DS wants to climb Snowdon in December

[JoggyBear]

He's just said this.

He's never hiked before in his life.

He's 18! And he says his friend, who he is going witjlh, has done it a few times.

It's madness right??

It's very easy and will only take a few hrs to get to the top 2/3 if he is fit. There's a YHA at the base of one of the paths. He will be fine.

Yes, it’s madness and completely selfish. The Mountain Rescue team won’t be happy with this decision of his. Tell him to go in the spring.

How? Taking the tourist path near the railway would be different than going cross country.

Ds did it last November, they stayed at the YH and it was fine. They turned back the first day and did a lower walk but the weather cleared and then they walked up. If they are fit it does not take long. Just make sure he has the right kit including walking boots. DS and his friends are doing Pen y Fan before Christmas. He needs to take it seriously but if they are sensible they will be ok.

As long as they're prepared and not wearing trainers and following google maps I'm sure it'll be alright.

That's exactly his plan!

Very ill informed. Considering that 2 days ago we were snowed in (central Scotland). My partner having left at 7am, snow began and at 10am our roads were completely blocked. Buses, trucks slid all over roads and Amber weather warnings. Every year Mountain Rescue are out on Ben Lomond and less high mountains picking up idiots in trainers who don’t read weather reports. My son was a total idiot at that age too, declaring climate going ‘wild’ camping in December. They would have frozen to death and couldn’t be rescued. It was worth the screaming fight where I let him know I wouldn’t be digging his body out of a ditch 10 miles up the road. I do tend to over react, however.

There are many different t routes. I've done most.

www.walkupsnowdon.co.uk/paths-up-snowdon-in-order-of-difficulty/

He's clueless. He's never even been for a long walk.

Neither drive so no idea how they'll get there and no plans to stay over so a day trip?

Google says 8 people a year die there?

Depends. If by never hiked before you mean he’s totally unfit, never used a map, has no proper warm and waterproof outdoor gear and boots, has no idea what food or water or gear he needs, and no sense of when is appropriate to cancel or turn back due to weather or other factors then yes, it’s extremely stupid and frankly selfish.

If he’s never hiked before but is a keen mountain biker or something else where he is fit and used to the outdoors, can navigate, has or can borrow appropriate gear and has some sense then it could be fine if they choose a sensible route and take heed of the weather conditions.

Edit - I see it’s the former. It’s a stupid idea but with any luck if they can’t drive or get there then it won’t actually happen.

He's never camped. Doesn't own a bike. He's a gamer.
The furthest he's walked is to Asda.

Well the lack of public transport may be what stops them. I would look at how viable it is. The should definitely stay over and there is no guarantee if they go the weather will allow them to do it. Do they realise how remote it is?

Then it's a no from me.

I have friends who are volunteer members of our local Mountain Rescue team and they regularly put their own lives at risk to save people like your idiot son who think that hillwalking in December is like strolling round a shopping mall.

Tell him to wait for spring and buy him some walking boots for Christmas.

It sounds like they are more likely to get distracted by the nearest pub than actually do it.

Seriously... I think MR should be able to send bills if they have to rescue people due to stupidity not genuine accidents.

Aside from anything else there is a world of difference between the Tourist Path and Crib Goch.
In winter, even taking the tourist path, he needs proper clothing, proper hiking boots and supplies to last the climb. He also needs to understand that he will be working with a limited time frame due to limited daylight hours.
Every year, Mountain Rescue are called out for e.g. idiot blokes in shorts and plimsolls in January.
Ask him which route he’s intent on using but realistically sounds like he’s done so little planning it’ll be a non starter.

Snowden is really easy. Going up the PYG and down the Miners or up/ down the Llanberis path are all pretty fool proof. The path is huge, a map isn’t needed. Plus it’s always packed so in the very unlikely event they got lost there would be lots of people to ask.

It sounds like his friend is a hiker? How much do you trust the friend?

Just make sure he has enough clothes! And that they don’t pick a very wet/ windy day!

He doesn't drink so unlikely.

I don't know his friend

If I thought they would stick to the tourist path I'd be more relaxed but I know what teenage boys are like, trying to show off, go harder etc...

Does he realise it will possibly be snow covered? to those people talking about the various paths he won't be able to see these on the ground if it's snowcovered.

Depends entirely on the weather on the day. MWIS (mountain weather information service) is the key source. He should only go if he’s confident there’s no snow or ice on the top, the weather is clear and they stick to a recognised path. Also appropriate warm & waterproof clothing, boots, high calorie food and water, map and compass, fully charged phones, emergency foil blanket.

Do you mean he is going now? You weren't clear in your op but obviously if it's bad weather tell him no 🙄

Terrible idea for a first hike in Snow, as the other person said, he could be wasting rescue volunteers time, esp with his plans to wear trainers etc. He will need decent kit for it. Fine in better weather.

He said this is the path his friend said

It’s literally in the title.

I think it depends on the actual weather rather than simply "December".

I agree he needs to make some basic level of preparation and wear appropriate clothing etc, but if his friend has climbed it a few times already, then he will surely have some idea as to what is required.

If they don't even know how they will get there, I suspect this might fall into the category of "things we thought about doing and never bothered with" though. 18 year olds do tend to be impulsive.