SNOWDON REVISITED

We have just returned from a couple of days break in Wales.

I had planned to climb Snowdon on Wednesday but the weather defeated me, heavy snow fell on Tuesday night and high winds were forecast so I decided not to attempt it. Instead I went with Mark and Harry to Llanidloes where they were booked on an off road motorcycling experience day. In the morning, while they went off on their bikes, I walked around the farm across hilly fields full of new born lambs. It was blustery and bracing high up, a good four mile walk that got my heart pumping.

After lunch, I headed off to a nearby forestry commission walk through the Hafren forest to the source of the river Severn. A fantastic walk and well signposted. Although, I have to admit to being a big scaredy-cat when it comes to walking alone through a forest. I overcame my fears by singing to myself and walking very quickly!

On Thursday the blizzards had given way to cloudy skies, so I decided to brave an attempt at climbing Snowdon. The taxi dropped me off at Pen y Pass, the starting point for the Pyg track. As I was on my own and am unfamiliar with the route (in October we walked down the Llanberis track which is the other side of the mountain) I asked the on-site warden for his advice. He said that I shouldn't attempt it without an ice axe! Needless to say I haven't got an ice axe and wouldn't know what to do with one if I had, however, the taxi had gone and I really wanted to try. As I was mulling over my options a car pulled into the car park. The family who got out said they were planning to go up the Pyg track as far as the intersection with the Miners track and then follow the Miners track back to the car park, this would avoid the tricky steep ascent to the summit that may require an ice axe. They kindly said I could join them.

The initial part of the climb was steep and it was immediately clear that you would need to know where you were going as the covering of snow made the path invisible and blustery winds whipped the snow into our faces. Once we had made it over the first peak we were into a more sheltered part of the hike around the rim of the mountain range surrounding a valley with a lake at it's middle. The snow was deep here, upto our thighs in places, which made the going laborious. We had to concentrate with each step and after a while staring at the snow was blinding.

We stopped for lunch at the intersection of the Pyg and Miners tracks. I had my sandwich and coffee sitting on a rock overlooking the lake, surrounded by untouched snow that resembled Royal icing on a christmas cake. It was absolutely fantastic!

After lunch we headed back along the Miners track which runs along the edge of the lake back to the carpark.

I really enjoyed the whole experience which was much enhanced by sharing it with a lovely family. Thank you Toby, Louise, Fred, Charlie and Flora. You made my day!