Gear

Im Planning on wild camping on snowdon at the end (ish) of this feburary. Does anyone have some advice on kit that they would take or they definatly wouldnt take. I have hiked Snowdon a few times and have now decided to spend a day or so there. I want to keep my pack weight down as much as i can but being on a budget i cant go for the ultralight expensive gear. General tips and advice would be greatly aprieciated.

Choose where you are going to camp carefully, as the wind speeds can often be to high for camping higher up. So knowing the wind direction, and speed before you go will help. The temperature shouldn't get much lower than -5c, but it will feel colder due to the windchill.

You will probably need giaters if there's snow, and goggles can be essential if its being blown about. And I would take a survival bag, just in case.

I've got Karrimor gaiters which have kept me dry and happy for few years so not a problem there. Got a good sleeping bag so -5 is not too much of a problem either plus i got liner so think i'll be ok for that. I can get goggles as well. Any advice on good spots to camp, If you dont wanna post your fav spots for everyone e mail me and i promise not to pass them on unless you say its ok

Oh yer, definatly taking survival bag anyway.

I've been planning on trying a spot bellow Bwlch Y Saethau... It's visible on the 1:25 OS as a level area with two small pools about one km east of the summit. I wasn't able to stay there on my last trip as the weather stopped me at Mynydd Tal Y Mignedd. It looks like a good spot, if there isn't to much wind. There's a route down into a small valley south of it if the wind gets to strong up there.

If you do stay there could you tell me what it is like?

Yes i might try that place, sounds like a good place to go. if you know the grid reference for it id love to know. If i do try it i'll definatly let you know. I'd love to know what kit you take with you on a trip like this.

The extra gear I would take, is a 3 season roll mat for under my prolite 3 thermarest, my -3 ME 750 classic down bag, ME waterproof gloves, goggles, light ski mask, 3 pairs of socks, lifa baselayer, and an ME mountain cap, and maybe extra gas for melting snow.

I have been think about getting a comfy hat for when sleeping, as my head starts getting cold when its bellow freezing. I haven't needed crampons, or an ice axe yet... If I start planning non walking routes, or going anywhere that's particularly steep, I'll invest in them then. I'm thinking snow shoes would be more handy with what I have encountered so far.

The grid refernce for the campsite is SH616 541

ok thanks,
I was thinking about taking my north face base layer/helly hansen thermals, north face insulated trousers, mountain hardwear fleece shirt, mountain hardwear alchemy jacket and north face hat.
Ive got a mountain hardwear fuji -5 sleeping bag and i think that that along with a liner should be enough. Im going to buy a thermarest in the next week or so so that part wil be covered.
Was thinking of packing extra 200weight fleece as well as a lowe alpine jacket if weather really gets over the top as well as waterproof overtrousers. Got the 3-4 pairs of socks and liner gloves as well as fleece gloves, am tempted to get ME mountain gloves. I also have a grivel munro ice axe which i will take just in case as it doesnt weigh much so not gonna be a problem. Probably gonna be taking other things but cant think of them offhand apart from whats already been mentioned.
I think my main concern apart from clothes and kit is that im thinking of taking my trangia as i havent bought a gas cooker but friend im going with is taking his jetboil. I know a trangia is slow but it is light and bombproof. As well as that i am wondering about carrying water or using tablets to purify water while i'm up there.

A couple of years ago this was discussed in some detail on the climbing website:

http://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php?t=138390

Not sure if you can access if not a member. A climber with a PHD in microbiology opined that virtually all running water in British hills was safe to drink including at low levels, close to climbing huts and 100m down stream from dead sheep. Only proviso was not if a limited flow just downstream of cattle pens or barn. That pretty much ended the discussion - although, being climbers, it then went on for another 100 posts :o)

Ok dont shoot me if this sounds like a stupid question but i thought i might as well ask it. What do you think to taking water from the lakes on snowdon by clogy's etc, boiling it and using purification tablets. Is this a bad thing to do or should it be ok.

I prefer to take running water if possible (I've drunk straight from the burns on Snowdon many a time), but lake water is usually fine. I never use purifying tablets though, but that's a personal thing.

Id always boil rather than use purifying tablets and would massively rate running water over lakes/tarns. However do think some of the kadydn filters look pretty good, but never used one because they are like £100+

Might be worth taking an ice axe if the weather turns really cold (you 100% definitely wont need crampons), check forecast a few days before (I strongly suspect you'll be fine in Feb in Wales)and you can hire one for a couple of quid or else buy a cheap one if necessary.

Go for waterproof outer gloves as you cant really walk comfortably without gloves at this time of year and if your fleece ones get wet they will be useless - I have that exact arrangement fleece gloves which i really like and a goretex outer.

Clothing otherwise sounds pretty sensible. I always like to think whats the coldest I will get and need to wear and then throw in one additional mid layer say like a micro fleece.

Certainly sleeping bag wise should be fine. Just wear some more clothes in the bag if cold.

Down jackets can be nice and Blacks were selling some good ones of their own make for around £50ish so might be worth a look.

