Welcome to the third and final blog post in the 'Few days in Snowdonia' series. If you haven't read part one or two, please find them through the links below
http://www.charliebluck.co.uk/bloglist/2017/2/20/few-days-in-snowdonia
https://www.charliebluck.co.uk/bloglist/2017/2/21/few-days-in-snowdonia-part-2
So today would be the big day where two guys from Farnborough would wonder there way to the top of Snowdon and celebrate with a beer at the top. Started with a big breakfast to then walk 15 minutes to the start of the path. Baring in mind we attempted to go to the top without an idea of a route a few days before. Now that we had a general idea of a route, it was hopefully going to end up better. Believe it or not one of the hardest parts is the bottom, the steep tarmac road to the entrance gate to the Llanberis path. Focused on beating our terrible attempt to only getting a third of the way up due to fog a few days before, we were powering up.
The first time we stopped was at the halfway house, managed to do it in an hour and 15 minutes. Sadly due to being out of season, the halfway house was closed, same with all the train stations. At this point we only saw about 2 people on our travels. As you can see from the photo on your left, the fog was already quite low. Oh well, if its too foggy for pictures, at least I could say I climbed Snowdon.
Following the path, the incline became steeper as what I can only describe as a massive stairway up. Shame it wasn’t a escalator. Near the top you reach a bridge that you walk under near the second to last train station, peering over the edge I saw a vertical drop was an uneasy view. Now we spotted two people walking along the train tracks, which was less steep, however we continued on the path as the tracks were covered in snow. We then stopped for a little rest. At this point we were nearly at the summit. Just looking around, having an apple, chilling for a while to take in how far we have walked. The answer to that is very far. Walked up near the edge, to a see another steep drop for what must have been about 30 times a standard 2-storey house back home. Major nope factor. So with being refuelled by a good old Granny Smith apple, we continued.
Now we thought we reached the top when we saw the Copa Summit rock. at this point Visibility was literally a few meters in front of you. The wind was battering us and then out of nowhere a woman walks by. I asked have we reached the top, she said walk further into the fog for 10 minutes and you reach the table at the top. She lied, it was 30 minutes. By this point we were fairly tired, but the end was near. We must have timed it pretty well, because as we came closer from all different directions other people were coming to get to the top. There are a fair few different paths to take, but we stuck with Llanberis path as we stayed in Llanberis. So I realised at this point I wasn’t going to be getting a amazing landscape view from the top, but it was an experience non the less.
At the top, once a group moved from the table me a Steve had a well-deserved can each, as seen on the left. Honestly the best can of Dark fruit I have ever had, Super ice cold and my body was craving the sugar. We then took shelter from the wind on the back wall of the Train station at the top. Raiding my bag to find fun sized milky ways was happy sight.
Weather conditions weren’t getting any better up the top so we made our move back, this time taking the track path through the snow. One minute you would be walking on the snow thinking its only a few inches next minute you up to your knees in it. Being the big kids we are, we decided it would be a laugh to do a snow angel. Something to say we have done. Snow angel on top of Snowdon is off the bucket list. Powering down the mountain taking no breaks we managed to get down in just over an hour. There were times where it was more like us stumbling nearly falling down rather than walking down.
Once back at the hotel we celebrated with a shower and a beer, we needed it.
Other than that we just walked around town got food and chilled for the rest of the day, so nothing interesting to talk about. The Drive home was as comical as the drive there, blasting old pop punk songs making us feel like we are back in school. But it was a happy sight to see my bed. Thank you for reading this series of blog posts, drop me a message if you like these and would like this more personal take of my trips. More trips are in the planning stages so be sure to keep an eye out for more posts. Enjoy the pictures below.
- Charlie Bluck
