Will I be able to walk up Snowden.

[LadyMacbethWasMisunderstood]

Just that. Going on holiday next week to Wales.

I am 51. Not very fit. But no actual health problems. Was fittish ( though about a stone overweight) until a year ago. Then became very very sedentary owing to caring responsibilities for my seriously ill daughter. She is now much improved. I’m no fatter. But a lot less fit.

I can swim for an hour, walk for a couple of hours. Ride a bike for 5 miles. But I do struggle a bit with steep hills in that I get a bit “puffed out” and achy (I know I know Snowden qualifies as a steep hill!).

I have a weak ankle (fracture and torn ligaments a few times). The current plan is walk up and train down. Am I mad to even try.

I’ve walked up twice before. But the most recent was 25 years ago!

Advice please

Thank you. To be truthful I don’t actuality like walking up hills. Although I do love walking in the countryside generally. I think it’s about “showing” people I can do it. Where that leaves me is yet to be decided. But it’s helpful for me to concentrate my mind.

I'd have chucked a pissy fit ten minutes out the car park and gone home. It just seems so...... unnecessary

At last someone who feels the way I do! And after all that trudging up the tedious hill, people scramble - it just seems so ... undignified!

I'm not a great fan of hills. To DHs disgust I've gone up about half/ two thirds the way of about 10, including Snowdon, miners track up to the scramble bit ( to be fair there was snow and ice at April) was lovely but luckily SIL able to pick me up in car when I walked back

It's pretty tough. I've done the Llanberis path and found it much harder than expected. I'm 42 and do a fair bit of dog walking (not hill walking) and exercise. Going down was a killer.

I did the Llanberis path last year at midnight. I’m fat. I managed it but I hated every single step and I didn’t find it easy at all. It took about 6 hours, 4 up and 2 down ish. And after all that when we got to the top the most was so bad you couldn’t see an inch or so in front of your face so I didn’t get to see any views! However I did raise nearly 1k for charity so swings and roundabouts

I tend to be a bit driven and goal orientated

This isn't a problem. Just make sure your goal is enjoying yourself and doing what's best for your body and if that means giving up half way up the mountain to achieve it then that's all good and dandy!

This is so interesting. It’s taught me that how difficult v how enjoyable something is is so very subjective.

I still couldn’t call it really as to whether I’ll be able to do it or not.

What I suspect is that I might - just - manage it but that I will loathe much of it. Assuming I don’t injure my ankle. That sounds a miserable analysis; but it’s not necessarily enoogh to put be off!

TBH you might struggle. If you have an injury you will aggravate it. Which ever path you take its difficult. I walk up once a month and run up regularly-did the Snowdon race last month.

But if you are adamant yiu can do it, choose the Llanberis path. The others have steeper inclines.

And please do dress appropriately. Im amazed at the people i see wearing jeans and trainers and even women wearing dresses and handbags 😡

Good luck and enjoy the views.

Don't book the train up and not use it expecting to only come back down - your ticket will very likely get cancelled as they'll assume you changed your mind.

Going up by train means you must get the one you booked back, you can only get a short time up there so bear that in mind if you decide to do the train.

Check out the different routes and definitely dress appropriately. A lot of people do it not dressed properly and end up needing to be rescued. It's amazing how many people heading up wearing shorts and t-shirts and trainers. Just because it's warm at the base doesn't mean it will be at the top. It's a good idea to get a compass and good quality map as well and make sure you have gps active on your mobile - I think there's an app you can download now in case of difficulty.

It's a beautiful area whatever you decide to do.

Oh and I have a pre existing ankle injury, decent walking boots meant that didn’t bother me. Still didn’t enjoy it though.

@LarryFreakinStylinson I wonder if you were on the same midnight hike as me? Was it last August?

There are different routes, varying difficulty. The ranger route is fairly gentle

@violetcharlotte no it was June last year for the Alzheimer’s society. Did you enjoy it?

If you decide you don't want to do it, OP, you might be able to give the rest the option of one route up and another down, drive round and pick them up.

It seems daft to do an ambitious walk/climb if a) you don't enjoy walking and b) are not physically fit.

I am just back from Wales where I had a splendid week doing walks that were around 7 or 8 miles long but only moderately strenuous in terms of ascent. I had proper boots and waterproofs. (I use walking pools when ascents are steep.) I also walk regularly with a group so that I know what I am capable of doing. Walks are also more enjoyable when the paths are not crowded with other walkers so you can enjoy the relative solitude.

If you've got a bad ankle, the Pyg and Miners tracks involve quite a bit of climbing. I am reasonably fit, did it last year. Went up the Pyg but I have dodgy knees (I run funny) which meant I didn't feel comfortable coming back down that way so we did the Llanberis (I think it's called) on the way down. The Llanberis is a more steady route with no tricky navigation, so I would recommend that.

When I took my friend up just before his bypass, we left the cars in Llanberis, took the bus to Pen-y-pass, walked up by the PYG track and down by the Llanberis path. Take it steady, wear proper kit, use poles especially for the descent.

I'm not sure why you'd do something you don't expect to enjoy. Unless your doctor or physio has actually recommended it as part of your rehabilitation.

Anyway Llanberis Path is the least difficult, although it's the longest and can be a bit boring. It's also very popular so if you have any trouble you're not going to be on your own. But if you want more peace and quiet then the Snowdon Ranger path is also not very difficult and gets much less people. There's a station on the narrow-gauge Ffestiniog Railway at the bottom of the Snowdon Ranger path if that's your thing.

Of course where you're staying could be a factor.

I'd avoid the south paths (Rhyd Ddu and Watkin) because there's a tricky scree slope near the top. And if I remember rightly the Pyg and Miners are virtually stairs on one steep section.

I agree with train up and walk back down. Went the end of August as well, driving wind and rain for the last hour of the climb, which makes things even harder!

@LarryFreakinStylinson Im not sure 'enjoy' is a word i'd use to describe it!! It was bloody hard wasn't it? I'm proud that I did it, but don't think i'd do it again. I think the fact it was night made it harder, plus being in a big group meant you couldn't really go at your own pace, lots of stops and starts!

It was one of the hardest things I’ve done! Felt like an achievement though. Mind given the fact that everyone else seems to walk up there for fun maybe my bat is set low 😂

*bar

The train was full in both directions when I went on it a few weeks ago. Expect to walk up and down.

I would go for the llanberis (main) path and take poles ... some of the other tracks would be more challenging for a bad ankle - Llanberis is gentler & far more walked. Take it easy, allow plenty of time & remember that it’s not a race. Can you get out and do some walking/hills a bit before?

The train was full in both directions when I went on it a few weeks ago. Expect to walk up and down. Can you not pre book? We didn't but just about squeezed on, so glad as well, we were soaked through!