Snaefell

The highest hill of the year.

Monday 28^th February, 2011

This week we tackled Snaefell – the highest hill on the Island and our only mountain.  It qualifies as the summit is just over 2000 feet above sea level.   2036 feet - if you want the exact height. 

We started from Black Hut where there is a parking space by the marshals' hut on the TT course, crossed the road and climbed up the south west side of Clagh Ouyr.  Tim was impressed by the pattern in the ice on top of this small puddle.  A good illustration of the temperature.

  

The next section of the walk was the descent from Clagh Ouyr to the Snaefell Mines at the top of the Laxey Valley.  Snaefell is at the head of the valley.  It is easy to pick out Snaefell from the neighbouring hills because it is the only one with "paraphernalia" on the top.  The section of the mountain road known as "The Verandah" traverses this side of the hill.

Across the valley is the cutting for the electric tram tracks from Laxey up to the Summit Hotel on the top of Snaefell.  One day we may take the easy way up.  So far we have always gone up the hard way - on foot.

We walked past the disused mine workings.

 Then we crossed the valley and followed the stream on the far side of the valley up to the Bungalow.  After that it was a long slog up Snaefell, mainly following the tram track instead of using the tourist path. 

To the west we could see the Sulby Dam and beyond that Sartfell, Freoaghane and Slieau Dhoo.

After reaching the summit, we climbed down again towards Black Hut and had a good view of the North Barrule Ridge across the road.