{"id":8064,"date":"2020-08-14T10:45:54","date_gmt":"2020-08-14T09:45:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=8064"},"modified":"2020-08-14T11:04:12","modified_gmt":"2020-08-14T10:04:12","slug":"walk-leaders-adventures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=8064","title":{"rendered":"Walk Leader\u2019s Adventures"},"content":{"rendered":"

Walk Leader\u2019s Adventures<\/span><\/b><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Boris and Mark urged and encouraged people to \u201cStay Local\u201d in the early days of the lockdown due to the Coronavirus. As the lockdown is eased and people are actively being persuaded to have a staycation, it seems appropriate to leave Mt Kenya, Mt Kilimanjaro and the Himalayas to describe a more local adventure…on Mt Snowdon.<\/p>\n

Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa in Welsh) is the highest mountain in Wales and England (1085m) and can offer views of Pembrokeshire, Anglesey and Ireland on a clear day. On my many ascents, I have never been fortunate to see that far!<\/p>\n

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The first recorded ascent of Snowdon was by Thomas Johnson in 1639. My plan was to take a group of 15 European students from an English Language summer school to follow in Johnson\u2019s footsteps. The 16-18 year old students had come to a Language school in Shropshire for a month, to improve their English. They did English language activities in the mornings and sports and cultural activities and visits in the afternoon. As the Sports teacher, I decided to offer the students the opportunity to experience Welsh culture and challenge themselves to climb in the wild and magnificent Snowdonia landscape.<\/p>\n

An excited and excitable group set off from the Language school. The mini bus was filled with a reverberation of cheerful students making themselves understood in an assortment of languages. On board we had students from Spain, France, Portugal, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Denmark: and they were determined to share their thoughts and communicate!<\/p>\n

We arrived at the Pen y Pass car park ready for the 6 hours return journey to the peak and back. We were well prepared: the route had been planned, weather forecast had been checked and the students had appropriate footwear and equipment. Food, water, first aid kits, whistles and insulated foil blankets were carried in small rucksacks. We were ready for any eventuality! Or so we thought!<\/p>\n

We set off along the Miners track. The Miners Path was built to carry copper from the Britannia Copper Works near Llyn Glaslyn to Pen y Pass, where it was transported to Caernarfon. Remains of the mining works could be seen as we steadily climbed. The views were glorious as the sun shone down on green grassy hillsides and the water sparkled as we passed by the lakes of Llyn Teyrn, across Y Cob Causeway to Llyn Llydaw. Chatter had changed to a hum as the climbing took its toil on the slope near Llyn Glaslyn. We stopped for lunch.<\/p>\n

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Mountain weather can be unpredictable and changeable. And change came. What had started off<\/p>\n

as a walk under sunny, blue skies changed rapidly as we ate lunch into a \u201cwhite out\u201d. Thick mist descended upon us and it was impossible to see the whole party even though we \"\"were tightly packed onto the hillside above the lake, which was now invisible to us, concealed by the fog. I was anxious and felt apprehensive about continuing as I knew there was a steep and tricky climb ahead, often requiring the use of hands. I was in a dilemma; should I descend?<\/p>\n

And then….out of the mist emerged a mountain guide and his sheep dog….He asked if everything was going okay. I explained how I was in a predicament about continuing the climb. The students were keen to continue but not knowing how bad the visibility was up ahead, I did not want to put anyone at risk. The guide then offered to take us to the summit, and return us to the start of the climb. What a hero!!<\/p>\n

In very poor visibility, we followed the guide and his dog up the zig zags to Bwlch Glas and reached the summit after a further gentle walk. There was no view of Ireland or Pembroke to greet us, but the students congratulated each other in a multitude of languages and took numerous pictures of themselves with the dog.<\/p>\n

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As we descended the Pyg track and reached Bwlch y Moch, the mist lifted and we were treated to splendid views down the Llanberis pass. When we reached the mini bus, the guide left us. The students thought I had arranged for the guide and the dog to guide us …..and I am sure their adventure on Snowdon has passed into English Language Schools Folklore.<\/p>\n

