Crib Goch vs CMD Arête – Which is harder?
There’s the very short answer. But of course there’s far more to it than a simple answer. Having crossed both of these ridges in very, very different hiking conditions, it is of course not a straight comparison between the two. And CMD arête was tougher than Crib Goch in certain ways. So let me elaborate a little on both of these exceptional UK scrambling routes.
Crib Goch vs CMD Arête in Summary
I think it’s impossible to compare the two ridges as a like for like unless you have the same conditions on both. So I do want to elaborate a little on the conditions I had for both of these and a bit more about the context.
| Crib Goch | CMD Arête | |
| Date of crossing | Jul-22 | Jun-22 |
| Who with? | Cousin | Friend |
| Weather conditions? | Amazing! Clear, mild temperatures and dry | Hellish. Heavy rain and wind. No visibility. |
| Overall hike distance | 15.5km | 24km |
| Overall hike difficulty | Moderate | Difficult |
| Overall hike time | 6.5 hours | 11 hours |
I think it’s important to elaborate on conditions because terrible conditions can very, very easily turn something that’s a grade one scramble on paper into something much more complex of an undertaking.
Add to that how your mood can be affected by the weather and by generally how much hiking you’ve done and have still to do, and it’s important to look at everything together.
Crib Goch and CMD Difficulty Compared
I still think, despite the fact that I had impeccable conditions for my Crib Goch crossing, that it was the harder ridge to cross technically. And here’s why:
| Crib Goch | CMD Arete | |
| Exposure | Very, very exposed. One side a sheer drop | Very exposed |
| Complexity of Scrambling | More complex scrambling with the addition of pinnacles at the end. | Simple scrambling |
| How Narrow | Very, very narrow | Almost the whole way there’s more than enough space to walk relatively comfortably |
| Distance Across Ridge | A relatively short ridge | A much longer ridge |
| Accessing Ridge | Pgy track first and then a scramble up to Crib Goch summit. | A boggy ascent from the North Face path |
| Escape Options | None. It’s dangerous to attempt to leave the ridge until you’ve crossed | A path runs much of the way just off the summit though at points it stops and starts, requiring you to stay to the crest |
For me, the CMD arête route was a much, much tougher overall hike brought about by very boggy underfoot conditions, a LOT of ascent over the day, awful weather and no visibility.
It was, for me, the toughest hiking day I think I’ve ever experienced.
But I think Crib Goch is a technically more challenging (and enjoyable) ridge crossing.
Which is better?
In my opinion, Crib Goch is better for the exhilarating nature of the exposure and scramble to access the ridge. But I’d suggest trying both and forming your own opinion!
My Favourite Crib Goch Photo
This photo gives some idea as to the amazing conditions, as the cloud hits the ridge and just hangs there.
My Favourite CMD Arête Photo
In this one, my friend tackles the crest of CMD arête in very poor conditions with next to no visibility.
