The First 'Mountain'
By
Keith Lackie
Fun & misc
21 June 2008 20:22
We arrived in the darkness to our base for the next few days; a small campsite situated 15 minutes drive from Pen-Y-Pass. Little did I know that this trip would settle my mind and set in stone the inspiration that would, hopefully, guide me through a whole life of pointy masses of mud and stone. We were in Snowdonia, Wales, and we were here to climb Snowdon via the Snowdon Horseshoe. Rock (insert guitar solo here).
I awoke the following morning in my small Terra Nova Laser Competition tent, not knowing what to find when I opened the zippers, I found views of mountains, oh so close, and I was full of anticipation. My walkabout land is usually Dartmoor; this is just a wee bit pointier! The first day of the visit was spent riding the Marin Trail, a good mountain bike ride through the beautiful views over this vast land. All day I thought of what we would be undertaking just the next day; the thoughts were tantalising!
That night we ate at a little pub just across the road from camp, inside hung old ice axes and crampons, kept company by pictures of the people that used those years ago. This further encouraged my mind to wander into thoughts of mountains and resisting previous occasions that have paved the path to this moment in time, where I am so in love with the mountains.
Early is the time that myself and my companions for the trip Andy and girlfriend Jo, woke up for the second time in the mountains, and woke to a beautiful and perfect day, the mountain gods where with us. I felt privileged at this thought and put a brew and some food on. This is going to be a wonderful day, I thought.
We arrived at the car park at the start of the pig track at around 7:20am; I looked to the sky for a change in the weather, and then thanked the mountain gods again. We started walking at a brisk pace up the pig track and I remember being satisfied at this; perhaps even a bit arrogant. The ground soon steepened at this point as we started the scramble up to the Knife Edge, where we would meet Crib Goch.
I felt unbelievably happy and at one with the surroundings as I was using four limbs to gain the summit that would send us on our way to the ridge. I got to the top first and had a few minutes to myself. I thought about the place that I was in and how breathtakingly beautiful it is, I thought about, and was surprised about, how at home I felt in this place, so remarkable and real. I’m not going to lie to you, a tear was shed and I did hug a rock and announce my love of pointy places. I celebrated with a Mars Bar and soon I was joined by Andy and Jo; they expressed the same wide grin as I did, then we all seemed to look at the ridge and giggle nervously. This is it, guys, I thought.
For the first hundred meters or so, we had the ridge to ourselves. I moved a little faster than Andy and Jo, which meant that one, they can have a romantic walk alone, and two, that I was left alone to contemplate and concentrate wholly on the mountains, upset that it is not possible to marry rock and earth. Damn.
Progress was good; I walked a hundred meters or so, fell in love with a view, took a photo, had a bite of something and a sip of water, then carried on again. This is so not a one off. I looked down each side and I could see routes that would make amazing rock climbs, next time I will gain the ridge by that route, I remember thinking.
For the next mile or so I must of entered some kind of daze as I can’t remember much of it, it’s astonishing how wild places can do that to you. Next thing I knew I was looking straight up the path towards Snowdon; there was a train, some workers, and dozens of people. I didn’t really like being around so many people on the summit. It was like being at a busy Cotswold Outdoors changing room. I like to have the summits to myself, next time I will leave earlier or later and bivi at the top. We didn’t stay on the top for long, and soon where off to our next summit, Y Lliwedd. Jo left us at the top to descend via a different route, and then descending Y Lliwedd Andy left me to meet Jo at the bottom (I must have been going too slowly). It is always good to reflect on a good days walk, and as I descended to the bank of Llyn Llydaw, it was a perfect time to do so. The day was a success.
We made our way back to camp, collected our stuff, I kicked a ball into my tent and broke a pole, and we headed back to Devon, and home.
On the journey home, I planned further adventures in my head, next time I must wild camp, and maybe I can ride my motorbike to the mountains to be even closer to them on the journey there? One thing that I knew for certain was that I would be back for more soon.