When we do meet again at Barry Island or Cosmeston on our Living with Cancer walk or Carers walk, I promise that if a mist descends I will get you back to the car park! I hope to see you soon on a walk. Valeways are expecting to restart their led walks in mid August, so check out the programme on their website.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Walk Leader\u2019s Adventures Boris and Mark urged and encouraged people to \u201cStay Local\u201d in the early days of the lockdown due to the Coronavirus. As the lockdown is eased and people are actively being persuaded to have a staycation, it seems appropriate to leave Mt Kenya, Mt Kilimanjaro and the Himalayas to describe a more local adventure…on Mt Snowdon. Snowdon […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[334,125],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6cWjO-264","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4877,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=4877","url_meta":{"origin":8064,"position":0},"title":"Snowdon and Beddgelert","author":"Alan Williams","date":"28th July 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 Snowdon and Beddgelert.\u2014Wednesday morning in Beddgelert dawned sunny and bright with many of us choosing to eat breakfast alfresco. Seven of us plus a dog drove to Llanberis and used the Sherpa bus service to Pen y Pass (free to Welsh bus pass holders!) for our walk along the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Walking Group"","block_context":{"text":"Walking Group","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?cat=5"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":9009,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=9009","url_meta":{"origin":8064,"position":1},"title":"A Different Snowdon Adventure","author":"Alan Williams","date":"31st January 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"A DIFFERENT SNOWDON ADVENTURE As a Physiotherapist, I had the privilege of working with some pretty remarkable people over the years and one particular individual came to mind last year, when a number of local residents shared their outdoor adventures. Henry was a gentleman with cerebral palsy resulting in considerable\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General Interest Articles"","block_context":{"text":"General Interest Articles","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?cat=334"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wenvoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Railway.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":7689,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=7689","url_meta":{"origin":8064,"position":2},"title":"A Walk Leader’s Adventures","author":"Alan Williams","date":"6th June 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"WALK LEADER\u2019S ADVENTURES Returning from a Kenyan safari in 1932, Ernest Hemingway had many trophies including buffalo hides and rhino horns. Four years later, in \u2018The Snows of Kilimanjaro\u2019, Hemingway described the summit of Kilimanjaro as \u2018wide as all the world, great, high and unbelievably white in the sun\u2019. \u00a0\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General Interest Articles"","block_context":{"text":"General Interest Articles","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?cat=334"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wenvoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Group.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":8213,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=8213","url_meta":{"origin":8064,"position":3},"title":"Valeways Guided Walks","author":"Alan Williams","date":"3rd September 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"GUIDED WALKS The Guided Walks programme organised by Valeways started again on 9th August. All government guidelines regarding Covid 19 and walking safely will be followed, so walkers can once again enjoy a safe walk in the countryside in good company. Valeways is an independent volunteer run charity created to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Carers Walk"","block_context":{"text":"Carers Walk","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?cat=362"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wenvoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/walk-03-09-2-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wenvoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/walk-03-09-2-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wenvoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/walk-03-09-2-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wenvoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/walk-03-09-2-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8712,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=8712","url_meta":{"origin":8064,"position":4},"title":"November walk…in October","author":"Alan Williams","date":"29th November 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"LIVING WITH CANCER STROLLERS A gloriously sunny day greeted the Strollers as they gathered at Cosmeston for their November walk...in October. The walk was brought forward due to the \u201cfirebreak\u201d announced by the Welsh Government coinciding with the date of the November walk. Everyone was pleased to have been given\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Living With Cancer Strollers"","block_context":{"text":"Living With Cancer Strollers","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?cat=307"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wenvoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Picture5.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wenvoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Picture5.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wenvoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Picture5.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wenvoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Picture5.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7835,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=7835","url_meta":{"origin":8064,"position":5},"title":"Trekking in the Himalayas","author":"Alan Williams","date":"2nd July 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"After my adventures in Kenya, and particularly, on Mt Kenya and Mt Kilimanjaro, it was time to leave Africa. Before leaving I received a phone call from BBC Radio Wales: my dad had rung in to tell them I was embarking on a trip to Everest. 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