Last weekend The Fit Green mounted Snowdon.
Making our way up on Friday afternoon we arrived at The Black Boy Inn (a former brothel) in Caernarfon in time for some gentle pre-hike refreshment...
Feeling a little jaded after a little too much refreshment we assembled at the breakfast table the next morning kitted up and ready to go. Leaving any sign of the detox behind us many elected for the full welsh breakfast (exactly the same as a full english... [cue the Welsh uprising]) to fuel the upcoming adventure.
Being from a non-walking background the crazy get up was a sight to behold. Dressing little bit like one of The Three Musketeers in shorts, tights and boots, George Clooney lookalike (or not...) Mat was confident of the location to meet our guides for the day.
Alongside Mat, in her ‘special’ boots, Stidders and her partner in crime Lindsey, who were slightly fresher than the rest after electing to go to bed early to watch Alan Carr’s Chatty Man had made a sterling job of organising the trip.
After many u-turns we arrived at the correct car park at the foot of the mountain. Despite being described as ‘very hard’, we elected to take The Watkins Path up Snowdon because it would be more of a challenge.
Our guides Zak and Cat looked somewhat bewildered when our excited convoy finally reached the meeting point. Out the car and after a few minutes of last minute faffing (Tricey) we were off.
Making our way up the gentle slopes to start off with we soon opened into the great outdoors. The views in this part of the world are second to none and it was clear this was gonna be a great journey. Starting at the back with Ben & Karen we were laughing at how they had spent the night on a sofa bed in Ally and Tricey’s room. They had booked into the same hotel as us but on a different night. Doh! Lucky we are a friendly bunch at bootcamp.
Just a few minutes in and we were already starting to take layers off. It’s surprising how warm you get whilst walking. This gave a brilliant opportunity for a photo or two.
From this point on the path got steeper and steeper and steeper until we were up in the clouds. The path, a well trodden one, gave fantastic views out to the coast and a challenge to even the toughest of our team. At some points we were on hands and knees.
We made it up to the ridge and pushed on for the short steep walk to the summit. What an achievement! I think we were all delighted. Luckily we were joined on the summit by a surprise visitor - Ally’s cousin Huw who lives locally had whizzed up another route. Even better for us he was kind enough to bring a bottle of champagne!
After a toast and a few more pictures we found a quiet corner in the cafe at the top to eat our sandwiches. However, the job wasn’t quite done. Our guide Zak calmly reassured us the descent is often as challenging as the climb and so back out in the fresh air we needed to warm up. Keen not to waste energy and always primed there was nothing for it... PRESS UPS!
Impressed by the teams general fitness levels and positive attitudes our guides decided to take us another route down the mountain. This was great because we got to some even better views and a slightly more varied terrain.
It would appear Zak was right. Walking down was challenge. Mat, who had been struggling with a bad knee during the week began to feel it. Luckily for us he was proud and brave and didn’t let us know about it. Oh, no, that’s right, he did. Never have you heard something so dramatic. Luckily he had a couple of walking poles and a sense of humour.
Making it up in three-and-a-half hours and then back down in three we had all had a great day. From the journey up on the Friday afternoon with my trusty companions Bev and Cla(I)ra to the drinks in the bar to the climb and the descent this was an amazing trip.
A special thanks to Claire and Lindsey for organising it and Zak and Cat our guides.
Another challenge complete! ...I wonder what’s next?!
