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Snowdon Summit

7th November 08

Memory Map Route data   Google Earth KML file   Snowdon (GPX) (right click>save as)

 

TOTAL DISTANCE 9.06 MILES   TRIP TIME 4 HOURS 12 MINUTES
AVERAGE SPEED 2.15 MPH   TOTAL ASCENT 2753 ft
STARTING CO-ORDINATES
53.11473°N, 4.12016°W
 
TOTAL DESCENT
3129 ft

 

The plan was to drive to Llanberis and catch the Sherpa bus to Pen-y-Pass, walk up to Snowdon then down back to Llanberis. Well, I got Llanberis and it was a ghost town. Not really knowing what time the bus was, I decided to reverse the route (and thank god I did).

On the road at the start of the walk looking to Llanberis The start of the path Just after the first rain poor

The start took me passed the Llanberis station for the Snowdon railway and up a road for 1/2 mile, before joining the path. The road was the 2nd worse bit of the lot. Up to the Halfway house was a gentle climb.

The bridge just before Halfway House Halfway House looking back towards Llanberis From Halfway House looking towards the summit...possibly!!

After that point the wind got up with some very strong gusts. Also at this point I was still below the cloud line and the view looking back to Llanberis was what it is about for me. It was superb. As I went under the railway bridge just north of Clogwyn station again I was greeted with more awesome scenery. I thought at this point it would be a good idea to have a quick rest.

View of Liyn Du'r Arddu from Clogwyn looking Looking towards Glyder Fawr through the railway bridge at Clogwyn Y Garn

It was needed but not the best idea. With all the walking up hill, the blood was pumping and keeping me warm. I didn't realise how cold it was up there. After 3mins of sitting down I started to get cold. I managed to eat a sandwich and have a cup of coffee, but as far as resting my legs.......too cold. So I got up and started walking. I managed about 80yds before having to ask myself if it was a good idea to carry on! I'd had shelter from the railway, but as the path got above the railway and lost the shelter, the wind was whipping over the crest.

Ito the snow level

Eventually after a lot of deliberation I decided to go for it. So crouched low I as quick as I could made it the 200yds that was totally exposed to the gale force winds. Just as I thought I had got through the worse it started to hailstones. with the gale blowing it was like being shoot at 1000 people with BB guns. Fortunately I was just coming up to a ruined building, which I had to squat down behind the low wall to gain shelter. It was all over in 2-3 minutes. With just over 1/2 mile to go I got cracking. The path rejoined the railway and I was just a steady climb to the summit.

The Summit of Snowdon The new 8 Million pound complex on the Summit in Cloud

Once at the top the wind was far to strong to actually climb to the very top of the summit. The view was pure cloud. But I was very happy to of made it to the top. All there was to do now was to walk back down. I'd just walked up the Llanberis path, now to walk down the Miners track.

Starting down the Miners Path   The Peace looking over Glaslyn   The view over Glaslyn from below the cloud

The 'Miner's track' is a more scenic route than the 'Llanberis path', certainly more rugged. The initial bit the top, the first mile just drops down very steeply.

 

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