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??

could his dad, if he is an experienced hike, not go with them? They get to do it but have someone on hand in case conditions change/accident happens?

There's often snow and ice on U.K. mountain tops in spring too, of course. Don't tell him, wait till spring and trot off in your trainers.

Any time of year check the peak forecast - even in summer it can be foggy or windy etc. DD and friends went up to the Lake District in September hoping to climb scafell pike - they looked at the summit forecast - freezing and windy - and did a nice long lower level hike instead.(full set of DofE, into camping etc). They went again in October and it was fine then. Thing is, they're sensible outdoorsy mid 20s so they know when to say, no, not this trip.

Oh NW you're spoilt for choice. I'd go Lake District and start in Ambleside and they can stay at the YHA Waterside. There's a fantastic circular walk to Troutbeck via the Wansfell Pike with a pub mid-way. It took us just over 4 hours on a lovely sunny day and some experience under our belt so I'd allow 5 hours + stopping time.

He does walk, he walks most places so it's not his fitness or stamina I'm worried about but the dangers of a mountain and the fact he's never done a proper uphill hike before

Walking uphill for 2/3 hours is a completely different of fitness, having strength and flexibility in your ankles over very rough ground etc and, in my experience, coming down is just as hard as going up. You’re wise to tell him to get some hill miles under his belt first.

We've just done this - it was epic, but it's not on any sort of public transport route.

If he's 18 and normally spends his time gaming and has only ever walked as far as Asda, his suggestion of going up Snowdon is a bit of a breakthrough moment!

Try to fan that flame, that he's shown an interest in getting out and about, it sounds like something that would really do him good, might even be life changing to discover there is a world out there beyond the screen.

That said, Snowdon for a first climb at this time of year for someone like him is just insane. And to get there on public transport is a complete arseache, believe me.

Can you not talk him/them into going somewhere more accessible for an excellent hike, and then go Snowdon in, say, May? There are so many beautiful and engrossing places to discover which carry less risk..

I reckon the inspiration to him and his mate has got to be the thought of Snowdon being a superlative. It's something to conquest/brag about/Instagram. Perhaps you could suggest a alternative destination walk eg the oldest bla bla, or the rarest bla bla.

Depends where you are based really.

It’s not alpinism. He’ll be fine as long as he’s physically fit and wears appropriate clothing and takes enough water and food. You can also literally get a train to the top of Snowdon.

Not at this time of year.

He'd have a long wait for the next one!

Good luck to him. I'm married to ex Eryri search and rescue. He says as long as he can pronounce Yr Wyddfa he'll be ok 😂😂😂

It’s not alpinism. There’s a clear path, he just needs to follow all the others going up.

It’s not alpinism. There’s a clear path, he just needs to follow all the others going up.

Yeah, I've been up that path. Chances are he'd be ok but if it's icy/cold and rainy, foggy, windy or combinations of them it'll be unpleasant. And if he doesn't have proper kit and experience walking he's that bit more likely to slip and then it could be very unpleasant.

It's just isn't likely to be a wise choice if he wants a good first experience of hillwalking.

Aslong as he takes the path it will be fine!!!

That’s a really stupid idea.

I think hikers/mountaineers should be insured.

The site below has up-to-date information on conditions on the mountain. The latest report is from last Friday and even has photos.

Do note the 'Essential equipment' section.

https://yrwyddfa.live/

It’s not alpinism. There’s a clear path, he just needs to follow all the others going up.

No it’s not alpinism and there is a clear path. Until cloud cover, fog or snow sets in. Or the wind gets up, or heavy rain all of which can be very disorienting. He can’t read a map of visibility is poor, or he has a fall and looses the path. An easy walk in summer can be treacherous in winter conditions. People underestimate Scottish and Welsh mountains because they aren’t that high, forgetting height is only one factor.

I've posted this on here before but Snowdon is still a mountain and should be respected as such.

I have a photo of myself and my 11 year old standing at the 3/4 up station. We are the only thing in the photo - the rest is a wall of white.

The train is three feet behind us. You can't see it at all. About 8 feet behind that is a sheer vertical drop down the side of the mountain. The ground is shale and loose stone. It was cold, wet, visibility as described.

Llanberis that day was 23 degrees of beautiful sunshine, and that weather closed in, in about 10 minutes.

The photo was taken in August, at lunchtime.

A path doesn't help if you can't see the path.

He is 18, you should be supportive and encouraging him at this stage not dictating what he is allowed to do.

Also, perhaps decide if he has only walked to Asda or if he walks everywhere

It’s really selfish to assume “all the others” will be happy being followed by clueless teens. I’ve had this, and it’s not ok to rely on other people to look out for you and in the worst case scenario be responsible for you.

Besides, all the others might be fitter, more experienced and better equipped, and therefore going at a faster pace than these two. They’ll get left behind, and if they do make it to the summit could find themselves there alone, potential unsure how to retrace their steps if conditions are bad.

We’re talking about Snowdon. It’s like the A1 motorway of hills.

It absolutely can be a death trap. People die up there every year

In December, in conditions that people who know better realise are bad but these teens might not?

I’ve had glorious December days in the UK mountains. I’ve also had to get myself out of trouble, which I can do because I’m very experienced.

I’d also be annoyed if someone went down the A1 in a clapped out old banger, with only a provisional licence, no sat nav, and running low on petrol, and expected to follow me and have me tow them to a garage when they broke down!

If he doesn't even know that its official name is Yr Wyddfa, then he hasn't done his homework, and people who haven't done their homework when climbing mountains in the UK in December can (and sometimes do) end up dead.

Stupid idea.

We’re talking about Snowdon. It’s like the A1 motorway of hills.

And yet people die on it every single year because they have a blasé attitude and don't realise how bloody dangerous it can be up there, especially in bad weather.

All it takes is for the fog to come in and you can very, very quickly lose all sense of direction. Add on some treacherous December weather and you have the perfect recipe for disaster.

I remember going up Helvellyn as a teen - we set off and it was blue skies and sunshine without a single cloud in the sky. On the descent, the clouds came in and a thunderstorm struck - lighting and hail was bouncing off the track around us. I was with my parents who were both very experienced and stayed calm but I was absolutely terrified.

You don't want to be up there alone and inexperienced in bad weather.

It's not a very sensible first hike, in December without any with experience.

But it's great that he wants to get into hiking, I'd encourage him to go with his dad, or with a hiking club, to learn the skills.