Editing Crib Goch

{{short description|Mountain in Wales}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Crib Goch
| photo = Crib Goch, Snowdonia, Wales - August 2007.jpg
| photo_caption = Crib Goch from the west
| elevation_m = 923
| elevation_ref = 
| prominence_m = 65
| prominence_ref = 
| parent_peak = [[Garnedd Ugain]]
| listing = [[Hewitt (hill)|Hewitt]], [[Welsh 3000s]], [[Nuttall (hill)|Nuttall]], [[List of Furths|Furth]]
| translation = red ridge
| language = [[Welsh language|Welsh]]
| pronunciation = {{IPA|cy|kriːb goːχ|lang}}
| location = [[Gwynedd]], Wales
| range = [[Snowdonia]]
| coordinates = {{coord|53.075542|N|4.053513|W|type:mountain|display=inline,title}}
| grid_ref_UK = SH624551
| topo = [[Ordnance Survey|OS]] ''Landranger'' 115
| easiest_route = Grade 1 [[scrambling|scramble]]&nbsp;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/news/article/mps/UAN/1370/V/4/SP/332409698529328364490 |title=Snowdon Horseshoe&nbsp;— Best Scramble? |author=Jon Doran |date=2002-04-17 |publisher=OUTDOORSmagic}}</ref>
}}

[[Image:crib goch ridge arp.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Part of the Crib Goch ridge. An easy section of the path runs over the grassy saddle]]

'''Crib Goch''' is described as a "knife-edged" [[arête]] in the [[Snowdonia]] [[National parks of England and Wales|National Park]] in [[Gwynedd]], Wales. The name means "red ridge" in [[Welsh language|Welsh]].

The highest point on the [[arête]] is {{convert|923|m|ft}} above sea level. All routes which tackle Crib Goch are considered mountaineering routes in winter or [[Scrambling|scrambles]] in summer—meaning that they must cross "graded territory" as defined in Steve Ashton's ''Scrambles in Snowdonia''.<ref name="Steve Ashton">Steve Ashton, Scrambles in Snowdonia, (Cicerone Press, 1992)</ref> The easiest of these lines (the ‘bad step’ part of the route) is given a scrambling grade of Grade 1 (the most difficult being Grade 3—routes more difficult than Grade 3 are considered [[Rock climbing|rock climbs]]).

==Route==
[[File:SnowdonMap.svg|upright=1.5|thumb|left|Sketch map of the Snowdon massif<br />'''Legend'''<br />·grey: ridges<br />·red lines: paths<br />·orange lines: roads<br />·dotted grey line: Snowdon Mountain Railway]]
[[File:DSCN4572-crib-goch-to-snowdon crop b.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.866|The ‘knife-edge’ arête of Crib Goch (foreground) and the [[pyramidal peak]] of Snowdon (background) are both the result of [[glaciation]].]]
The classic traverse of Crib Goch from East to West leads up from the [[Pyg track]] to a ‘bad step’, where hands and feet are both needed briefly. It is followed by ascent to the arête, before tackling three rock-pinnacles to a grassy [[mountain pass|col]] at Bwlch Coch. This first part of the ridge is exposed with [[precipice]]s below, having resulted in several fatalities, even of experienced mountaineers;<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1001/1001503_climber_60_plunges_400ft_to_his_death.html |work=[[Manchester Evening News]] |date=2007-03-09 |author=Neal Keeling |title=Climber, 60, plunges 400ft to his death}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/3019795.stm |title=Teacher found on Snowdon |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=2003-05-12}}</ref>  the [[Snowdonia National Park]] Authority describes it as ‘not a mountain for the inexperienced’.<ref>[http://www.eryri-npa.co.uk/page/index.php?nav1=enjoying&nav2=8&nav3=4&lang=eng&view=graphic&contrast=1 PYG track] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20070419221316/http://www.eryri-npa.co.uk/page/index.php?nav1=enjoying&nav2=8&nav3=4&lang=eng&view=graphic&contrast=1 |date=2007-04-19 }}</ref> It is also possible to ascend Crib Goch's North Ridge, which adjoins the main ridge. The route is far more difficult in high winds or frozen ground, and so it is recommended that walkers check the weather forecast beforehand.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ukscrambles.com/wales-scrambles/crib-goch/|title=Crib Goch|publisher=UK Scrambles|date=2018-10-02|accessdate=2018-10-04}}</ref>

It is possible to ascend Crib Goch from Bwlch y Moch {{Ordnance Survey coordinates|SH663552}} or from [[Nant Peris]], an ascent via Cwm Beudu Mawr.

From the col the ridge rises again, joining the main [[Snowdon]] ridge via the sister peak [[Garnedd Ugain]] in the west. Here the path meets the Pyg Track (which descends to [[Pen-y-Pass]]) at Bwlch Glas (marked by a large standing stone), before the final climb to [[Snowdon]] summit. To the south of the arête lie the lakes of [[Glaslyn]] and [[Llyn Llydaw]]. To the north is the [[Llanberis Pass]].  Crib Goch is classed as a [[Welsh 3000s|Welsh 3000er]] and is also often climbed as the first part of the [[Snowdon Horseshoe]], which goes on over Garnedd Ugain, Snowdon and [[Y Lliwedd]], before returning to [[Pen-y-Pass]].

Crib Goch is one of the [[Climate of the United Kingdom|wettest spots in the United Kingdom]], with an average of {{convert|4473|mm|in}} [[rainfall]] a year over the past 30 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/3354276/The-wetter-the-better.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128075059/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/3354276/The-wetter-the-better.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-01-28|title=The wetter, the better|work=[[The Independent]]|last=Clark|first=Ross|date=2006-10-28|accessdate=2009-09-02}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Crib Goch}}
* [https://player.vimeo.com/video/152992329?badge=0&byline=0&portrait=0&title=0&color=ffffff&api=1] Crib Goch Visit Wales Video
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oQYlPws6_Q Climbing Crib Goch video]
*{{YouTube|3B6R7x10DUc|On Crib Goch}}
*{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/7066690.stm |title=Police name Snowdon tragedy boy |date=2007-10-29 |publisher=[[BBC News]]}}
*[https://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=2797493 www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Crib Goch]
*[http://www.walkupsnowdon.co.uk/places/crib-goch/ www.walkupsnowdon.co.uk : Details of the Scrambling Route and map]
{{Welsh3000}}

[[Category:Hewitts of Wales]]
[[Category:Mountains and hills of Snowdonia]]
[[Category:Nuttalls]]
[[Category:Ridges of Wales]]
[[Category:Furths]]
[[Category:Beddgelert]]
[[Category:Llanberis]]
[[Category:Mountains and hills of Gwynedd]]