AIBU to skip the queue at the Snowdon summit?

[MadMAGA]

The BBC is reporting arguments about people queue-jumping to get to the trig point at the top of Yr Wyddfa (Mount Snowdon). Apparently queues have been up to an hour long!

I can understand queuing for a photo at the top, but if I just want to get to the top and go straight back down again then why would I queue behind the insta crowd?

Depends if you walked up or got the train.

They should have two routes for the final bit, the 'i want a photo' bunch can queue, the 'slap hand on the cairn and move on' can just speed through.
People doing the 3 peaks shouldn't have to wait for people doing pictures for social media.

skip the queue, do it. Boils my piss. It’s done because people want a solo photo at the trig point. So every photo takes 10x as long to set up.

Aren’t there apps to edit superfluous people out of photos??

I wouldnt be queuing an hour so someone can get a solo picture for Insta

Those who live for external validation from others can do whatever they want

You can get to 'the top' without having to queue. The trig point is the highest point up some more steps after you get to the 'top bit'. There's plenty of space to have a rest, enjoy the view, take pics etc - the queue to the trig is unnecessary imo

YANBU. Absolutely insane behaviour and makes me think the only reason they walked up there is to take the photo.

No effing way I'd be queuing!

I'm going on Wednesday and I won't be queuing! I am really looking forward to it and think the hike looks great, so I don't mean to sound mean, but it isn't like doing so is some miraculous adventure that no one would believe if you didn't have photographic evidence!
It just seems like an odd situation to put yourself in: queuing on a mountain summit.

I went up there in May. The weather deteriorated half way up so by the time we got to the top you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face. DD was near a breakdown but still wanted to touch the trig but there was still a massive queue of people. I had already seen about it in the news and had decided that it was fucking ridiculous to queue at the top of the mountain if you just wanted to touch it . If you’re happy to queue just to get a pic then fine. But you shouldn’t jeer and abuse people who just want to touch the trig and make their way back down. A man doing 3 peaks was verbally abused the day before we climbed . I waited until one group had finished taking their pics then quickly climbed up the side and touched the trig. A woman who was approaching the trig for her picture (no where near ready to pose for it) screamed at me that I was rude and ‘ruining her picchaaarrrr’ . I told her to fuck off . Not proud at that moment but I’m absolutely done with what social media has done to society. I was not hindering or spoiling anyone’s photo . My DH climbed it 18 years ago and said there was zero queuing and there was a lovely chilled atmosphere at the top. He said it’s madness what it’s become .
I see it as if you want a nice pic then yes , join the queue. But don’t be bothered by people who are taking literally 5 seconds to touch the trig and move out the way. I’m pretty sure there’s a notice somewhere saying don’t queue .

Unless you want a photo for social media or otherwise, why does anyone actually need to go to the very top anyway? I’d stop nearby in a quieter spot, enjoy the view and head back down. The queuing is very odd.

I personally just wouldn't bother with the trig! No need once you're at the top IMO.

The annoying thing about the article is that it completely misses out the fact that most of the people queuing aren’t even hikers! They got the train up. It’s pretty annoying having hiked up to have to queue for half an hour behind ladies in high heels wanting a selfie at the trig point. And as for those poor charity guys getting booed by train-goers after having done the three peaks challenge with the time limit of 24h, well it’s just ridiculous really, isn’t it.
I did queue for 30 mins behind train-goers because I’m too British-conditioned to jump the queue, but honestly if people just want to touch the trig point to have completed the climb or are doing the three peaks then the train goers should show some respect.

Do it. Or climb one of the countless peaks nearby which aren’t beset by crowds of tourists and Instagram attention seekers.

This is madness. Those daft people queuing for a photo. It’s as if “if you don’t post it on social media” it never happened.

If I climb a mountain I’m not queuing to touch a rock if people want to queue to take the perfect pic fine carry on but that’s not what I’m there for so I won’t queue lol

Also, it’s Snowden. You can there by train. Kids and small dogs climb it. And you can take a photo at the top without going up the cairn.

We go up most years in either spring or autumn, we live not too far away so it's a good camping and hiking spot. I've never been to the summit as for us the pleasure is In the walk,go round the back, up the rangers path and down the llanberis path missing the summit entirely. Much nicer. Or do a quieter mountain. Enjoy the walk not the reaching the summit.

Also - my disabled 6 year old has been up it, so it's hardly K2.

North Wales has lots of mountains, I'd choose a quieter one. But I had enough of trekking up the mountains of North Wales with my parents on holiday as a child to last me a lifetime.

Do they not do 'Fast Passes' yet at Snowdon?

Or if they want a photo, stay at home with a jumbo box of After Eights and get ChatGTP to do it. ( I think Chris Bonnington may have done something similar...)

I don't really get why 'I want to have a solo picture at the top' is vacuous, sheep-like, and selfish while 'I NEED to touch the magic special designated marker at the top of a cairn of stones otherwise my 3 hour trek up the rest of the mountain doesn't count, because that's what you're supposed to do' is apparently a sane, individual, and sensible rationale!

Would I queue for a photo myself, probably not, I'd just take one somewhere else, but the mockery of people who do want one doesn't sit well with me. Most people aren't going to go straight up and back down - they'll take some time to rest, admire the view, chat to friends, have a drink, etc. all of which can be done as easily while standing in a queue, with the bonus they also get a nice photo as well. On the 'stupid things people queue for' scale it's quite low down imho.

Everyone is as silly as each other in my opinion - once you've climbed the mountain you've climbed the mountain, you don't need to touch a special stone or take a specific photo to prove it.

Ye Gods, sometimes the whole queuing malarkey can really be taken way too far. Yes for queuing for the bus, or for a coffee. No to queuing when you reach the top of Snowdon and want to tap the trig point and head back down. People who need to queue like a ewe so they can have their photo taken without the horror of another human visible in the background should be thrown down the mountain. Insufferable idiots.

Don't give them ideas! 😆

This - I understand people wanting a photo by the trig at least the first time you get to the top, and for official races sometimes the trig must be touched.
But for all other occasions just reaching “the top” is sufficient surely?

The queuing has only been a thing for the last
few years anyway, before that people just went straight to the top and understood that there may be other people in your photo!

Cairngorm has a train that takes you to the cafe that’s spitting distance to the top. They don’t let those who git the train up out onto the hill from there, on the basis that they will probably get lost and need rescuing.

Walkers can use the cafe but have to sign in at the door otherwise they won’t be let out again.

Snowdon surely needs to do similar. I do lots of hills, and like to touch the trig point. I’m damned if I’m queueing for gormless idiots to get their insta pic. You do you but I’ll walk straight past thanks.