Is it safe to climb Crib Goch today and tomorrow?

923 m · Snowdonia

Crib Goch is the knife-edge ridge on the Snowdon Horseshoe, an exposed grade one scramble and one of Britain's most famous ridges.

Today on Crib Goch is rated Marginal and tomorrow Poor, from the summit forecast. Summit forecast updated 19:10, 18 Oct. The reasons are below, followed by what the rating can't tell you.

Is it safe to climb Crib Goch today?

Marginal Today Sunday 18 October

  • Wind and gusts: Summit wind up to 27 mph, gusting 33 mph. That is past the Marginal line (wind 25 mph or gusts 45 mph): expect to be pushed about on ridges and the summit.
  • Rain: 0% chance of rain, about 0 mm in all.
  • Cloud: Cloud cover averages 24% and humidity 82% at summit height. The forecast gives no cloud base height; the main peak page estimates one from the valley forecast.
  • Temperature and wind chill: Up to 5°C at the summit, down to 0°C, feeling as cold as -4°C in the wind.
  • Daylight: Sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:14: 10h 26m of daylight. The longest route listed here takes about 3h 50m there and back by Naismith's rule, before stops.

Is it safe to climb Crib Goch tomorrow?

Poor Tomorrow Monday 19 October

  • Wind and gusts: Summit wind up to 42 mph, gusting 52 mph. That is past the Poor line (wind 40 mph or gusts 65 mph), when walking on exposed ground is hard and a fall more likely.
  • Rain: 90% chance of rain, about 1.1 mm in all. A 60% chance or more makes the day Marginal on its own: wet rock is slippery and wet kit chills you faster.
  • Cloud: Cloud cover averages 65% and humidity 90% at summit height. The forecast gives no cloud base height; the main peak page estimates one from the valley forecast.
  • Temperature and wind chill: Up to 6°C at the summit, down to 3°C, feeling as cold as -3°C in the wind.
  • Daylight: Sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:12: 10h 22m of daylight. The longest route listed here takes about 3h 50m there and back by Naismith's rule, before stops.

What the verdict covers, and what it doesn't

Peakify rates each day Good, Marginal or Poor from the forecast summit wind, gusts, chance of rain and wind chill. Wind of 40 mph or gusts of 65 mph make it Poor; wind of 25 mph, gusts of 45 mph, a 60% chance of rain or a feels-like temperature of -8°C or below make it Marginal. That is all it measures: the weather forecast at the summit.

It does not know your fitness or experience, whether you can navigate in cloud with a map and compass, or what you are carrying. It does not see the state of the path, river levels, snow and ice already on the ground, or how the forecast is changing during the day. A Good day can still go wrong if you start late, turn an ankle or lose the path in mist, and a Marginal day can be fine for an experienced party on the easiest route.

On any day, carry waterproofs, warm layers, a hat and gloves, food, water, a head torch and a charged phone, and know how you would navigate if the top is in cloud. Tell someone your route and when you expect to be down. In winter conditions you need an ice axe and crampons and the skill to use them, or a guide.

Route notes for Crib Goch

Pen y Pass via Bwlch y Moch

From Pen y Pass car park. The Pyg Track to Bwlch y Moch, then a steep scramble up the east ridge and along the exposed crest. Graded Scramble: hands-on rock. Wind and wet rock make a scramble far more serious than its grade, so it is the first route to drop on a Marginal or Poor day. About 3h 50m there and back by Naismith's rule (6.3 km one way, 778 m of ascent).

East Ridge and crest

From Pen-y-Pass. A grade 1 scramble to the summit from Pen-y-Pass. Graded Scramble: hands-on rock. Wind and wet rock make a scramble far more serious than its grade, so it is the first route to drop on a Marginal or Poor day. About 2h 0m there and back by Naismith's rule (2.6 km one way, 560 m of ascent).

Crib Goch North Ridge from Blaen y Nant

From Blaen y Nant footpath junction. A grade 1 scramble to the summit from Blaen y Nant footpath junction. Graded Scramble: hands-on rock. Wind and wet rock make a scramble far more serious than its grade, so it is the first route to drop on a Marginal or Poor day. About 2h 30m there and back by Naismith's rule (3.0 km one way, 760 m of ascent).

Fox's Path and Crib Goch North Ridge

From Pen-y-Pass Pyg Track start. A grade 1 scramble to the summit from Pen-y-Pass Pyg Track start. Graded Scramble: hands-on rock. Wind and wet rock make a scramble far more serious than its grade, so it is the first route to drop on a Marginal or Poor day. About 2h 40m there and back by Naismith's rule (4.0 km one way, 630 m of ascent).

Full distances, ascent and times are on the Crib Goch routes page.

In an emergency

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Mountain rescue teams in the UK are volunteers called out through the police. Give your location (a grid reference from a map or phone app if you can), what has happened, how many are in your group and your phone number, then keep the phone free. If you have no signal, try to move to higher ground or text 999; you need to have registered your phone with the emergencySMS service before for a text to work.

Questions about Crib Goch

Is it safe to climb Crib Goch today?

Today, Sunday 18 October: partly cloudy, up to 5°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -4°C, summit wind 27 mph gusting 33 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. The rating covers the summit weather only; your route, kit and experience matter as much.

Is it safe to climb Crib Goch tomorrow?

Tomorrow, Monday 19 October: moderate drizzle, up to 6°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -3°C, summit wind 42 mph gusting 52 mph, 90% chance of rain. Rated Poor.

How does Peakify decide whether Crib Goch is safe to climb?

Peakify rates each day Good, Marginal or Poor from the forecast summit wind, gusts, chance of rain and wind chill. Wind of 40 mph or gusts of 65 mph make it Poor; wind of 25 mph, gusts of 45 mph, a 60% chance of rain or a feels-like temperature of -8°C or below make it Marginal. It does not judge your fitness, kit, navigation or the state of the path.

Who do I call in an emergency on Crib Goch?

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (a grid reference if you can), what happened and how many are in your group. Stay with the casualty and keep them warm.