Snowdon, Wales' highest peak at 1,085 metres and our challenge for the day. It was the first of four mountains on the DG’s DofE Awards Challenge. Robert Louden, the Club’s Director General, had been asked to undertake his own challenge to mark the 60th anniversary of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme.
Robert wanted to raise money for the awards scheme, inspire people and highlight the good work carried out by the DofE with young people around the UK. And he felt trekking up the four highest mountains in Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland would be just the way to do it.
I was lucky enough to have been invited to join him along with a small group of guests, and Snowdon was our starting point.
We had already pitched up at Beddgelert Forest Holidays site, and were looking forward to the trek.
Setting off early from Pen-y-Pass our route was along the Pyg Track, a scenic route that involves a steep initial ascent followed by a more level section before another steep incline close to the summit. Some sections involve you getting your hands on the rock but nothing like a full on scramble.
The weather was cloudy and there was a chill in the air – nothing unusual for August – but the group was in good spirits as we headed up.
For some time, the cloud afforded us lovely views as we walked, talked and stopped to capture the challenge on camera. But as we got higher, so the cloud engulfed us and the views disappeared. The temperature dropped and the last section of the Pyg Track ascent was harder work.
We hit the summit ridge where the wind chilled us further but at least it was only another 15 minutes to the summit.
The top of Snowdon is often a busy place, thanks to the train line that runs to the summit, and so we paused only briefly to photograph the occasion and for Robert to present some challenge pennons to his team. We then opted to descend below the cloud line where we would hopefully find warmer weather – not to mention some wonderful Welsh views to enjoy as we had a late lunch.
We had planned to traverse the mountain so our descent was via the Ranger path, and it was much quieter than closer to the summit.
True to form, as we dropped below the clouds we were greeted by warm sunshine for the easier trek back to our pick-up vehicle, a Renault Trafic.
We’d tracked our route on a GPS device and had clocked up nearly 14 kilometres (8.5 miles) and ascended a total of 809 metres from our starting point, while descending 1,035 metres.
It was a positive start and despite some sore feet and aching muscles, we felt confident for the second mountain, Slieve Donard (850 metres).
And that’s where I finish writing this blog, on the ferry to Northern Ireland, courtesy of Stena Line via Dublin, where stage two awaits. We’ll be camping at Delamont Country Park Club Site.
The forecast is looking good, cloudy in the morning so it should be a bit cooler followed by sunshine as we head down. Here’s hoping for favourable weather conditions...