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.