6 Apr 2015
The boys had been keen to climb Snowdon for ages, but we'd held off for the right time, wanting to avoid the crowds that plague its summit on weekends and during the holidays. We made it up Crib Goch on Christmas Eve, but didn't go to the summit of Snowdon itself as the day was short and it was hailing and cold, and we didn't want to put them off what had been an otherwise cracking day by going too far.
So we hit upon a plan of heading up late in the day, leaving Nantgwynant up the Watkin path at 1pm. The weather was stunning so we stopped a couple of times to cool off in the pools and to scramble on Gladstone Rock. Despite the fact that it's the longest way up the mountain it's the most varied and interesting, with old mine workings, steep stone stair cases and an exposed scree slope to finish, and it kept the boys interested - we took 6 hours to get to the summit.
We chatted with a few folk on the top who were sticking around for the (truly spectacular) sunset, but then had the mountain to ourselves as we found a spot a couple of minutes down from the summit. It was exposed and windy, and there was a lingering snow patch just behind the tent but it was perfect.
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| The final scree slope to the summit. Despite this being the steepest section the boys loved it and motored to the top. |
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| Sunset from the highest point in Wales and England. |
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| A lingering snow patch at sunrise. |
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| Teatime |
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| From the summit. |
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| Cooling off on the way up |
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| Learning some camp craft |
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| Snowdon summit |
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| Sunset again |
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| Cosy even though it was about freezing and very windy outside |
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| Sunrise |
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| Some more campcraft. |
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