Last minute plans…
June 2nd, 2010 by Jake
Nipped up to Snowdonia on Monday for 24 hours - haven't been for ages and missed the hills! Was hoping that all of the bank holiday adventurers would have cleared of the horseshoe by 5pm on Monday, but alas, it was still packed with weekend warriors! Crib Goch was clear however, and so I nipped up over that round to the top. Beautiful dry summer evening, cool wind in my hair (although no warm smell of colitas!), and gravitation of 99% of the crowds to the Pyg and Miner's tracks made for a lovely scramble. Car to car in 2 hours 20 mins, which I was pleased with, especially as I haven't been out in the hills for over a month!
I overheard one couple, who had taken the train to the summit, proclaiming their amazement at another couple having walked up - 'What an achievement to have climbed up Snowdon. You must be so proud!' All said with utter sincerity. It was a wonderful reminder of the fact that you don't have to have climbed Everest or some other monsterous mountain to have accomplished an impressive feat. The magnitude of our endeavours is purerly dependant on our own experience. The value of achievement lies in the achieving.
Slept in the car overnight and then got an early start over Tryfan, the Glyders and Y Garn. Wet, cloudy and miserable... Was going to continue over the rest of the 3000ers, but the claggage got the better of me and I sacked it in. Fair weather climber... never!
All in all, a lovely time in the hills, and probably made all the better that it was a last minute plan. Sitting at home on Sunday evening, bored out of my mind and just threw some kit in the back of the car and left the next morning. More adventures need to be spur of the moment, and have less emphasis and importance placed on them by the rigors of fore-planning. Doing my first Triathalon on Sunday at Blenheim Palace. Zero preparation. Picking up a bike on Friday (having not ridden one for years). The brand new wet suit had it's first dunk in the pool on Sunday afternoon. Brand new pair of trainers. No training, no prep... probably no chance, but I'll give it my all!
I overheard one couple, who had taken the train to the summit, proclaiming their amazement at another couple having walked up - 'What an achievement to have climbed up Snowdon. You must be so proud!' All said with utter sincerity. It was a wonderful reminder of the fact that you don't have to have climbed Everest or some other monsterous mountain to have accomplished an impressive feat. The magnitude of our endeavours is purerly dependant on our own experience. The value of achievement lies in the achieving.
Slept in the car overnight and then got an early start over Tryfan, the Glyders and Y Garn. Wet, cloudy and miserable... Was going to continue over the rest of the 3000ers, but the claggage got the better of me and I sacked it in. Fair weather climber... never!
All in all, a lovely time in the hills, and probably made all the better that it was a last minute plan. Sitting at home on Sunday evening, bored out of my mind and just threw some kit in the back of the car and left the next morning. More adventures need to be spur of the moment, and have less emphasis and importance placed on them by the rigors of fore-planning. Doing my first Triathalon on Sunday at Blenheim Palace. Zero preparation. Picking up a bike on Friday (having not ridden one for years). The brand new wet suit had it's first dunk in the pool on Sunday afternoon. Brand new pair of trainers. No training, no prep... probably no chance, but I'll give it my all!
