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SUMMIT TO CELEBRATE

The county of Caernarfonshire, in North Wales decided to take the phrase 'Mountain Top Moment' quite literally and held a leaders sleepover on the summit of Snowdon Saturday 3rd to Sunday 4th July to celebrate the centenary.

"Snowdon is the highest mountain in Wales and is right in the middle of our county" said Jill Stott, who has just handed over her County Commissioner appointment. "We decided there was no better way to celebrate the centenary than to share a 'sunset, sunrise' experience".

Out of the 15 who were interested in taking up the challenge 10 pulled out for various reasons, leaving just five of us...






   ...three walking...




   ...and two travelling up on the train.

The weather forecast had improved from the previous days, fair weather forecast for Saturday, rain and light winds gusting to 20 mph on Sunday. The summit of Snowdon remained clear for our ascent but the higher clouds that had blotted out any prospect of a good sunset soon came down and we spent the night with our heads in the clouds.



I've walked Snowdon several times but never with a rucksack on my back and now aged 61, so to reach the top with the patient encouragement of Alison and Steve was a challenge in itself.
It was quite windy up there but Lynne and Rozz, who had gone up on the train, had found us a good sheltered spot behind the new café building and we all spent a warm, comfortable night snug in our sleeping bags, albeit a noisy one with our plastic survival bags and Alison's foil one flapping in the wind.
It was a bit like sleeping on the platform of a busy station, there were so many people coming and going all night long as they were taking part in a 3-peaks race. Many just ran to the cairn on top and went straight back down, some came over to talk to us and were surprised when we told them who we were and why we were up there. I'm sure they thought we were mad but then we thought they were mad running up in the dark.

The sunrise never happened, it just got gradually lighter and by now things were not looking good. As with all mountain weather it can take a change for the worst quite quickly and unexpectedly. The 20 mph winds forecasted Saturday had now risen to 60 to 70 mph. A group we met coming down the previous day had told us this but with having 2 non-walkers already at the top and the last train having already gone down we had no option but to keep going.

Our original plan was to walk down at first light so as to miss most of the weather front coming in and the others to take the early-bird train down but it was quite clear that no trains would be running that day and the café would remain closed. We would either all have to go down on foot or sit it out on top with the weather worsening for at least another night or maybe longer. We decided it was best to try to get off the mountain if we could or find some shelter and sit it out lower down if needs be.

It took us nearly 6 hours to descend battling against winds gusting to 90 mph with the rain stinging our faces at Clogwyn. This is where we were glad to have Steve with us, a trained walking leader. The footpath has a sheer drop to the side at this point so that was a no-go option. Steve scouted ahead, barely being able to stand up, and found it to be safe on the other side of the railway line. With Steve's help we crossed over sliding on our bottoms and crawling on hands and knees.

The team spirit, not just of our own little group but from everyone on the mountain that day, was incredible. We helped a man out who had walked to the top early that morning and was obviously suffering hypothermia by making him a hot drink and wrapping him in one of our sleeping bags and at Clogwyn one of the 3-peak runners gave Lynne a walking pole to assist her which she was never able to give back.
At Half Way House, with the wind lessening as we were descending and the sun shining on the lower slopes, Alison went ahead with Rozz to get her off the mountain more quickly whilst Steve and I stayed with Lynne who was struggling, determined but still managing to smile.

Despite the challenge turning out to be more of a challenge than any of us ever thought we were undertaking, with a big "Pete's Eats" breakfast in front of us and a pint mug of hot chocolate, we all agreed that we were pleased we had done it.
It will certainly remain a very memorable Centenary Celebration for us for many reasons.

The team:
Jill Stott - Leader 1st Llanberis Brownies
Lynne Roberts - Leader 1st Llanberis Rainbows
Steve Barnett - More than a Unit Helper for 1st Penrhyn Bay Guides
Alison Jones - Leader 1st Dolgellau Brownies and Guides
Rozz Boshell - Brownie Leader returned from Stockport