Snowdon has been on the "To Do" list for what seem like eternity, just my excuses list always trumps it. While browsing colourful magazine covers in my local supermarket I have spotted a "Country walking" mag with massive "SNOWDON" on the cover. Quick flick revealed extensive feature and eight possible routes to get up there. I took this as a sign from above and took the magazine home with me. (No worries, I did pay for it and kept the receipt. In case I chicken out to get my money back)
Once I have poured over all the routes I decided to go up by Rhyd-Ddu path and descent by Snowdon Ranger path. Main reason choosing the Rhyd-Ddu path was the lack of people that go by this route. In my mind this was because it was super secret track not many folk knew about. The second reason was it's awkward name and me struggling to write it in the blog later. Everyone loves a challenge, right?
One visit to the library and I have also managed to bag Ordnance Survey map for the route and Cicerone guide as well! Couple of days later I was on my way to North Wales with the sign "Snowdon or bust" on the back of my car. Stopping first at Pistyll Rhaeadr waterfall (previous post) arriving at the Rhyd-Ddu parking at around 7:30am. Once all the excitement subsided and I have bought a parking ticket ( £5 for whole day. For up to date charges around Snowdon
click this link ) change into hiking shoes and make sure I have everything I need, I have set off.
View from Rhyd-Ddu path
The beginning was great. The first 200 meters or so that is. Then I came to a place when the path split into two and it threw me. Lost precious time here. If you get inspired by my blog post and decided to go in my footprints bare right. From that point I had no navigation problems. Cicerone guide said it will take 3-4 hours to get to Snowdon summit. My goal was to get as close to the time as I could and not go too much over.
There was also one elderly couple that set off about 10 minutes before me and the objective was to catch up with them and overtake them. Once I realised that the couple got probably lost as they have disappeared from my sight, I had to have new fighting plan. Just then I spotted someone way down behind me. So the hunter became hunted. Cool I'm game. I wasn't much of a game as 10 minutes later (and I'm probably being very generous with the time here) I got overtaken.
As the hike progressed, it occurred to me, why this route is not more popular. The hike is quite steep and you have to negotiate a lot of rocks. When ever I could I was walking on a grassy ground as this is gentler to my feet and ankles. The bad news is there are not many places like that. I would have take a photo to show you, but I was glad I had momentum going. Though the peeps behind me were probably thinking "Why does she keep stopping?"
Not wanting to come across as an amateur (though I'm even worse than that) I had my little camera in my pocket and when ever I needed a breather (which was every time I took a breath in) I was pretending to take photos. I have never had so much rubbish on my memory card! And I have never had (nor needed) so much rest. Another great trick is to take a sip of your water. The only problem is you may run out of your drink before you reach the summit.
View of Pyg and Miners paths from Snowdon.
After much of hard work suddenly the path eased and I was almost walking level with Earth. This is to allow you for a bit of a rest before the real conundrum begins. The views are amazing from this point, just do not go close to the edge if you suffer vertigo or like me, acrophobia.
The real hardship will be near the top. Clambering through rocks, just slowly making your way to the top, not looking left or right, because the massive drop just makes you spread your arms and fly. And that would mean going where you just came from. So not advisable. You will loose the track many times on this stretch, but just keep on pressing. The summit is near. You can almost smell it. For anyone interested it smells like old steam engine.
Yep, that's right. If your feet were not make for walking, you can take a ride to the summit of highest mountain of England and Wales.
After I have replenished my rations, I realised I have not been to the actual top yet. Climbed the final meters and check my time. I did it in just under 3 hours! I had to check and check again as I could not believe it. This has given me much needed moral boost and I could not wait to go down the Ranger.
Seeing people struggling going up, when I was going down gave me very nice warm feeling inside. It also made think wether I was actually smiling going up, like some of these people did. Probably not, but then I took up not a popular route so it didn't matter.
View from Snowdon Ranger path going down.
Snowdon Ranger seems much easier route (and not just because I was going down), because here you are not negotiating large stones and you only have two uphills. From Rhyd_Ddu it is uphill struggle all the way.
Once I got down I walked up to the car on the road. There is a bus going to the Rhyd-Ddu station but they only go every two hours.
The weather as you can tell has been glorious, so overall I can't really complain. (Though going up I could not stop). Before I set off, I thought I could do another route up, (to get my petrol moneys worth) but then these things always look much easier on the computer screen from the comfort of your own chair, don't they ;-) Next climb will have more realistic aspirations for sure.