Graham,

I'm interested to find out how your trips goes. I'm a Summer hillwalker who's trying to break into the colder stuff and a bit of scrambling so your experiences would be good to hear about.

Cheers.

You can get a gas conversion kit for your Trangia. Makes it incredibly fast, especially in real conditions, still very safe and even more bomb-proof. Sounds like you've got plenty of good kit; if you have sufficient food and fuel you are unlikely to be cold.

I've camped wild in Snowdonia over several winters now. And I agree wind can be a problem. As for sites look at a 1:25 OS map for flat areas next to cwns with south facing aspects and a dry stone wall, where you can pitch on the leeward side. Ideal and probably don't exist! As for water I've used a travelwell filter and never had problems. That said there is enough water sloshing around if it's not too cold to use a one litre platy with a gate keeper attached. You just fill up the platy from a trickle or cwm and suck the water the filter. Saves carrying a hydration system.

Visit the MWIS website for a detailed forecast - tailor your kit accordingly.

Baz makes a very good point about sheltering behind walls. One thing about Snowdonia; these walls get everywhere. I often wondered about the life of those who first put them there.

Thanks for all your suggestions. i have been thinking about a water purifyer but at the moment i find them a bit too expensive but i am very tempted.
I have just ordered the Memorymap for wales and so im gonna spend a lot of time scouting out areas for suitible camping areas. If anyone has any other suggestions then please let me know as suggestions are always welcome.
I have got an ice axe (grivel munro) and i think i will be taking it as it weighs nothing and handy to have if needed.
I wont bother with crampons with is good cos i'd need new boots too.
As for the trangia situation, the friend im going with has a jetboil and a MSR multifuel cooker so will be fine plus i'll get to try them out and decide what i want. I thik the trangia is fine but even though its lightweight it is bulky.

This was my first posting on here and im really happy with the responses from everyone and hope i'll get more.

Oh and to Neath Nath, i will let you know how it goes. im also heading to snowdonia in april so i'll let you know how both trips go as i finish each one so you can gain any ideas or experiance i get. Send me an e mail or message and i'll do what i can.

As its getting nearer the time i thought i'd post up my kit list (so far) to see if anyone can think of any other pieces i should take or if there is anything i shouldnt bother taking.

I havent added food to it as not fully sure what im taking yet.


Main Kit Mountain Hardwear Fuji Sleeping Bag, Storm Shield Liner, Karrimor Tent, Lifesystems First Aid Kit, OS Map, Compass, Para Cord, 2x Glowstick, Grivel Ice Axe, Leki Hiking Pole, Torch, Spare Torch, Spare batteries, Knee Brace, Roll Mat / Thermarest
Camera.

Clothing 3x Socks, Berghaus Infinity Light Down Windstopper, Lowe Alpine Full. Weather Jacket, Berghaus Extrem Fleece, Fleece Gloves, Berghaus Hiking Trousers

Food / Water Camelback Hydration Bladder, Sigg Bottle, Water Purification Tablets, Food Utensils, Hexi Back Up Stove, Mess Tin, Berghaus Mug, Brew Kit

Wearing Helly Hansen Thermal Leggings, The North Face Base Layer, Blacks Hiking Socks, The North Face Insulated Trousers, Mountain Hardwear Fleece Shirt, Mountain Hardwear Alchemy Jacket, Karrimor Gaiters, Karrimor KSB 300 Boots, The North Face Hat, Berghaus Gloves


Any suggestions welcome.

I think with that list you'll have every eventuality covered!

Although personally I think you're packing a tad too much. That said it's wise to take what you are comfortable with. Use the forecast to taylor the kit - is there any point of packing the ice axe if there's no ice? And importantly if there is ice then crampons would also be needed...

A point about taking back ups - if you don't trust the gear that planning on using then I'd replace with something that you can - viz the hexamine stove.

A suggestion that will help with planning further trips - the three piles trick. Keep a note of how many times you use a bit of kit - grade it used once, used more than once and not used at all - after each trip. Use this to weed out stuff that you dont really need. I went from packing a 65l rucksack for two nights out with kit in excess of 30lbs to a 45l sack with less than 15lbs of kit for four or five nights out just by using this method. In an ideal world the stuff that you never get to use would be your waterproofs and the first aid kit!

Andy, You're right not only do the walls get every where but some seem to defy logic and gravity!

I like the idea of the three piles trick, will definatly be doing that. With the back up hexistove, the mate i'm going with is bringing his jetboil or multifuel stove which will be enough but ive always carried a hexi incase for some reason we become seperated of if on of us has to stay somewhere (injury etc) whike the other goes for help. This might be a bit over the top but as it weaighs nothing i dont mind carrying it.
As its my first winter wild camp (done a few hikes etc) i am a little weary or the cold in the night so maybe im packing a fleece which i probably wont need bit just to be on the safe side i think i'll take it this time and will know for sure by the end if i'll take it again.
I will be using a 65 litre lowe alpine rucksack this time but hopefully with the 3 piles trick i can get it down to less.

Anyone else got any advice or tips on kit, wild camp spots etc. All advise welcome.