Man conquered 'dangerous' Eryri ridge after beating fear of heights

Darren Clifton, 39, climbed Crib Goch in Eryri that is more than 3,000ft above sea level.

The civil engineer from Manchester has always had a crippling fear of heights but began hiking five years ago.

His serious work to get over his fear began two years later and Crib Goch became his ultimate objective.

He said: "Up the same mountain there's another track and it's called the Pyg track.

Darren Clifton, 39, climbing Crib Goch. Image: SWNS

"Five years ago, I had a panic attack there because of my fear of heights. Two years later I got into hiking seriously and my fear was crippling.

"Over the years I knew that to beat my fear I had to do Crib Goch.

"Crib Goch was a boogeyman. It was always in the back of my head. It wasn't just one day - it was three years of preparation."

When he completed the ascent in August last year, after three long years of hard work, Darren became emotional.

He said: "When we came off we went back down the Pyg Track and I passed where I had the panic attack years ago I got emotional and welled up in tears."

Darren hiked almost every weekend in preparation for this moment and discovered a trick to control his fear.

He said: "I got over some of the fear using breath control. I discovered it in practice almost by accident but it worked wonders.

"There's another ridge in the Lake District I was using that for practice two months before."

The technique helped him concentrate and get a handle over his panic.

He explained: "I did Striding Edge four times. One of the times I realised the way I was breathing helped me focus and stay calm."

The Crib Goch route is a "knife-edged" ridge leading up to Mt Snowdon, the third tallest mountain in the UK.

It is 3,028 ft above sea level at its highest point.

Darren Clifton, 39, climbing Crib Goch. Image: SWNS

It is considered "extremely dangerous" and has claimed at least one life in 2023 before Darren's ascent.

Eryri National Park National Park Authority says on its website: "Crib Goch is a 500-metre knife-edge ridge with no escape route.

"Even in ideal weather conditions, Crib Goch is a difficult undertaking.

"Crib Goch is a serious mountaineering undertaking in wet weather, wind, snow, mist, or ice."

Despite this, Darren dared to make the ascent and it proved to be just as tough as he expected.

Darren said: "It's classed as the most exposed ridge in England and Wales.

"It's dangerous. Where I am in that video if you do fall you're not going to make it. There's no point wearing a helmet."

His fear made it difficult for him to make the ascent, but the geography of the ridge itself was no easy task.

Darren explained: "For some people that crossing isn't too bad but with my fear of heights I was petrified.

"The ridgeline was so thin you cold fold yourself over it. Parts of the ridge get down to half a meter (1.6ft) thick so about my shoulder width."