Mount Snowdon

Name of walk Mount Snowdon
Date of walk 2012-01-19

On Tuesday morning after an early breakfast we headed for Llanberis to climb Mount Snowdon (3560ft) via the Llanberis path, a walk of nine miles. On the way we stopped at Llyn Gwynant to take some photos across the lake. It was very still, but the mist was down on all the surrounding mountains…….

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Some good reflections....

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Looking back down on the lake.....

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We drove along the Llanberis Pass and then turned off at the Victoria Hotel and up the road opposite to a farm yard. You can only park here in the winter months, but it takes 1km off the walk. Looking over Llyn Padarn and down on our car at the start of the walk. We set off at 10.30am.....

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The mist is down on the surrounding mountains.....

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Little sign of Snowdon ahead!

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The Snowdon Mountain Railway. Unfortunately it does not open until March and then only in good weather.....so no riding the train back down!

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Approaching The Halfway House, also closed. The dark bits in the mist behind is Snowdon!

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The mist starts to clear and we can see the way ahead.....

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Looking back towards The Halfway House.....

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View back to the lake.....

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A good pitched path with ice in places......

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Looking down on Llyn Du r Arddu....(My cats type in welsh........everytime they walk across my keyboard!!)

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Waiting for Brendan to catch up....

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The slate quarries on the left. The Llanberis Pass below. Y Garn opposite........

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Clouds on Glyder Fach, Glyder Fawr on the left.....

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Clogwyn Station behind Brendan.....

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The track follows the path at this section....

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Now climbing steep scree.....

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As we approach the ridge the mist rolls in and obscures all views. Just when we should be seeing views down via other paths. Instead for the next 30 mins we just ploughed on to the top in oblivion!

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The summit cairn ahead.....

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These are all the views we should be seeing!

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An interesting and energetic way to spend my 50th birthday! It had taken us two hours and thirty minutes to reach the summit.......

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In the mist we could not see the summit cafe.....we actually had to look for it! Rather a pity it only opens when the train runs, we could have done with a hot cup of coffee!

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The cafe and Brendan from just a few feet away!

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On the way down once the mist had cleared the sun was shining on Glyder Fawr.....

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Cloud still on Glyder Fach......

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Heading back to The Halfway House.....

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Two ruined cottages......

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We got down in two hours and drove in to Llanberis. Looking along Llyn Peris the reservoir for the Power Station towards the Llanberis Pass.....

We parked in the town and had a well deserved coffee and cake at a tea room, then headed back to Portmeirion for a bath and a birthday three course dinner! Climbing Snowdon via this path is pretty easy, for most parts just a relaxing stroll. It is the longest route up and therefore less steep!

Jo.

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