A few weeks has passed since I returned to a mountain and a route I have not beed to for a few years.
Snowdon is not everyone’s favourite, partly I think because it’s often so busy and certainly the 10th of June was not an exception.
I had driven my campervan out to Snowdonia on the evening of the 9th, stopping for fish and chips in Betws-y-coed on my way to finding my usual place to park for the night. I took advantage of the peace and quiet for an early night. as I wanted to be up early enough to get a space in the Pen-y-Pass car park. A sensible decision as it transpired. When I arrived at just after 6am I grabbed one of the two remaining spaces. It was filled with cars and a plethora of ‘3-Peaks’ minibuses.
After breakfasting on tea and porridge, I set off along the PYG track. It was 7.30am and already getting hot as a steady dribble of happy tired faces came past me on their way down, some happy to stop for a moments rest, most with their eyes firmly on finishing.
Sometimes it’s nice to have a mountain to yourself, the solitude often has a cleansing effect. But sometimes it’s nice to be sociable, to share an experience with folk you may never see again. This was definitely a social day as I found myself overtaking and being overtaken by several pairs and groups of people.
One couple in particular were swapping with me all the way up. It transpired they were training for their 3-peak challenge in August to raise money for the Children’s Air Ambulance. An excellent cause if ever there was one.
It’s an interesting debate about the cumulative erosion and disruption caused by challenges like the 3-peaks, but I found myself marvelling at the number of people on the mountain on that one day, completing the challenge and I wondered how much money had been raised for deserving charities that day.
I spent a few minutes on the summit before depending down the longer Miners Track. Personally I think it’s a nicer way down than it is a way up.
Total ascent: 750m / 2,461 feet.
Cumulative total: 4702m / 15427ft