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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to skip the queue at the Snowdon summit?

122 replies

MadMAGA · 24/08/2026 17:46

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?

People wearing coats and backpacks queue to reach the top of a mountain, against the backdrop of a blue sky.

Yr Wyddfa rows between people queuing and those skipping the line

There has been disagreement between queuers and others skipping the line to reach the top of Yr Wyddfa.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1714xg2vr9o?at_campaign_type=owned&at_link_origin=BBC_News&at_ptr_name=facebook_page&at_format=video&at_bbc_team=editorial&at_medium=social&at_link_type=web_link&at_link_id=E7D60948-9FA3-11F1-8783-8C4012EDF944&at_campaign=Social_Flow&fbclid=Iwb21leAT5U1hwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHpZNkl4ZxQGpqlAgM9zcch5W9fW6Ti4dtOhFAHUCN7K53FY9w7k9FwAqCmbv_aem_YgkoAmNG5R1HsU0r6vkcIg

OP posts:
Dooferer · 24/08/2026 19:02

Shloopie · 24/08/2026 18:32

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.

It would really rile me if I wasn’t able to touch the top due to insufferable morons.

Traypaint · 24/08/2026 19:05

Who started the queuing?

I have climbed mountains in lots of countries. Sometimes the summit is busier than others but if you want a pic you do the best you can and accept there will be others in the background. I've bever experienced a queue or any kind of taking turns!

If the mountain it that busy, why not choose another? It doesn't sound any fun at all, you must be walking up in a traffic jam too.

NormasArse · 24/08/2026 19:05

This is why I set off at 1am. Got to the top just before sunrise, and there were only a handful of people there. We sat and had our breakfast in silence, watching the sunrise, and it was magical.

nomas · 24/08/2026 19:18

ExplodingCarrots · 24/08/2026 18:13

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 .

We went in summer 2024 and there was no queue.

People were lovely and respectful.

BirdLandedonmyHead · 24/08/2026 19:21

They need a photo point amd the climbers point (with no photos allowed)

FurForksSake · 24/08/2026 19:21

Husband and son did it a few weeks ago, they walked up at 7am and beat the first train. They queued with some lovely people and everyone took photos for each other.

think there should be a separate trig for train goers and photo ops.

husband had planned to walk round people but felt waiting was a reasonable thing to do and mood was good.

StillgotmyiPod · 24/08/2026 19:23

I find it a bit twisted that we (as a species) swarm natural beauty spots to the extent that we queue for them. Lord knows how much damage is being done to that mountain.

I'd stop the whole thing for a few years and give it a proper rest.

user1471445064 · 24/08/2026 19:25

My 88 yr old dad used to climb Snowden about 4 times a year he liked to go each season.
He stopped in his 70s and he finds the idea of queues at the top just bizarre.

nomas · 24/08/2026 19:25

BirdLandedonmyHead · 24/08/2026 19:21

They need a photo point amd the climbers point (with no photos allowed)

It’s too small to accommodate that.

ZanyMaker · 24/08/2026 19:34

I walked up on a cloudy day in March - no views whatsoever, but free reign to get a picture of the trig 😂

YorkshirePuddingsGreatestFan · 24/08/2026 19:39

The queue would be ok if it was just a quick happy snap each at the trig point.

It's the same as other tourist places where people spend ages taking about 27 different poses and then have review them all before they move on.

Original poster
MadMAGA · 24/08/2026 19:41

TimeFlysWhenYoureHavingRum · 24/08/2026 17:49

Depends if you walked up or got the train.

Definitely walking!

I have lots of summit photos but there are other people in them. Because there were other people there. I survived.

OP posts:
Whaleandsnail6 · 24/08/2026 19:42

Find to skip the queue if you dont want a photo and just want to touch the trig.

Anyone who wants a photo should join the queue.

Simple

Silverbirchleaf · 24/08/2026 19:42

‘Skipping the line’. Isn’t ‘line’ the American word for queue?

ErrolTheDragon · 24/08/2026 20:00

Silverbirchleaf · 24/08/2026 19:42

‘Skipping the line’. Isn’t ‘line’ the American word for queue?

