Macmillan training weekend - Snowdonia

Macmillan organised a training weekend in preparation for our climb of Kilimanjaro in October. It was our first opportunity to meet our Macmillan group leader Sarah Williams, Jim the Discovery Adventure representative who has a vast experience of climbing mountains all around the world and also some of the people who will be in our climbing groups. 

We had been booked into the Youth Hostel at Capel Curig.  As a first time youth hosteller I was unsure what to expect but with a tariff of £23.99 per night B & B perhaps not much.  First impression of the room was that we had arrived on the set of Prisoner Cellblock H.

Picture:  Justin - settling in

However, after a hard days climb any bed will do, the food turned out to be great and the showers were good.  What more could you ask?

Training day 1 - Climb of Moel Siobad
We met outside the front of the Youth Hostel after breakfast at 9.00am and were split into groups according to the trip we were booked onto.  (Trip 1` - 9th October: Trip 2 - 21st October).  The groups comprise a wide variety of people, all ages and backgrounds from over the UK but with one thing in common - all excellent fundraisng adventurers!

Introductions were completed and we set off for a climb of Moel Siobad, 80 metres lower than Snowdon but apparently more closely resembles the type of terrain that we will encounter on Kilimanjaro.

Picture:  My sister, Lisa with Moel Siobad in the background.

The initial hike was through woodland, followed by pretty welsh meadows, then a path with slight gradient towards the mountain.  We passed glacial lakes/waterholes and some of the ground was boggy.
The ascent to the summit of Moel Siobad is a rocky scramble, standing at the base I doubted that it would be possible for me to get up it.

The scramble tested our leg strength and flexibility fully and also our head for heights.  Parts of the climb were up a flat rock face with no apparent foot holds, the guide reassured me that my boots would grip the rock and as I looked back at the sheer drop behind me I hoped she was right - she was.
An hour an a half later we reached the summit.  Wow!

I believe we have earned our provisional 'mountain goat' stripes.

After a break for lunch at the top we headed back down.  In total we were hiking/climbing for 6 hours.

In the evening there was a talk about the trip and equipment that we would need, followed by a slap up meal.

Keen to make the most of the weekend Lisa, Justin and I decided that we would get up early the next morning to climb Snowdon before we drove home, therefore, went to bed early.

Day 2 - Snowdon
We got up at 6am and started our Snowdon Pyg track climb by 6.30am.
It was an absolutely glorious day and consequently a very hot, sweaty climb.  The views were fabulous.

We reached the summit at 9.00am.



















As the restaurant at the summit had not opened yet (boo! hiss!) we headed back down.

What a great weekend.