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I did it :) I did my first ever climb...

PostPosted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 10:17 am
by emmieuk
Well I climbed Cadair Idris on Sunday and it was a shock to the system I can tell you!!

But I made it :) It took me 3 hours to climb up and 2 and a bit hours to descend.

If someone had warned me first of the scrambling involved and the horror of reaching one peak and thinking I had summited to then seeing I had ages left to go then I would of said no chance on my first climb. However, now more hooked than ever. I cannot wait to do my 3 peaks before the year is out. Next is Scarfel Pike then Snowdon and Ben Nevis.

It taught me alot...to have respect for the mountains, other climbers and just how physically tough it is. It totally made me see things differently. I didnt take enough water and started feeling pretty dizzy by the end but luckily my partner had some. It was a good climb, fantastic weather conditions and no winds. It was a bugger to climb with no climbing experience and when I reached the summit there was no major buzz...well there was for 2 minutes until I realised I had to get down. Still....it has not put me off ;)

PostPosted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 4:22 pm
by xDoogiex
Awesome! Congratulations! Yes, soon you will be able to tackle mt. Sunflower.

PostPosted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 4:29 pm
by xDoogiex
I put a small one in the mt. Sunflower summit log. Enjoy!

PostPosted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 4:30 pm
by Big Benn
Well done Emmie. Which route did you use?

I haven't done Cadair Idris yet, as I usually do the mountains around Snowdon including the Moelwyns, which are lovely.

You can go to the SP Cadair Idris page now and sign the Climbers Log. The link is near the top of the panel on the left of the page.

PostPosted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 5:07 pm
by Nanuls
Nice one Emma, beautiful little summit isn't it? Glad to hear you had good weather too, a rare thing on Cader.

Which route did you go up by the way?

PostPosted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 5:12 pm
by emmieuk
we went up the Minnford way and thought we had reached the summit but then had another 1,000 foot peak to climb!. Lots of scrambling and climbing.

We came doen the foxs path which is apparently pretty dangerous unless an experienced walker!

It was fab and will stick piccies on photo bucket or something later.

Next one is Scarfel Pike :)

PostPosted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 5:16 pm
by emmieuk
in saying that we never actually started at Minnford Hotel car park...we went to a camp site to get directions to Minnford and she let us park there and start the climb. We then did a left and climbed a couple of peaks and then over to the summit and then down the fox path which I nearly fell on about 10 times haha!

PostPosted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 5:18 pm
by Hotoven
Great job, and congradulations! I'm sure you learned a lot includding false summits, haha. I hope you keep hiking! Whatever you do, don't let people deter you from persuing your dreams.

PostPosted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 5:22 pm
by Nanuls
That's a good route. Fair play on the Foxes Path too, it's in really bad condition at the moment; last winter's cold spell really tore it up.

Good luck with your next endevour!

PostPosted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 5:31 pm
by emmieuk
yeah it was pretty disheartening thinking yes yes yes I have made it just to see I had the same amount to do again. Gutted!! The night of the hike I was saying 'never ever again' but now I am so excited to climb more. The foxs path was pretty hairy at a couple of points!

PostPosted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 5:32 pm
by Big Benn
Vitaliy M wrote:2929 ft? Does the route start below sea level?


It's very easy for people to query the height of Welsh mountains. And joke about Mt Sunflower. A good number of Welsh mountains have climbing routes that, I am told, are a very real challenge. Especially in winter. And sadly, some, like Snowdon, regularly claim lives. I walk them alone in winter, and almost every night in my B&B there is a report on how the Search and Rescue Teams, (with the good old RAF Sea King helicopters often in use), have been saving life that day. Sometimes they just recover bodies.

Many have "normal" walking routes that are far from easy. If my understanding of the route Emmie used on her descent is correct, (I have only researched that mountain, not been up it yet), it is one that has a very challenging section. A scramble on a very steep section of lose scree.

I've generally found them harder than mountains almost 3 times their height in Bavaria, (Germany).

I have nothing but the greatest respect for those Welsh Mountains now.

PostPosted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 5:35 pm
by Nanuls
Bryan Benn wrote:
Vitaliy M wrote:2929 ft? Does the route start below sea level?


It's very easy for people to query the height of Welsh mountains. And joke about Mt Sunflower. A good number of Welsh mountains have climbing routes that, I am told, are a very real challenge. Especially in winter. And sadly, some, like Snowdon, regularly claim lives. I walk them alone in winter, and almost every night in my B&B there is a report on how the Search and Rescue Teams, (with the good old RAF Sea King helicopters often in use), have been saving life that day. Sometimes they just recover bodies.

Many have "normal" walking routes that are far from easy. If my understanding of the route Emmie used on her descent is correct, (I have only researched that mountain, not been up it yet), it is one that has a very challenging section. A scramble on a very steep section of lose scree.

I've generally found them harder than mountains almost 3 times their height in Bavaria, (Germany).

I have nothing but the greatest respect for those Welsh Mountains now.


Spot on.

PostPosted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 5:36 pm
by emmieuk
thanks Bryan!

I dont take any notice of the Mt Sunflower jokers....people start somewhere and for a party girl who usually spends a saturday shopping or recovering from a hangover and where the only thing i have ever climbed is my stairs, I did OK.

I do actually find it pretty petty that grown adults joke about the heights and challenges just because they have done something ten times harder.

PostPosted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 5:38 pm
by Big Benn
emmieuk wrote:yeah it was pretty disheartening thinking yes yes yes I have made it just to see I had the same amount to do again. Gutted!! The night of the hike I was saying 'never ever again' but now I am so excited to climb more. The foxs path was pretty hairy at a couple of points!


You'll get used to false summits etc. Believe me, when you get to my age and weight, they are a right pain!

While you are getting going with your life in the mountains please make sure you walk with someone experienced who knows the mountains you are going up. And if you decide to keep going in winter conditions, research that part of our hobby and how best to equip yourself, (skills and gear), as much as you possibly can before setting out on ice and snow.

But, above all, enjoy it!