Grading: Serious

Time: 3 hours to the summit for a reasonably fit person - allow 1.5 - 2 hours for the descent

For Crib Goch follow the first section of the PYG track which starts from the top right of the car park at Pen-y-pass. This is the most dramatic way to the summit of Snowdon and by default the most difficult. The PYG path starts of fairly level but there are a few areas where rock steps need to be negotiated and in winter conditions there could be ice on these and care should be taken. The monolith of Crib Goch is in front of you and dominates this section which also has magnificent views towards Llanberis. The path gradually steepens and further rocky sections require care before you reach the col and the junction with Crib Goch. Half an hour from the car park to this point is a reasonable time. A wooden finger post point to the start of Crib Goch.

Follow this path as it meanders around a few rock outcrops before it eventually starts to ascend. The path is fairly well defined having recently undergone a path makeover. There are however still sections that need care as the path approaches the first big buttress. Several large rock steps need to be climbed. The grade of these is not difficult for climbers and mountaineers but does require hands on rock.

Once passed these sections the difficulty does ease a little and now resorts to scrambling over rocks for some distance before until the knife edge of the ridge is reached. This section is usually a bottle neck as the less able try to cross the ridge coaxed along by their partners. This section terminates in several pinnacles which can be climbed, navigated or avoided depending on your mountaineering skills before descending to a reasonable path again.

This path leads on to yet another rock pinnacle, which can be avoided or for the more adventurous attacked head on where another ridge section is encountered. This leads to a level area below the final rock pinnacle which again can be avoided by using a rough path or climbed direct to the final section of the ridge with terminates on the plateau of Crib-y-Ddysgl and the trig point. Great views towards the south face of Snowdon and west face of Lliwedd.

From here the path descends to the finger post on the col which marks the junction of the PYG track and the Llanberis path. Fifteen to twenty minutes from here to the summit cairn with refreshments available in Hafod Eryri

Once rested you can return to Pen-y-pass using the PYG track or take the easy route down the Llanberis path to the village of Llanberis.