Has anyone here ridden the Llanberis track on Snowdon in proper winter conditions?
Just a sort of plan we're hatching for a middle of winter, February ride, and I wondered how mental it'd be, and how much would be rideable without crazy risks. We're all used to winter conditions in the mountains and know how to use an ice axe & crampons if need be, but it would be nice to be able to ride some of it! As far as I remember, the only scary bit is the turn before the tunnel?
Joe
Bit foolhardy IMHO, but hey, sounds like and adventure non the less
Have a read of this for some of the potential problems:
Yeah, I've seen that. Isn't that if you walk on the railway rather than on the proper route? I assume in winter the railway is more obvious, so people tend to walk on that in that particular section?
I'm figuring there would be a significant chance of having to turn back at the top of the fence where he describes. But that if conditions were good, it could be a really nice adventure.
Joe
Yeah it is but you have to consider the consequences of a slip while riding, you aint going to be wearing crampons and carrying an axe while you are riding so the chances of self arresting are slightly diminished !!
but you have to consider the consequences of a slip while riding, you aint going to be wearing crampons and carrying an axe
Yeah, for sure, ice axes on packs are always a bit slow to get off.
Although thinking about it - will be on unicycles, so we could easily have an ice axe to hand. Hmm. Just need to think about whether the risk of falling off onto the ice axe is a bit high if we're actually carrying them.
To be honest though, if the worst exposed bits were very icy as opposed to a decent bit of snow, we'd probably be turning back anyway.
Joe
OK so it was a trail centre and what your planning sounds like something differnt, but this was my 2 mates first time MTBing, (well one does the local woods) Feb this year.
My Pal Rik hates me about now.
It depends on the conditions and whether you are experienced enough to read them correctly. I've taken a bike up there in nearly horizontal rain but turned back at Clogwyn on a crisp sunny day due to there being fresh snow over ice from the night before.
MRT will love you!!
Ever been on a mountain in full winter conditions? I guess not otherwise you'd realise the stupidity of this.
Sorry, if that sounds blunt.
I did this with a mate end of November last year. Don't know if you would class is as "proper winter", but it was about -12 at the top with plenty of snow and ice!
A fair amount was ridable, except where the snow had drifted too deep (no traction). And we crossed over to the railway track for the final section near the top. Snowline only started at the bridge.
We where pretty well prepared, full waterproofs, bothy (life saver for lunch), all except winter gloves! Why I thought my regular full finger ones would be fine I don't know. They came back to normal in about 3-4 weeks.
Here's some pics and a vid... (snow not as deep at the top due to the wind, nice thick coating of ice though)
We did consider taking the Rangers on the descent, but ended up sticking to the Llanberis track. More chance of walkers finding you if something goes wrong. Wouldn't have wanted to stack it on some deserted trail in those condition!
at least dog poo isnt a worry...
Did this about 15 years ago in winter, very icey on the way down, expect many "offs" 
Adventure is a dying art.
Have fun!
You can spot the pompous climbers in this thread from a mile away. The guy just asked a question...
Did it once in January. Weather was great till just near the summit and it started blowing a gale. It was unridable, just ice and snow but that didn't matter 'cos the rear hub's pawls froze open making pedalling impossible. All fluids froze too. Must have been about -20 I reccon' as even my camera stopped working as the temperature was below he battery's operating temp. 
Enjoy!
and got a sensible answer. several died this winter on snowdon on what probably appeared to be safe and easy terrain....
You can spot the pompous climbers in this thread from a mile away. The guy just asked a question...
And the guy has had several good answers, your point is ?
"MRT will love you!! Ever been on a mountain in full winter conditions? I guess not otherwise you'd realise the stupidity of this. Sorry, if that sounds blunt. "
as another rider who has some very basic winter / alpine climbing experience and has been around n wales in winter a lot, i'd say there is nothing daft about this idea. you'll have a great time if you are outdoor-sensible, prepared and don't take risks / understand what the risks are, and you AVOID the train track above cloggy (first rh bend on way down) where it can bank out fully - this is the accident blackspot where a few people died last winter and then it was a steady crampons/axe job to cross it, ropes would not have been excessive precautions on that section when we were up there.
as ever, people dying on a mountain does not make it a no-go area, it means that the people need to be honest with themselves about what they have the experience and ability for.
"We're all used to winter conditions in the mountains and know how to use an ice axe & crampons if need be, " - ie we know what mountains are like in winter, i assume! give the guy a break
Nice effort Robin!
+1 james-o
awesome effort robin!
I think its quite a challenge to ride on a mountain in snow and ice + wind and possibly snowing. I assume you've done it in summer and are handy with nav and the necessary winter hill walking skills/experience? If so, I don't see why, if your cautious about clobber, speed, slipperyness and take the easiest way up and down, it can't be done.
