The state of the ground.

[Brumbot]

2014 was my first Glasto and I don't recall it being too bad. There were two bad spells of rain that caused the ground to get pretty sloppy and it made walking around pretty tough but it wasn't a washout.

2015 was much better in my opinion. We did have rain but it wasn't too consequential. I recall wearing ordinary shoes until the Friday (I think) when it rained, had my wellies on for Saturday but went back to shoes on the Sunday as it had dried in most parts.

I've got heel problems now on both feet so I'm really hoping for some easy walking this year or I'm really going to struggle.

[Zoo Music Girl]

Reassured earlier in the thread to read someone saying 2011 was worse overall than 2016 - I wasn't there last year but 2011 was easily my worst... have been a little scared by the horror stories of last year! But to be honest from friends that went 2007 sounds a lot, lot worse. Incessant rain is the pits. That's why 2011 is my worst even though 2014 was possibly muddier - that Friday broke me a bit. But then it really picked up.

From memory 2014 wasn't even that bad mudwise. I remember it being particularly bad as we camped in Darble so it was a hike home and I was with one friend with a fucked back who was petrified of slipping and one who ended up in the medical tent that I had to escort home through thick mud in the early hours... that didn't help.

After 2010 (the dream) I'd take any of my other years again really: 2008, 2009, 2013 and 2015 all had a bit of a mix.

[brettredmayne]

I would happily take 2009 

[Franky]

I would take 04,08, (please god let us have 10 again), 13,15 and I would be very happy ! 

[Nduja]

Would deal on 2015 all day mate. All day. Can only really remember it being wet during Alabama Shakes, and before RTJ on the Friday. I think the second one coincided with a tent re-up so it wasn't that bad. Seem to remember Sunday being cracking.

2014 was fine but as a first timer got badly caught out on the Friday when the heavens opened during Rudimental. Her wellies leaked, my jacket wasn't as waterproof as I thought. Times were hard. But by Sunday it was dry again. And lovely.

2016 was a bit of a slog. We camped higher up than ever so the campsite itself was fine. 5 days in poorly fitting Dunlop wellies took it's toll though. Praying for walking boot friendly conditions this year as a minimum acceptable level. Great fest though, obviously!

[Zoo Music Girl]

4 minutes ago, Nduja said:

Would deal on 2015 all day mate. All day. Can only really remember it being wet during Alabama Shakes, and before RTJ on the Friday. I think the second one coincided with a tent re-up so it wasn't that bad. Seem to remember Sunday being cracking.

2014 was fine but as a first timer got badly caught out on the Friday when the heavens opened during Rudimental. Her wellies leaked, my jacket wasn't as waterproof as I thought. Times were hard. But by Sunday it was dry again. And lovely.

2016 was a bit of a slog. We camped higher up than ever so the campsite itself was fine. 5 days in poorly fitting Dunlop wellies took it's toll though. Praying for walking boot friendly conditions this year as a minimum acceptable level. Great fest though, obviously!

That rain in 2014 was mental. Didn't last too long but was bloody heavy. My wellies filled up with water and I had to buy some socks as was too far from the tent to bother going back. Still got em actually.

[Nduja]

1 minute ago, Zoo Music Girl said:

That rain in 2014 was mental. Didn't last too long but was bloody heavy. My wellies filled up with water and I had to buy some socks as was too far from the tent to bother going back. Still got em actually.

It was a steep, steep learning curve.

Ran for cover approx 2 minutes too late and basically didn't find any from the back of the pyramid all the way to the tent in South Park 1.

Obviously my errors were manifold;

- went in completely the wrong direction

- had inadequate clothing

- had seen but wilfully ignored that hulking dark grey mass drifting up the valley

But it was a heavy price to pay. Lessons were learned.

[CaledonianGonzo]

38 minutes ago, Zoo Music Girl said:

Reassured earlier in the thread to read someone saying 2011 was worse overall than 2016

They are incorrect.

[Trout Mask Replica]

Yeah, I'd take 2015 at a push. Got a soaking on the Friday up the park stage watching Wolf Alice. Spent a couple of hours drying off by a firepit afterwards so missed a bit Friday action. 

However by the Saturday we were sitting on the ground again and the Sunday saw ominous clouds during Lionel but they came to nowt. 

[Zoo Music Girl]

2 minutes ago, CaledonianGonzo said:

They are incorrect.

Yeah I thought as much. But I reserve the right to feel reassured nonetheless.

[mr gumby]

2 minutes ago, CaledonianGonzo said:

They are incorrect.

Agreed. Last year far worse than 2011 imo.

[bennyhana22]

10 minutes ago, Trout Mask Replica said:

Yeah, I'd take 2015 at a push. Got a soaking on the Friday up the park stage watching Wolf Alice. Spent a couple of hours drying off by a firepit afterwards so missed a bit Friday action. 

However by the Saturday we were sitting on the ground again and the Sunday saw ominous clouds during Lionel but they came to nowt. 

