Snowdon has Snow! Really!

My last trip back to the UK I took the time to take a hike up Snowdon in North Wales known as the highest peak in Wales standing at 1085m!

I live by the philosophy that I would never want any one going on an adventure that I wouldn’t do myself so as I hadnt been up Snowdon yet I thought I needed to give it a go!!

It wasn’t until I got there that I realised that I had may be chosen the worst day of the year to go!

The weather reports said yes there were storms hitting the UK but that the North of Wales would be missed! So off I went meeting my mountain guides when I got there.

When I arrived the weather was a bit drizzly but otherwise ok we couldn’t see the summit of Snowdon because low cloud had descended making it impossible to see anything!

Off we went taking in to the beauty of the Welsh hills. As we went we decided for safety to take the Llandris Path to the top even though it is the longest route with the biggest incline it was the best route to take.

Upwards we went slow and stead after all we weren’t in any hurry to get there.

The further up we went the colder the weather became l was so happy I had packed extra layers even if I had forgotten my gloves! 🙄

At the 3/4 point we stopped under a railway bridge before contemplating the last push for the summit.

Sleet had started to come down and it was really getting cold 🥶

Most people where turning back from their summit attempt so I had a decision to make.

Turn back and come again another day or push on?

I asked my colleagues what they thought and they said push on if it got to Knarley up there then we could turn round at any point.

So onwards we went in to the Snow yes Snow!!!

I suddenly felt I was at base camp of Everest not Snowdon!!

We past people turning back some in tears some looking as though exposure was starting to be an issue! But onward we went, the closer to the summit we got the worse the weather became.

At one point we hit a white out all we could do was stand our ground until it passed before carrying on.

On the open ridges the wind would get up and we would end up holding to one another to make sure we didn’t take off!

At last we reached the railway station just below the summit cold and tired we sat down to get some well earned energy in to us.

James then said ’Well there’s the summit do you want to go up there?’

It was literally 25 m from where I was sat the problem was I had to get up an Ice packed staircase and then try not to get blown off!

Most normal man people at this point would of said it’s ok I got this fair lets go but no not me!! 🙄

I mainly blame Ant Middleton for this because one of the things he talked about on his tour was when he summited Mount Everest on his way down Ben Fogle was in his way up when Ben reach the summit he was 10m off touching the summit stone so although Ben says he summited in Ants mind he hadn’t because he hadn’t touched the summit stone!

At that moment that’s all I could think off of I don’t touch the summit stone I hadn’t done it!!!

So off I went up them stairs on hands and knees righted myself against the summit got a great picture then fighting against what I found out later was 50mph winds bum shuffled back down and sat again feeling very pleased with myself!!!

It was only after my made moment that I realised I had actually lost all feeling in both my ungloved hands!!! 😳😳

For 5 mins I was swinging my arms desperately trying to get some sensation back in to them.

Once some sensation came back we struck out again for the home journey.

Weather hitting us from all side.

Twice we nearly got blown off the side of that mountain but with my very experienced mountain guides they knew exactly where to place there feet and how to keep me safe as I blindered back down the mountain!

As we hit the railway bridge my hands where a real mess I had lost sensation again from all the shovelling of snow out of my pockets!!

Thats when I met a lovely guy who leant me his spare gloves to get me down to the cafe at the bottom ☺️

The coffee i had at that hat little cafe was the best thing I had had that day! Accompanied by the hospitality of the owner it really did finish the day of perfectly.

Now lessons to be learned from my time up Snowdon

* Know your limits - Yes I made it up and down with slight frost bite but I saw so many people that should of turned back long before they did!

* Be prepared - for 4wks after my day up Snowdon I had hardly any feeling in my finger tips all because I didn’t take gloves with me! Before setting out make sure you have all the kit you think you need and even some that you don’t think you’ll need!

* Experience is key - I was very Luck I had experienced guides with me to show me the way and who could read the weather very well I never felt unsafe and if they said nope we need to turn back I would of listened.

For weeks after I got home I was slightly shell shocked by my time up Snowdon.

That mountain taught me more about myself than any thing else I had done before!

I‘m in no way saying go up Snowdon in the worst weather you can find to learn a lesson or two! But for me I did feel I came out stronger and realised after the trauma of last year i’m Stronger than ever!!

You don't have to scale a mountain to test your limits but you should push your self out of that comfort zone once in a while and just watch the change 😊

If you would like to take on Snowdon (on a nicer day than mine!) check out the adventures in North Wales and book your adventure today.

Remember Adventure is everywhere all you have to do is look within to find it x

Until Next Time

L x

aka

mad woman who loves giving her family heart failure!!! 😂