The Snowdon Javelin

Trying to avoid as many tourists as we could today we climbed Snowdon via the most difficult route and walked down to llanberis the scenic way. In doing so rather than than the Snowdon horseshoe we named it the Snowdon Javelin after its trajectory of up, over and down.

The weather was absolutely brilliant and got better as the day went on. It made 13 miles in just under 6 hours fly by.

By contrast team 2 headed for the tourist route across after dropping us off - Crib Goch. The weather had bought them out in there hundreds and as you queued to get across the ridge there were a good few well out of their comfort and the pace was slow. However they all made it successfully with a great buzz and some brilliant views.

Our trip started with a great walk following the river. First in the cool through the trees, up past the waterfalls and onto Gladstone rock. We then started to head up hill and as it started to get harder we were making good progress. this took us up onto the south ridge and some fantastic views across to Grib Goch.

As we walked along the ridge every time you looked up you could see the scree slope up to the top and it looked awesome. 800 feet of loose rocks at about a 75 degree incline with a greater drop below you into the valley-awesome!!

As we started up the slope there was a guy clinging for dear life to a boulder and it reminded me of my own vertigo trying to paint the upstairs windows last year. You feel an absolute idiot when you can only do a few rungs on the ladder. He had my sympathy!

A steady trudge, a few wobbles, dirty hands and a power up the last path and we were on top. What an anticlimax!!! It was like an afternoon at the Northampton carnival.

There were dogs every where, bikes, kids, ice creams, even a woman in a grass skirt and a bloke dressed up as a banana. I think that says it all!

In amongst this melle was a disabled race where groups were pushing and pulling wheelchairs to the top and back. It was like trying to walk across the saints pitch just as they were scrummaging.

Enough is enough and we couldn't even bring ourselves to queue up in the cafe.

As we headed down the Llanberis path jostling in the carnival procession we decided to take the rangers and telegraph paths instead. As we headed down with the valley opening up to us and looking back at an other snowdon horseshoe we had made a great choice.

We picked up the tricky path on to telegraph ok and from here is was a gentle stroll back into Llanberis. A

s we sat outside the hotel with nothing more than sunburned legs we reflected on a great walk it was from Nant Gwynant To Llanberis made all the better by the great weather.

Thunderstorms in the Glydr's

Photos to follow

The weather today was not looking good but we thought it would clear up later. In which case we decided to take and easier route onto the top of the Glydr range via Y-Garn then see how much walking we could do on top – hopefully it would clear.

The gentle walk into and around the lake was great, a little drizzle, but you could see the tops and it was a picturesque as ever. As we got the walk start it all changed. The rain started and out came the waterproofs. Then through the gate and wham it was steep from the start and didn’t relent. The steps up the side were great but as always with short legs like mine they are always a stretch. The further up we went the harder it rained, the colder it got and the stronger the wind got.

As we arrived at the lake it was raining hard by now and we were all soaked to the skin. We walked up on the ridge which was OK if not a little exposed but the wind was approaching gales now and the rain torrential. There seemed to be a realisation with most of us that we do this for fun and this was definitely not fun bordering on dangerous. We realised that it was not going to get any better so made the decision to turn round and head for the bar instead.

An easy 2 hour stroll

After a relaxed journey down to Llanberis in the mini bus we were all keen to get some fresh air. Kev's suggestion of a couple of hours easy stroll had everyone grabbing their walking boots. If they were there that is, as Andy realised he had left his at home, a nice easy sale for joe browns!

As we headed up the hill towards Moel Ellio we made a couple of wrong turns and we were up to our knees in bracken, heather and thistles. Persevering on we climbed a few fences over a few fields and we were back on the track.

The path up to Moel Ellio was clear heading up a grassy hillside following the fence. It was a bit longer than expected as your hopes were dashed by reaching false summits but we reached the top in a bracing wind and did a bit of posing for the camera.



It was then that we realised we had been out 2hours already and another peak to do before a long walk home.

We were split into 3 groups by now and as the first 2 made it onto the telegraph path we sat around waiting for the rest. As Kev rung Andy to work out where they were we realised they had come off the hill further up and a mile in front of us and took great delight sitting outside the pub with a drink asking "where have you boys been?"

A quick change and we just made the 8pm curry table we had booked. A great start but a tough walk!