I took a hot salt bath Saturday night and again last night hoping that they will help my poor aching legs, yesterday they felt alright if alright was the fronts of my thighs and my calfs screaming at me everytime I moved but today times that by 10 for me calfs!

I have struggled going down stairs not so bad going up but oh em gee going down was painful

It was harder than certainly I imagined and all of us had moments where we questioned if we could get to the top, but we all made it.

An early start for us all with our alarms set for 5:30am out of the house an hour later and arrived in Llanberis at 8:30 and on the stroke of 9 we setoff leaving Jamie at the mountain railway station. She was going to get the train to the top later because she did not want to hold the group back, so would meet us at the top at 12 at least getting to see the views without the struggle and pain.

Our group consisted of Luke (leader), Nick (leader), Reagan, Lincoln, Elouisa, Hannah, Gracie, Beth, Billy (the dog) and me (responsible adult). The church youth were doing the walk for charity, raising money for their mission trip to Hungary on Friday.

The Llanberis Path is divided into five distinct stages, transitioning from a steep road to a wide mountain path, and finally a rugged summit ridge.

Stage 1: The Tarmac Lane (Llanberis to the Mountain Gate)

The hike begins with a very steep, paved tarmac road winding past houses and fields. It is a demanding, muscle-burning start, but it levels out once you pass through the cattle grid and mountain gate onto the actual dirt and gravel path.

Stage 2: The Lower Slopes (Gate to the Halfway House)

The path becomes a wide, well-defined gravel track with a gentle, steady incline. You will pass the Hebron Gate and walk parallel to the Snowdon Mountain Railway line, enjoying open views of the surrounding green valleys and hills.

Stage 3: The Midway Climb (Halfway House to Clogwyn)

After passing the seasonal Halfway House café, the trail becomes noticeably steeper and rockier. You will climb a series of wide, sweeping switchbacks up the hillside until you reach the Allt Moses section, which brings you out near the dramatic cliffs of Clogwyn Station.

Stage 4: The Killer Convex (Clogwyn to Bwlch Glas)

This is the most physically demanding stretch of the hike. The path rises steeply along a convex slope next to the railway line, offering massive views down into the pass below; it can be incredibly windy here and is notoriously dangerous in winter snow.

Stage 5: The Ridge Finish (Bwlch Glas to the Summit)

At the Bwlch Glas standing stone, the Llanberis Path merges with the Pyg, Miners’, and Ranger tracks. From this junction, it is a final, relatively straightforward 15-minute walk along the broad summit ridge up to the highest point and the visitor centre.

Stage1: So off we went turning right out of the station and was immediately faced with a very steep gradient that would challenge all of us physically and mentally from the start. Reaching the Hebron Gate at the top of the road and turning onto “The Mountain” most of us were all feeling apprehensive about the rest of the day not knowing if it was all going to be that hard but we pushed on hoping that it wasn’t.

Stage Two: The next ‘bit’ was gradual for the most part but relentless after the exertion of stage one this was still demanding and took its toll on one of the group who needed help with her bag. The leaders were a little concerned that the one we all had singled out as a worry had already showed signs that she wasn’t coping. The rest of the youth had found their voices again after going a little quiet. It proved that they were fine and recovered very quickly.

I, on the otherhand was finding the pace challanging already something I would really find tough later. It was a warm day and even in just a T-shirt and carrying my backpack sweat was pouring out of me. It was going to be how quickly I recovered after each stage and making sure I kept taking on fluids.

We reached the halfway house and sat down to eat and drink but more importantly rest and take stock of where people were at. Hannah who was the concern earlier was back her spirit had returned which was a relief the rest were happy to rest and regroup for the next stage

Stage Three: Allowing Billy off the lead, I thought would allow me concentrate on my assent but with so many people and dogs aswell as sheep it became more difficult so eventually I had to get him back. To Billy’s credit though his recall to the whistle was brilliant and was commented on by many!