Ever been on a mountain in full winter conditions? I guess not otherwise you'd realise the stupidity of this.
I've been up loads of Munros in winter, including some in pretty bad conditions. A couple that were so bad that we took the sensible option and backed off, I'm not going to push on in a really dangerous situation. Mostly I've walked up paths, but also up gullies and things too. Oh and walked and biked in high mountains in New Zealand in winter too.
I've also ridden up Snowdon in October and got very cold weather, snow a foot deep in parts, snowline well below the tunnel under the railway. That seemed fine. Oh and ridden & walked up a bunch of times in good weather too.
and got a sensible answer. several died this winter on snowdon on what probably appeared to be safe and easy terrain....
Loads of people have died by falling off the back of Ben Nevis too, but I'm guessing you wouldn't suggest that it'd be stupid to climb up there?
Joe
I went up Snodwon in February last year, right in the middle of a proper Alpine style blizzard. Even with crampons and axes we turned round at Clogwyn station, visibility was pretty much nil and the wind was ridiculous. If it's like that, you probably won't enjoy it much... But then again, you'll probably turn round when it starts to get silly (somewhere between the ranger hut and the station) and have a great ride down.
Sounds like you're more than capable Joe, have fun, enjoy it and take plenty of pics and post it up here.
i did it in 2002 (i think) real snow and ice from the halfwaypoint oh yes this was on a full sus single speed,, ended up doing a lot of pushing but I felt safer with the extra support of the bike while pushing up and the cleats were almost like mini crampons
3.5 hours up we started the decent on the rail track as the path was very crowded,, glad for the full sus over the sleepers,, 45 mins decent
was a great day
Did it with the bike Xmas day 2007
well, the kids were with their Mum, and I fancied doing something memorable
- spent Xmas eve in the pub with about half the MRT as well, and didn't fancy spoiling their dinner so stuck to the Llanberis path rather than ranger, they thought it shouldn't be too bad, even though I was on my tod, and they told me where the worst Ice patches were.
will try and post some photos tonight, but the Snow line started just past the tunnel above Clogwyn, and from that point it was a lot easier to take the rail track - the main route was sheet ice, but there was a bit more grip on the railway. Summited to a great many looks of confusion from the assembled 'serious' walking crowd, and then coasted most of the descent with saddle down and both feet out.
I got down a lot faster than I got up... 
Sounds like fun, as along of you're aware of the potential dangers, and take sensible precautions. If it's really cold be aware that Camelbaks can freeze up, potentially adding dehydration to the mix.
Camelback under your jacket is a useful tip for really cold weather.
I've been up loads of Munros in winter, including some in pretty bad conditions. A couple that were so bad that we took the sensible option and backed off, I'm not going to push on in a really dangerous situation. Mostly I've walked up paths, but also up gullies and things too. Oh and walked and biked in high mountains in New Zealand in winter too.I've also ridden up Snowdon in October and got very cold weather, snow a foot deep in parts, snowline well below the tunnel under the railway. That seemed fine. Oh and ridden & walked up a bunch of times in good weather tooI've been up loads of Munros in winter, including some in pretty bad conditions. A couple that were so bad that we took the sensible option and backed off, I'm not going to push on in a really dangerous situation. Mostly I've walked up paths, but also up gullies and things too. Oh and walked and biked in high mountains in New Zealand in winter too.
I've also ridden up Snowdon in October and got very cold weather, snow a foot deep in parts, snowline well below the tunnel under the railway. That seemed fine. Oh and ridden & walked up a bunch of times in good weather too
With all that experience why ask then? Still like to see how crampons and ice axe are going to useful on a bike though.
I guess with proper gear, preparation and understanding of winter conditions on mountains it could be done relatively straightforwardly - I'm all for a bit of adventure, but don't use the railway track as mentioned above!
I wouldn't do it in winter thouh as it (other than an achievement) probably wouldn't be all that much fun - lots of pushing up due to snow/ice induced lack of traction and a mince down for the same reasons.
I did it at the end of August just gone, and it was grim enough then!
I've been and done it. I knew some guys from Manchester Uni's "Team Sperm" MTB club and we did it regularly every Feb. For all I know, they still do it.
http://www.bikemagic.com/news/article/mps/uan/2540
From what you say about your experience, just do what you'd do for a normal winter mountain trip and also take gear to walk off the mountain if you have to. When things go to plan, it's much easier on a bike than on foot because the descent is so fast you go from frozen fingers to toasty in no time. If you've got the gear and the knowledge, then you'll be ready in case it does go wrong.
Go do it!
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