It can be, but in this context ‘queue’ sounds like it’s an official thing rather than a line caused by entitled prats wanting to monopolise the top for their photos and getting nasty if others don’t want to waste their time.

Mollymaid64 · 24/08/2026 20:15

We went 25 years ago, in busy school holidays. No queing to get to the summit.
Then in 2021 we went again and was amazed at the queue, in the mist. I didn't bother to join it

AIBU to skip the queue at the Snowdon summit?
21ZIGGY · 24/08/2026 20:18

Yeh sod that. Just get up there, touch the trig, or whatever it is you want to do and get out of there.

I was at the las vegas sign, and there was a queue for ages to get the perfect picture dead central to the sign but i didnt care about that.I was happy to get a sideways selfie with it.me &my mate got hell from everyone about it, but we didn't give a stuff.

It's public property.No one can tell you that you have to get in a queue.

Gateappreciation · 24/08/2026 20:19

”No one can tell you that you have to get in a queue.”

We’re British. Of course we have to queue!

CaramelGhost · 24/08/2026 20:20

This is the only mountain I've heard heard of people queuing on? I'm assuming it's because people get the train up 😂 No I wouldn't queue, I'd skip, take a quick photo and be gone. Surely the queue creates crowding at the peak. Just get a move on. Weird, weird behaviour from people I can only assume don't get much fresh air

allthiscarryon · 24/08/2026 20:20

There is NO way I’m queuing for an hour behind a load of people who want a SM picture. Top and down

JulietteHasAGun · 24/08/2026 20:25

I’ve been climbing snowdon for over 40 years. The top has changed (a lot). The trig has been moved to the top of the “platform” thing, the steps up to the platform have been built. I might be wrong but I believe the summit is actually the bigger plateau below the steps and trig point? Everything above that is artificially constructed???? Used to be a lot rougher and no steps.

TheNinkyNonkyIsATardis · 24/08/2026 20:36

latetothefisting · 24/08/2026 18:31

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.

Edited

If the people who wanted to touch the trig points wanted to only do a special trig point touch where they pretend nobody else was at the top of the mountain, and expected everyone around them to respect their wish to pretend that they're the only people on the mountain, and expected people to wait an hour to let them have their moment touching the trig point, you might have a point.

The insta crowd have decided that a public spot is for one purpose only, and expect everyone else to follow their stupid rules.

You sneer at it as if it's childish, but although the adult insta crowd are there, there are also in fact many children. I climbed Snowdon several times as a kid with my parents, as with other mountains, and I'd have been damn disappointed not to touch the trig point. It's your own little "because it's there" moment.

People took pictures with other people in the background in those days too, nobody died.

ItsGetKirstyIn · 24/08/2026 20:50

TheNinkyNonkyIsATardis · 24/08/2026 20:36

If the people who wanted to touch the trig points wanted to only do a special trig point touch where they pretend nobody else was at the top of the mountain, and expected everyone around them to respect their wish to pretend that they're the only people on the mountain, and expected people to wait an hour to let them have their moment touching the trig point, you might have a point.

The insta crowd have decided that a public spot is for one purpose only, and expect everyone else to follow their stupid rules.

You sneer at it as if it's childish, but although the adult insta crowd are there, there are also in fact many children. I climbed Snowdon several times as a kid with my parents, as with other mountains, and I'd have been damn disappointed not to touch the trig point. It's your own little "because it's there" moment.

People took pictures with other people in the background in those days too, nobody died.

Show quote history

The insta crowd have decided that a public spot is for one purpose only, and expect everyone else to follow their stupid rules.

Exactly. It reminds me of those drivers (sadly the majority) who don't understand "merge in turn", and move over to one lane even though the other one doesn't close until a mile further on. And then get annoyed at me for whizzing past them.

If you want to waste your own time and stick to pointless rules that you've made up yourself, feel free, but you've no right to expect others to go along with it

Lovesacake · 24/08/2026 20:51

I don’t understand why people have to touch a particular rock, is it supposed be lucky or something?

HatKat · 24/08/2026 20:53

Since when did queuing on a mountain become a thing. If you're happy to just get to the top and walk back down then.. skip the 'queue' 😬