walking up Snowdon with a toddler

[kissgoodnightsam]

We have two teens and a 38lb toddler and the teens are keen to walk up Snowdon this summer. I have a good toddler sling and we walk a lot. The train only goes 3/4 of the way up in August. We could walk up 3/4 of the way up with toddler and get the train back down while teens and dh walk to the summit. Does this sound doable? Crazy? Any good/bad experiences?

I'm just amazed (and jealous) that your toddler will go in the carrier for that long! Our hiking days came to stop (temporary, I hope) when DS learned to walk because he wouldn't sit in it for longer than about 20 mins at a time but hiking at toddler pace is no fun for anyone.

My cousin is very fit and slipped down and had a bad fall. I wouldn't do it for that reason.

He will sit in a carrier for almost an hour but I imagine we'll have to have plenty of breaks with him walking too. Which will slow the pace somewhat.

I like the idea of paddling and then train down again while the others walk on, thanks for that idea.

We did it last October with our toddler and two older kids. It was absolutely fine albeit more of a workout for me. We just used our ergo. We have a Macpac framed carrier but I found the ergo more comfortable. She was a sizeable 3 1/2 yrs old. We walked up and down.

Ps we did Llanberis

Its just a traffic jam up there at the moment.
Literally people standing in queues to reach the top and get through bottlenecks.
There are miles nicer and quieter places to hike in Snowdonia.

"There are miles nicer and quieter places to hike in Snowdonia."

Yep. If teens want to do Snowden, let them do it with one adult and do hikes with toddler in quieter, lower places.

"Its just a traffic jam up there at the moment.
Literally people standing in queues to reach the top and get through bottlenecks.
There are miles nicer and quieter places to hike in Snowdonia."

Ok, definitely something to think about there. Good to have insider info!

allGetitdonesharpish - that's exactly what I wanted to hear. I have an ergo too and feel quite confident with his weight. I think if we chose a day that's not wet we should be fine.

I live in Snowdonia. I have lots of friends who have gone up Snowdon with toddlers on their backs, although I couldn't on my own, I'm not strong enough. I could if DH and I split the carrying. However snowdon looks awful at the moment. Queues to get to the summit, no social distancing on the narrow paths, lots of people who drove all this way and so are apparently determined to do it no matter how busy, lack of parking, no facilities at the top... I wouldn't want that with a toddler on my back (or any time really...)

Does it have to be Snowdon? The carneddau are accessible, huge, empty and just the other side of the valley.

Llyn idwal is totally do-able with a toddler on your back, or even walking at their own pace and is as dramatic and beautiful as snowdon in my opinion. If your husband and teens are keen to keep going they can access y garn from the lake, leaving you and the toddler behind. This option might require 2 cars or a sherpa bus however.

I will look into both Llyn idwal and carneddau. One teenager is desperate to walk up to Snowdon so I guess we might have to split up and all join up later.

Dumb question - is there wifi on Snowdon?

I'd worry about it being a very long time out in the open with no shade and no quick way out if it all gets too much.

Toddlers can over heat so easily in a sling on a warm day.

I'd forget Snowdon and do a quieter hill.

The only reason to choose to do Snowdon just at the moment is to be able to say you did it as all the usual reasons to do it are on hold at the moment by all accounts as it's too busy and the facilities at the top are closed.

there’s barely mobile signal on Snowden and the surrounding area has lots of dead spots. WiFi?! Maybe in the cafe if it’s open but otherwise no.

Are you experienced at hill/mountain walking though?

The malverns are very different to snowdon. I think its a bad idea sorry. I also think the carneddau are generally a harder climb than snowdon, and wouldnt do those with a toddler in a sling either. I think it just has too much potential to go wrong

One adult does snowdon with the teens the other goes elsewhere with the toddler

I'd get a proper hiking carrier (we use a Littlelife Explorer) rather than a sling.

Better support for you and less chance if overheating.

You can also get a sun shade and rain over to suit every eventuality.

No wifi on snowdon. If your teen is really keen to do it have you considered the Watkins path from beddgelert? Its longer but usually a lot quieter and in my opinion a lot nicer and more fun. There is a scramble at the top and its not doable with a toddler, however you can do the first quarter or so easily. At that point there are lovely pools and lots of nice places for your little one. You could then descend with your youngest and have a day in beddgelert which has ice creams, easy walks and a river. That's another option

It’s insanely busy there as others have said. I would be avoiding it personally, with or without a toddler. And no. There’s no WiFi!
www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-wales-53536557

The Malvern Hills are not comparable to Snowdon! Not in terms of terrain, exposure or the commitment of time you’ll be out. The weather can change very quickly at altitude and a child in a carrier/sling who is not moving for hours could get very cold very quickly. I also heard the news reports regarding police turning people away from Pen y Pass. Snowdon is not going anywhere, I’d wait for the spin off madness of post lockdown to pass and the toddler to get big enough to walk himself up.

With toddlers, I have walked up to Llyn Idwal from Ogwen Cottage, my dc and nephews - and they have all walked it aged about 3. A easy walk with a big mountain feel.

How would there be wifi on snowdon? Do you mean 4g?

One adult does snowdon with the teens the other goes elsewhere with the toddler
Yes

Dumb question - is there wifi on Snowdon
No!!!! It’s not like the Malverns or Peal District, which are surrounded by towns and cities.

I think if we chose a day that's not wet we should be fine.

It will be wet (and therefore slippery) whatever the weather. There will be very cold temperatures at the summit compared to lower down. The weather can change in a few minutes.

Please visit Llanberis Mountain Rescue website and consider whether this is a good idea or not. It’s hard to tell from your posts and questions how experienced you are at mountain walking, it is different from the Lakes, Peaks etc.

@kissgoodnightsam

How competent a walker are you ?

I'm pretty strong, fit and competent walker as I walk regularly with dog and toddler in sling. Will do a practice 10 mile walk across the Malvern Hills next week and see how we go. I'm not concerned about fitness levels, more the safety in terms of how rocky, steep it might be.

Lots of different op

From a safety point of view the main Lllanberis path is fine....if the weather is good or if you have adequate clothing. Remember a carried toddler will get colder in bad weather than someone walking.

I live in the shadow of Snowdon. Please don't do it. The amount of rescue teams that have to put their lives in danger because people take on a hike that they have no real grip of what it entails is unbelievable. And with all due respect, your comments show that you don't really know the terrain and circumstances- It's always wet up Snowdon, because of the clouds; it is NOTHING like the Malvern Hills, in terms of terrain or in terms of danger; and it has no wifi. Of course it doesn't. It's a mountain.

That's true AudaCityLimits. We were just descending once and the rescue helicopter came to a young, fit person who had slipped and sprained/broken their ankle very near the top. Only about 50m from the cafe which was then open and weather okay, but still very dangerous because of how cold you can get so quickly at height.

We've done a lot of mountain hikes with our children and my rule for longer, quiet hikes was an adult per child plus an extra adult, in case an adult gets injured or ill and the other adult needs to go for help. That was with younger children. Two teens and one adult on a busy mountain like Snowden would be okay though.

allGetitdonesharpish - that's exactly what I wanted to hear. I have an ergo too and feel quite confident with his weight. I think if we chose a day that's not wet we should be fine.

You've heard what you wanted to hear despite a lot of advice advising the contrary.
Crack on.