As I process the 2016 flashbacks of dancing for 6 hours almost unable to lift my boots away from the chewing gum mud in which they were embedded...I'd take 2015 in a heartbeat!

Ben

[Hotchilidog]

2016 was worse than 2011 in my opinion as it completely dried up by the end of 11. The mud was navigable pretty much all that weekend, at least I do not recall having my enjoyment curtailed. Last year whilst rainwise it wasn't too bad the unrelenting mud did make it a continual slog and I gave up stage hopping and missed the Se Corner completely. That said I had a fine time at the shows I saw, just felt I missed out on the extras.

Edited May 19, 2017 by Hotchilidog

[CaledonianGonzo]

Indeed.  2015 was generally great.  Would take it again in a heartbeat.

[Supernintendo Chalmers]

I'd take 2013's weather in a heartbeat. Dry with sunny spells up until Thursday afternoon then heavy showers until late on Friday, then wall to wall sunshine for the rest of the festival. Persistent rain is soul destroying. The month of June seems to be the most unpredictable and changeable these days, and every one of the previous 7 Glastonbury's I've been to it's rained in some capacity. I'm expecting the same this year, so if it must rain, let it be like 2013. If not, 2010 all the way.

[Hotchilidog]

Agree re the 2015 sentiments. pretty much the ideal Glastonbury, mostly dry a bit of rain just to 'keep it real' but not enough to disrupt the festival. In fact the Mary J Blige set during the rain was one of my favourites of the weekend.

[jackarmy]

Since I've been going, from best to worst:

2010
2013
2009
2015
2014
2011
2016

Didn't go in 2007, that onslaught of pretty much constant rain seemed pretty awful though. However, I reckon if you can cope with the mud at Glastonbury last year you can cope with mostly anything Glastonbury has to throw at you...

[Nduja]

2015 was a strong and stable meteological state in the festival interest.

I'd vote for it given the risk of last year's climactic coalition of chaos.

[Junglist1981]

Any year with 3 days of firm ground can be considered to be a good year really.

It's always gonna rain. 

[CaledonianGonzo]

7 minutes ago, Nduja said:

2015 was a strong and stable meteological state in the festival interest.

I'd vote for it given the risk of last year's climactic coalition of chaos.

I would move on 2015 like a bitch.  And when you’re full of scrumpy they let you do it.  You can do anything.

[Stokesy10]

58 minutes ago, Nduja said:

Would deal on 2015 all day mate. All day. Can only really remember it being wet during Alabama Shakes, and before RTJ on the Friday. I think the second one coincided with a tent re-up so it wasn't that bad. Seem to remember Sunday being cracking.

2014 was fine but as a first timer got badly caught out on the Friday when the heavens opened during Rudimental. Her wellies leaked, my jacket wasn't as waterproof as I thought. Times were hard. But by Sunday it was dry again. And lovely.

2016 was a bit of a slog. We camped higher up than ever so the campsite itself was fine. 5 days in poorly fitting Dunlop wellies took it's toll though. Praying for walking boot friendly conditions this year as a minimum acceptable level. Great fest though, obviously!

2015 wasn't far of perfection really. It had been lovely and sunny and dry for Weds and Thurs, loved chilling over The Park on a glorious afternoon. I remember on Friday thinking we could do with just a shower, and it happened! Wasn't battering rain either, quite refreshing! Didn't last long enough to ruin anything. Can't remember much between then and Lionel, but it was certainly bang on weather on Sunday!

[sisco]

26 minutes ago, jackarmy said:

Since I've been going, from best to worst:

2010
2013
2009
2015
2014
2011
2016

Didn't go in 2007, that onslaught of pretty much constant rain seemed pretty awful though. However, I reckon if you can cope with the mud at Glastonbury last year you can cope with mostly anything Glastonbury has to throw at you...

I've always panicked about the weather in the lead up (to any outdoor gig etc..), I went last year and honestly after that I'm not worried! Like you say, handle last year (and it was horribly hard at times) then can handle most weather these days.

That being said...... 2010 again please!! 

[Untz]

You people with your 2015 love in.

2015 without the Friday piss downs is the minimum we should be aiming for. Sunday morning drizzle is acceptable.

[Woffy]

10 hours ago, kaytee... said:

The only times I've been to Glastonbury was 2014 and 2016 (sorry guys I'm obvs an unlucky charm) and both times the mud was unreal. But because I've not seen an alternative yet, anything else but mud is an improvement.

2010 was glorious, kaytee, but required a complete shift in attitude RE: survival techniques. 

[CaledonianGonzo]

18 minutes ago, Untz said:

You people with your 2015 love in.

2015 without the Friday pss downs is the minimum we should be aiming for. Sunday morning drizzle is acceptable.

The key thing is though that it didn't trash the site.  Made it a bit slippy that evening but by the Saturday lunchtime you could sit down again.