Climbing Snowdon at midnight for charity. A crazy, stupid thing to do? Or a wonderful memory to make? Between my brother and I we convinced ourselves it was most definitely the latter and we signed up, with hope of making several hundred pounds for the Alzheimer’s Society, in memory of our Grandmother and for my Godfather, as well as having a new adventure.
I had visions of dark velvet skies with the stars twinkling upon us, guiding the way to the top. The darkness lifting as dawn creeps though allowing the break of a gorgeous golden sun, showcasing the most breath-taking of views before lighting the path as we descend. It was going to be amazing!
7th June 2019, the big day came. We left for Wales in the morning, with the plan of arriving early afternoon, allowing for some rest and relaxation, possibly a sleep before setting off from our hostel to meet the Walking group at 10:30pm. Nerves and excitement churned around my stomach. Our journey to Wales had been under grey skies and the rain albeit a drizzle, had not let up. The motorway traffic and then the long winding journey through Snowdonia had been gruelling, taking us 6 hours to arrive at our accommodation. We tried to relax and switch off, it wasn’t easy but I think I managed to nod off for a short while. Soon enough though, the alarm sounded and it was time to get ready. At least the weather was painting an abundantly clear message of the clothing and equipment required for that night.
We reached the Royal Victoria Hotel at the foot of Snowdon, our meeting point with the group and registered along with the other 98 walkers. The energy in the room was buzzing and for me, it was incredible to think that I was actually there, I was going to do this…..I felt like I’d come such a long way with regards to my health and my physical abilities and now with over £2000 sponsorship behind us, there was no way we were going to fail!
As we set off the rain fell harder but that didn’t hinder anybody in the flurry of excitement. I don’t know if you’ve ever climbed Snowdon but the first part, just up to the foot of the mountain, is arguably the toughest in terms of how un-relentingly steep it is, with no gentle build up! That’s the point at which the reality of what you are about to undertake really hits!
We started off fairly near to the front of the group and then as the group began to spread out and slip into pace, we settled probably around a quarter of the way back. The rocky pathway was slippery from the rain. Visibility was low as the midnight sky was obscured by the rain and wisps of fog. Each person had been issued with a fluorescent glowstick attached to their rucksack. The bright yellow/green glows of those in front and the head-torch’s we wore, dimly lit our way. Concentration had to be within the one metre ahead of each step we took. By this time, the wind had picked up, gusts blowing the rain horizontally across us, stinging like pin pricks as it hit our cold faces.
The pathway began to steady but the weather conditions made for a tough climb none the less. Spirits were still high in the group although by this stage, the wounds of others were starting to show. We began to pass those seated on rocks as they battled with the elements to add plasters to sore feet in previously untried walking boots. People cutting off their waterproofs that were just not standing up to their job, opting to walk in shorts with bare legs instead. People beginning to tire, but still we ploughed on. Onwards and upwards!
Our pace quickened as the weather continued to worsen despite the incline now increasing considerably. The rocks on the pathway varied greatly. From the smaller, looser pebbles providing uncertain footing as water gushed over them to larger rocks requiring a step by step climbing action. The elevation ahead was continually tougher as those glow sticks in front of us rose higher and steeper in their gradient.
As we neared the summit, other walkers began to come back down the mountain toward us, letting us know we were close to the top. Advising words of encouragement as well as proving another obstacle to for us to negotiate! The weather remained against us, the wind howling and the cold rain cutting like ice blades across our faces, we continued to climb. By this stage, visibility was even further reduced due to the thick, low cloud that we were now climbing in. Legs heavy, lungs pounding, feet beginning to ache and completely drenched we finally reached a tiny plateau, with the walk organisers awaiting us, fighting the wind to stand upright and armed with clipboards and torches.
They congratulated us on our achievement thus far, but had to bring the bad news that, although very, very nearly there, we would not be allowed to climb the remaining few yards up to the actual summit of the mountain that night. The weather was just proving too dangerous to go any further. I think disappointment and relief washed over us in equal quantities, to be honest. We took the moment to have a breather and some water, taking shelter beside some large rocks. A quick photo opportunity, and then rucksacks on and back down the mountain we headed.
As we descended, we noticed how much the chain of fellow walkers had thinned out. So dark, we could barely see our own hands in front of our faces. The head torch light next to useless as it misted the view of thick fog and reduced frontward visibility even further. Have you ever shone a torch into fog in the dead of night? Let’s just say it’s not overly helpful. The sight of the glow sticks hanging from fellow walkers’ rucksacks was by now, just a memory. It was quite an eerie feeling, alone on a mountain side in the pitch darkness with just treacherous weather conditions for company. If we hadn’t realised it before, it was now clearer than anything that we were completely at the mercy of mother nature. Foolish to think anything otherwise.
Whilst winding our way back down the mountain side at quite some pace, out of the darkness we caught up with a man walking alone, who seemed to be moving very slowly. As we drew closer to him, he stopped and was clearly in difficulty. Yelling out in pain, he told us that his leg was cramping as he stopped statue-like on the mountainside, almost frozen to the spot. Stopping like this very quickly allowed the cold and the rain to penetrate our core. As the biting wind whipped around us, my brother managed to help him to the side of the path to perch on a rock. Whilst helping quickly to massage the leg, the cramp set into his other leg as well. I won’t lie, my patience was short by this time. It was the early hours of the morning. I was tired, cold, wet, aching and beginning to physically shiver, very aware of how vulnerable we were at that point if we did not remain sensible. I was angry that this chap was walking alone. He should’ve known better than to put himself in that position. We were specifically told to be in groups of 2-3 minimum. It was a friendly group, all united in the same cause so why he hadn’t hooked up with a team to keep himself safe before setting off infuriated me. Thankfully, my brother was much more tolerant than I, something we still laugh about now. A couple of other walkers had reached us by this time and stopped briefly to help make a call to the walk organisers. The organisers advised that it sounded as though we were not far from the first aid point, pitched about half way. If we could get the man to that point, they could take over. It was too dangerous to for us to stay where we were whilst they tried to reach us, so we had to keep walking and get him to them. The other walkers had disappeared into the fog as we encouraged the man to walk with us and try to keep a pace.
Eventually we reached the first aid point and dropped the man with the first aid team. We then had to try to increase our own pace to work some warmth back up. With boots now leaking from the constant downward stream of water running down the mountainside, fingers numb and raindrops dripping from my nose, we continued our descent. The winds were lighter by now even if the rain was not. Finally, we reached the bottom and the hotel, with our finish line, was in view.
The sense of achievement was incredible, a real walker’s high. We had completed it in record time due to the conditions being such that nobody wanted to hang around, we were drenched and exhausted but also euphoric!
The reality of that experience was a very long way from those initial dreamy thoughts of velvet skies and glorious sunrises! But still, what an incredible experience it was!
Would I do it again? Hell yes, in a heartbeat! I’m already booked for a daytime climb in April 2021 (Was supposed to be April 2020 but postponed due to Covid). The experience gave me back everything I’d previously loved so much about mountain walking. No matter the weather, it’s all part of the challenge, part of the fun and it’s what provides a different experience every time for every climb. As long as we always remain respectful to Mother Nature, dress appropriately and take all the correct gear, for all potential circumstances then we can safely experience how simply beautiful our Great Outdoors really is.
The lid to this pandoras box was now firmly opened.
Watch this space for more adventures…
