thats me at the top next to some sleeping Duke of Edinburgh bods.
Me pal about to hit Rangers
The view back once we were down
As you can see I did it with a full face, I think it was a good thing to have for a full decent of Rangers but its really down to you.
Was about 3 or 4 years ago when I had my old 06 enduro
On the way up thinking WTF
Thats me at the top next to some sleeping Duke of Edinburgh bods.
Me pal about to hit Rangers
The view back once we were down
As you can see I did it with a full face, I think it was a good thing to have for a full decent of Rangers but its really down to you.
I did it last year in March. Rode up Llanberis path (about 98% rideable) and down Rangers. Was bl00dy freezing at the top.
Rangers path starts off very quick alongside the train track a with lots of loose rocks etc. About half way it gets a lot more technical (huge rocks). We then climbed a short section and came down Telegraph Path to Llanberis (very fast apart from drainage channels). This allows you to start/finish in Llanberis, but does miss off the last bit of Ranger.
Overall definitely worth it, especially for the views.
Rangers path starts off very quick alongside the train track a with lots of loose rocks etc. About half way it gets a lot more technical (huge rocks). We then climbed a short section and came down Telegraph Path to Llanberis (very fast apart from drainage channels). This allows you to start/finish in Llanberis, but does miss off the last bit of Ranger.
Overall definitely worth it, especially for the views.
I did it last October on a Saturday followed by Penmachno on the Sunday, great weekend of riding, if you go for similar I can recommend staying here.
We followed the same route as Sarkmeister - Llanberis up & Ranger + Telegraph down.
Llanberis fills up with walkers very quick, to get a decent run you would have to set off very early and to be honest it didn't look all that...
Using the Ranger route as the descent is mega with very few walkers.
The first section is indeed loose rocks, your speed is in direct proportion to the size of your balls! Buzzing!
I loved the super technical large boulder section that follows, I had to walk three obstacles that looked properly crackers!
The final fast descent on Telegraph Path is very cool for pulling manuals on the drainage runs, just be mindful of catching a puncture.
I'll definitely be going back for another run at some point but i'll certainly be combining it with Penmachno again.
We followed the same route as Sarkmeister - Llanberis up & Ranger + Telegraph down.
Llanberis fills up with walkers very quick, to get a decent run you would have to set off very early and to be honest it didn't look all that...
Using the Ranger route as the descent is mega with very few walkers.
The first section is indeed loose rocks, your speed is in direct proportion to the size of your balls! Buzzing!
I loved the super technical large boulder section that follows, I had to walk three obstacles that looked properly crackers!
The final fast descent on Telegraph Path is very cool for pulling manuals on the drainage runs, just be mindful of catching a puncture.
I'll definitely be going back for another run at some point but i'll certainly be combining it with Penmachno again.
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