This bit of the climb I found very difficult not because of the pace but rocks forced you to bigger steps or uneven lengthen steps and this in turn did not allow me to get into a walking rhythm which was really sapping my energy. Reagan asked me if I was OK, probably because I didn’t look Ok but it was taking a lot of positive thoughts to keep going even though it was starting to hurt even though it was hard and that probably was the most difficult part mind over matter.

Stage Four: The most difficult part of the climb described as “physically demanding with glorious views” both were very true my mind was OK but my body was screaming, but it was this part of the climb where I was required to give encouragement to a couple of youth who were questioning whether they could complete the rest of the climb. All it took was to drop back to where they were and take their mind to a more positive place until we rounded a corner and the summit came into view, and although it was still a long way off it lifted everyone’s spirits to see it!

Stage Five: With Jamie’s train 20 minutes away and in sight we pushed on the feelings of exhaustion had been forgotten and we were walking towards the summit arriving as the train did so we were able to wave at the passengers as it did. Meeting up with Jamie for photographs at the visitors centre and spend 30 minutes with her before she needed to board the return train. It gave us an opportunity to rest up and take in the views eat some dinner and take on liquids. I queued for water from the cafe because Lincoln and myself were out and although we were rugged up to keep warm it was a warm day and we only felt the chill because our base layers were wet from sweat and the wind up there made it feel cooler than it was. I knew once off the top we would be in bright sunshine but without the wind retracting our steps back to Llanberis and I had drunk two bottles of Lucazade a bottle of water and half a flask of coffee with needing to go for a wee so I got the water knowing we would need it.

At 1pm we went to queue for the short distance to the actual highest point and because it was the busiest time of day plus apparently the busiest day of the year so far it took us 45 minutes to finally get the “evidence” of our achievement!

Once evidence was procured we set off back down the way we came, it took 3 hours to get to the top so we figured 2 to get down. It actually took 2 and a half with stops because it was hot we were tired and it was excruciating on the joints it was also very busy not that they slowed us down but you could get behind people slightly slower than you but you couldn’t get past without running a bit and I wasn’t up to that nonsense lol.

At the bottom we were all relieved to be down but a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment made the aches pains sweat and some tears seem tolerable. Jamie was there waiting having done 11000 steps of her own to the slate mines and back but I looked at my watch and it said 30000 steps and I could feel every single one of them as we ate an ice cream before the drive home.

I know I will sleep tonight, as will everyone who conquered Mount Snowdon today, with a feeling that the youth made a plan to raise money by doing this walk and they did it raising around £500 towards the mission trip, and that they should be very proud of.

Thoughts and summary: I pride myself on being “active” and walking Billy everyday keeps me around 8000 steps per day but every single one is on the flat around the canals of Middlewich which is very different to walking up 1085 metres and back down again. This was the first time I have been the oldest on a walk and I found the pace a little tough, we had to get to the summit by 12 to meet Jamie and although we were not pushing that hard there were times when I just had to drop back and accept that they’ll wait for me and I will get there but it will be in my own time.

Would I do it again, yes. Could I do it in 3 hours again, maybe but might prefer to take my time and do it in 3 and half instead?

The secondhand market for SonoS was surprising when I stumbled upon it yesterday seeing Play 3s for around £50 to £60. It made me think that instead of spending £200 on an Era100 I would get a far better upgrade buying 2 Play 3s for half the price!

I already own one and have always been impressed with the quality of the sound coming from it but I have been told that pairing to in stereo takes the sound to another level, I hope that’s true because I snagged another one tonight for £44

I guess we’re gonna find out!

With the Snowdon walk coming up this Saturday I have been paying a little more interest in the forecasted weather especially because after week’s of superb summer sunshine the clouds have become more common over Middlewich and I know from experience walking up a mountain you need to expect the worst and pray for a clear day.

Up to now at the summit on Saturday the forecast is 11? and misty which could mean cool and wet. We will keep monitoring the weather channel and hope the temperature rises a little and mist disappears…we can only hope it doesn’t deteriorate because it will spoil the views.

A new experience for me and a Sunday not wasted, working with American Red Oak

I made a couple of drawer fronts for the box I made for Jamie back in June now.

I think I did a good job?