Help me climb Snowdon

[ClearEyesFullHearts]

I’m 54, I vape, am 40lbs from a normal BMI, and have heart disease.

I want to climb Snowdon next year with my children.

I am confident I can lose at least two stones before the summer (thanks Low Carb Bootcamp); I am confident I can stop vaping by Christmas. I have lost 50lbs already and improved my fitness with regular treadmill workouts (45 minutes at 4.2 kph is the current rate, but on a very slight incline). I have also started using an exercise bike for shorter times, up to about 20-30 minutes at a leisurely pace. I do this on the days I’m not in the treadmill.

This is all pleasing because I’ve made progress—three years ago I couldn’t walk the quarter mile to our local shop without stopping at least twice to catch my breath, and the chest pains were awful.

But this is the first time I’ve set an actual end goal—Snowdon—and I’m hoping that anyone with experience of this, or general fitness, can give me some tips for how to set short-term goals that will get me to the big one.

I not only want to climb Snowdon with my children, I want to do it with relative ease and not slow them down.

Any guidance appreciated. Cheers.

Ps I did the long walk from the main car park, it's a very long walk but easy ... good worn in boots are key

The cafe at the top is quite woeful. I was expecting some lovely cake but they were all crap donut-type things. Glad we packed loads of sandwiches and all my favourite chocolate bars!

I’d totally agree re C25K. I’ve struggled with mountains previously but found Snowdon relatively easy because I’d been doing loads of running - 5k two or three times a week - for quite a while. The running definitely made an impact.

Take a camel water pack. Was super thirsty so having it to hand saved rummaging in my rucksack all the time.

Big brekkie in the hotel first, then straight on to the mountain. It was ace.

Can I ask a delicate question please? I used to do walks up mountains with my DH, mostly the lake district. But now I'm older, there is no way I can walk uphill (or even on the flat) without needing to use the toilet at least once on a 2-hour walk, sometimes more. This stops me even starting off as all I can think of is what will I do if (when!) I need a wee if there are other people about. I have tried to master a shewee so that I could at least stand up and not need to squat, but I cannot get the hang of it naked in the shower, let alone with trousers and pants on....yadvise gratefully received.

OP - good luck! you can do it! what a fabulous goal

Ha! I have also spent many frustrating hours peeing over myself in the shower alan - they're definitely not all they're cracked up to be

Third time lucky. Tried posting this from the app but it didn't work, twice.
Try joining the Footpaths of Snowdonia page, if you're on Facebook. Great walking advice on there.
www.facebook.com/groups/1918266005127261/
Also, the (hopefully) attached diagram has good info on the different routes so you can work out what's best for you.

Finally posted it! Yes!

Re: weeing - learn how to squat, properly, with your bum well below your knees. Google “Asian squat” if you need a picture. Stand on tiptoes if your Achilles tendon is too tight to get your bum down low with flat feet.

The people who piss down their own legs are generally just leaning forwards with their knees slightly bent, not squatting. Learned this by living in a country with squat toilets, did not piss on own feet while living there.

sashkin I think the weeing down the legs is just confined to trying to use a sheewee in the shower. I don't have a problem knowing "how" to wee outdoors, I just a have an anxiety problem about not being able to find somewhere with enough privacy when out walking

Vote for the Rhyd Ddu path here - not much tougher and much quieter than Llanberis or PYG. PYG in particular can be nose to tail at peak times! Also while it can be cold at the top I've ended up sunburnt just as often - take lots of layers AND suncream! Good luck!

I did - years ago. I had no intention of doing so but just kept walking to find a quiet picnic spot and suddenly found myself at the halfway shop so figured I may as well walk the rest of the way. On the way down people said walk, don't bound and run down or your legs will suffer. I of course ignored this excellent advice and spent three days and nights in absolute agony with cramp and my legs just seized up.

So good luck, don't run down! and hope the weather is as perfect as it was when I went - you could see for miles.

I have boots.

I’m going to have to work on getting hills to practice on.

Taking in all the great advice, thanks so much.

Walking poles take a lot of the impact downhill. Wear shorts if it's wet and warmish, as the misery from wet trousers is horrible. Waterproof trousers will boil you alive over 5°C.
The last time I did it was with a friend awaiting a bypass, so we did PYG up and Llanberis down. Fuel up in Pete's Eats.

If you can’t find hills then go to a local multi storey carpark if theres one nearby and walk up the ramps to the top, then back down again. Often they are lit and empty in the evening and its great training (my running club do this all the time) Sure, you wont get the uneven surface but you’ll work on your fitness and endurance and find out if your boots rub.

You could also consider something like kettle bell training to work on your all round fitness and joint strength or Nordic walking. Think about cross training to improve your all round resistance to injury.

Make sure you know how to use map and compass properly, the weather can change suddenly and in fog getting lost is definitely a possibility. It may be a popular walk but it is still a mountain.

Go up with a guide if you're a total newbie :) wear in your boots, take Kendall mint cake, water, a first aid kit, and a cell battery for your phone. Expect mist to hit you from nowhere. Book a nice spa hotel in betwys y cord with a treatment the next day.
Oh and yep-Descent is harder, more deaths for people slipping and skidding down shingle.
Snowdon is in my actual back garden so I grew up on those hills. You can do it!

Oh and fgs tell someone not in your group what time they should expect to hear from you after getting down the mountain. Even if it's just the receptionist at your b and b or hotel. Make sure someone knows you guys are up there.

bear in mind that the odds of any view are not good - Snowdon clouds over most days. If you can do without a train and a cafe, there are plenty of alternatives in North Wales outside Snowdonia that have better weather. Or use these as a training exercise as they are obviously lower.

Moel Famau near Ruthin
Dinas Bran above Llangollen
The Great Orme in Llandudno - which does have a tram and a cafe, come to think of it!

Get to the car park (start of the Pyg and Miners track at Pen y Pass) very early. Have climbed Snowdon many times over the last 30 years but the last few times the car park has got busy ridiculously early. Last time we had to park further down and it was an extra 45 min walk up to the car park!

I find the llamberis path very boring but parking is easier that side.

I did Snowdon a couple of years ago at midnight with the Alzheimer’s trust. I was very very unfit. BMI of over 40 unfit. And a smoker. I managed it but god it was hard. So if I can do it then believe me anyone can!

Do the Pyg or Miners track and get some walking poles.

Good luck, I love Snowdon so much!

If you can do 5k runs and work on leg strength, then I am sure you will be fine. As others have said it is cold at the top- even if it is a steaming hot day at the bottom. And take more water than you’d think.

@AlanRickmanslovely, a lot depends on the path you take, for bush cover. If you really want to be sure, take a micro towel (bath sized) and drape it over your poles for a little privacy whilst you squat.

deaths

Thanks for all those suggesting the C25k route, but that’s not for me. Because of heart disease the training really needs to be low impact.

Wrongdissection good for you, very inspiring. I’m going to do my best to get fitter and prepared because—bless you—I don’t want it to be that hard!

God, that looks condescending, what I meant is that your description really did inspire me and gave me hope!

PYG up and Miners down.

Start as early as possible. Firstly, to get a parkng space. Secondly, so you can go slower and take lots of rests. Thirdly, it means you'll be coming down when people are still going up which will give you a warm smug feeling on the return leg.

On the way back stick your feet in the lake for a few minutes. After the pain stops they will feel amazingly refreshed.