Snowdon Hike 28 March 2010
Snowdon Hike- 28 March 2010
The walkers (Pen-y-Pass up Pyg track):
(and not forgetting the 2 dogs)
What happened?
Well, this walk went ahead, and a great time was had by all. First thing, special thanks, and apologies, to Paul and Bernie for waiting for me so much!
We ended up going up in 2 groups from different locations, Rob went up the Llanberis path with a couple of his friends, whereas Paul, Bernie and myself went up the Pyg track from Pen-y-Pass.
Paul and I met up the night before at the Waterloo Hotel in Betws y coed, the only place we could find that would take dogs. I was actually all set for camping with Rob, but when I was driving up, I had a text from Paul saying he'd managed to find a hotel nearby that took dogs. Winner. Especially since at the time it was raining cats and dogs.
We went for dinner and a couple of drinks up the road, before agreeing to meet up early for breakfast in the morning, before heading off to Pen-y-pass. Rob had mentioned that a couple in his party were new to hiking, so thought it better that he went up the more friendly Llanberis path. Bernie was set to meet us in the pen-y-pass car park at 8:30 the next morning.
Paul and I went for breakfast, and went up to Pen-y-Pass as planned. The weather looked pretty naff - light drizzle and low clouds. I found Bernie, after a quick look around for a car matching the description he said he'd be in, so I went over and said hello. After a quick chat and some photos, we set off on our way.
(Paul - left, Bernie - right, Paul's dog included). I was behind the camera - best place for me!
We set off across the car park, towards the Pyg track, and started to make way up. By this point it had stopped drizzling, and we were just talking football, and other such matters, while slowly winding our way up the first part of the Pyg track.
Looking back towards Pen-y-pass from the Pyg track.
(Llanberis Pass winding through the mountains)
Looking back down the Pyg track
Looking at the hill on the opposite side of the Llanberis pass.
Looking up the Pyg track
Pen-y-pass a mere spec in the distance, picking up some height now.
Rocks and crags to negotiate going up the Pyg track. Nearing the top of the ridge where it parts for Crib Goch.
Eventually we made it up the first part, up to our right was Crib Goch, down to our left, Lake Llydaw and the Miners track. Ahead of us... a small fence, followed by Pyg track. As far as the eye can see. After Bernie helping to hoist my dog, Mysti over the fence, because she stubbornly refused to go over the steps, we were on our way. We got chatting briefly to another couple of walkers.
Looking down on Llyn Llydaw
Making our way along the path towards the zig zags.
Brief picture stop, still tough going under foot.
Down to our left, the other half of Llyn Llydaw, with the Miners track working its way up.
I stopped taking as many photos at this point, because it got to the more difficult part of the walk, plus we had broken into cloud, so scenery-wise, there was little to see, and there's only so many pictures of Bernie and Paul you can take without looking weird! After the Miners track joined, the conditions change quite drastically. Below cloud the conditions were pretty good, visibility was good, could see for miles. As we got to higher elevations, there was a good covering of snow along the paths, this had been pretty well trodden. By this point though - my legs were absolutely like jelly, and I was struggling to make any sort of progress. Paul and Bernie were patiently waiting for me though, so that was brilliant of them. I couldn't believe how unfit I'd become since doing the Three Peaks Challenge last year. But anyway... We eventually made it up the zig zag, and the final stretch absolutely shot my legs to bits. There was a final bit that pretty much involved pulling myself up the a bank of snow. At that point though, we'd hit the marker on the top of the ridge. As soon as we got onto the ridge though, we immediately got blasted by the wind, so stopped for a few moments to get our hats on, before making the last walk up to the top.
We followed the railway up to the summit as far as possible, before it became covered in snow, so we then trudged out way back over to the main path, none of us particularly felt like falling down the side. Getting to the top was still hard going on my legs, though the others didn't really have a problem, so I lagged behind, but was still having a great time, there's something quite nice about having your hat and gloves on, hood down, getting smashed into by the wind, yet still being quite warm and cosy.
The top came into sight, a short walk and we were there. We stopped for a photo stop on the summit, a couple of other hikers took our picture as a group. We got off the top pretty much straight away to make way for the other people who'd come up. A quick walk down, we stopped by the cafe for some sandwiches. The others had rather cleverly brought some hot drinks, which I didn't, so I had a cup of their coffee and loved it. It was unbelievably cold up there, we were out of the wind, but it was still quite nippy.
(Bernie, Paul and Me on the summit)
The side of the cafe - notice the snow piled up against the metal shutter on the door.
The plan was to meet Rob coming up the other way, but he was still at least half an hour off the summit, and none of us had the appetite to wait, so we started to make our way back down. We made our way down, but took the wrong path - easy mistake to make in the weather. After walking for about 10 minutes, it started to become obvious we'd made a wrong turn, so with a quick look at the map to clear up where we were, we turned around and returned to the summit, and went down the correct path.
We stopped for a couple more photos between the summit and the start of the Pyg track. What got me was the ice stalactites that had been formed horizontally because of the strong and bitterly cold winds.
(frostly ground, even where snow wasn't lying)
Big banks of snow, poor visibility.
Bernie in the snow
Getting down the first part was pretty exhilerating and good fun. Looking down it, it did look quite off putting. Another group of walkers were waiting hesitently in front of us, unsure about how good an idea it was to come down.
All the snow we'd trudged through on the way up, we were sliding down. I the first part was the literally just a case of sitting down, and going down it, like a big snow slide. The people walking up were looking at us in horror, I wonder how many people we put off coming back down that way. We didn't really have a choice though, that was just how it had to be.
After that it was largely OK. A few "pheww!!" moments, but nothing too bad. On the way back down the miners track, Bernie found and old mine that had been cut into the hillside, so we put our head torches on and went inside. I wasn't too happy with going too far in, last thing I wanted was to get lost in there, but Paul was keen, so he took point and let the way. It was all very interesting, and looks like a great place if it's raining heavily outside. Sadly, it was full of litter.
We walked back down the miners path, just putting the world right, and before we knew it,we were back at the cars.
A quick stop, change footwear, etc. And we were off. We all went in convoy to the hotel we'd stayed at the night before, had a quick drink, and went our own ways.
All said, I think it was a great day, even if my fitness let me down more than I'd like, it just proves it's something we need to do more!!
So - that was it. The 'first' official walkmate walk, and I had a blast, I think Paul and Bernie enjoyed it too.