The Climb! Mount Snowdon.

Since our Helvellyn adventure back in Summer, we have been loving walking. We are now well equipped with merino wool socks, better boots, proper walking trousers and all sorts of other bits and bats, and we set ourselves the goal of climbing Mount Snowdon this Spring.

So with a car full of stuff and snacks, and two equally insane friends (Mr & Mrs C), we set off on our Welsh adventure.

The drive itself was utterly hilarious - the task was shared between the boys whilst us girls sat in the back being equally unsocial on Facebook (until I ran out of data, but that's a different story). After several wee stops, Mr C taking the wrong turn at every roundabout and making us stop at what looked like a truck stop from a horror film for yet ANOTHER wee, we eventually arrived at our hotel.

There will be another post on the hotel; it was brilliant, and weirdly it was being run by some people who owned a pub frequented by Mr W around eight years ago. Major coincidence.

After a four hour drive and discovering that Mr W had in fact booked us into a hotel a cool two hours from Mount Snowdon, we decided to head to nearby Aberdovey for a gentle stroll on the beach. We had no food and hadn't had lunch, so popped into the local garage which again seemed to be straight out of a horror film. Needless to say we left sharpish!

After a fantastic walk down the beautiful beach, we headed back to the hotel for a quick shower and some dinner, followed by an early night ahead of our big adventure!

In the morning, after a hearty breakfast, we set off on the two hour drive to the mountain. This included our sat nav absolutely having our pants down and taking us on a three mile circuitous route down a single track lane with almost nothing on it, only to rejoin us on the main road we had left previously!

After many grumbles, minor tantrums and a few strong words, we found where we needed to be. Only we didn't have a map. So the boys left us in the rain while they went to procure one from a coffee shop, and eventually we set off on the walk.

We chose the Watkins Path, which is rated a difficulty of 7, fear factor of 7, and crowd factor 2. Basically hard work and no one does it!

The views were stunning - hundreds of miniature streams and waterfalls, fairy glens, a river of clear water that looked like it was straight out of a film. The whole thing reminded me of Peter Pan. Only the ascent soon started, and it was hot. Very, very hot.

The steps seemed endless, and the heat was making it harder! Stopping for water every half hour or so, we pushed on until we reached a more level path, and stopped for a sandwich and a coffee.

It was distinctly cooler and the air was damp as we were in cloud. All at once it became very windy and rainy, so we packed up, wrapped up warm and set off walking again.

We met people heading back, who hadn't reached the top because it was too icy, too scary, and they had given in. This just fired us up even more - we hadn't traveled all this way and worked this hard not to make it to the top! I wanted my selfie with the triangulation point, and I promised the rest of the group that I would kiss it when we got there.

Suddenly the climb became a scramble. Muddy, snowy and icy with scree that made it almost impossible to get a secure footing. My leg slipped sideways several times into fresh air. To my left there was nothing, just a sheer drop that disappeared into cloud. Very surreal.

We reached a plateau and Mr C and I thought we had made it. Just as we were about to go in for a celebratory high five, we saw the final ascent over to our right, and I can't really describe the emotions that ran through me. Other than the words "oh f**k".

So several more snow covered steps, a scramble and steps, and finally, we arrived.

We took something in the region of five hundred photos, although the view was just cloud, and as promised - I kissed the triangulation point!

We felt so proud, we'd dug deep and been determined, and we'd made it.

The walk back down was easy - we seemed to fly back down that mountain!

Back at the car, we started to discuss what would be next. Discussions turned to what our next challenge would be - we agreed Ben Nevis in August, with another hill mission in the middle, to be confirmed. Mr W also mentioned Kilimanjaro too... Baby steps!

It was a fantastic adventure, but definitely one you need to be prepared for - see our walker's checklist!

Have you climbed Snowdon? How did you find it?

L xx