It's no surprise when stunning sunrise photos of Yr Wyddfa summit and nearby Crib Goch draw gasps of admiration when posted on social media. But for those who make the night walk up Wales' highest mountain, the images don't do the experience justice.
That's what those who've done it say, particularly those who got lucky with the weather. But as more and more photos appear on our timelines or feeds, more people want to follow in their footsteps and see one of Wales' natural beauties in those special moments, reports North Wales Live.
Earlier this month a few eyebrows were raised when a 4am photo was posted online showing long queues of eager walkers waiting patiently to summit Yr Wyddfa. Since one of the perks of getting up that early is the peace and quiet – and the opportunity to avoid the crowds trekking up the trails at peak season – the crowd of dawn-watchers was an eye-opener.
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One experienced climber said it was “ridiculous”, according to North Wales Live. He added: “Everyone nowadays has the same idea that if you go at unsociable times you will beat the crowds. No more.” Another said: “I was watching lights going up the Miners and Pyg (paths) constantly for two hours and I’m sure the Llanberis was worse…”
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In spite of that, the attraction for Yr Wyddfa’s dawn watchers is obvious. Even if you're not alone, the experience has been described as “awesome” and “breathtaking”. And depending on the time of year, the mountain is not always busy at night as long as you pick the right date.
For those who are tempted, mountain professionals warn night climbing is a serious matter. In the dark, it’s easier to miss the path and get lost, and easier to fall and pick up injuries. "Things can look very different at night," said one regular. “But on the right night it can be magical."
Night-climbing not recommended for novices unless they are with people with experience of the mountain. A good option for beginners is to hire an Yr Wyddfa mountain guide. In June, when the sunrise is before 5am, some people walk up the previous night and wait at the summit until the dawn. Others climb up first thing in the morning and hope their timing is right.
Heledd Owen took the latter option when she climbed to Crib Goch earlier this month, having parked at Pen y Pass. “For Crib Goch I normally give myself around one hour 30 minutes to get there, starting from Pen Y Pass at about 3.30am,” she said.
“I would give myself about two hours for Snowdon summit but to be honest I rarely go up there anymore as it’s too busy for my liking. Heading up Snowdon you can usually see a trail of headtorches on the popular paths – Pyg/Miners or Llanberis.
“I do 99% of my hikes in the dark for sunrise, it’s just my favourite time of day and I prefer to avoid the crowds. I definitely think more people have started going up there for sunrise. I spend a lot more time in the Ogwen Valley - but even that has become a lot more popular over the past couple of years.”
If climbing Yr Wyddfa at night, you’ll need to avoid paths on the west side of the mountain as the sun rises from the east. The Llanberis Path is the safest – but there’s one golden rule if taking this route: as you leave Llanberis along the residential street of Victoria Terrace, remember to be quiet and keep your voices down.
For years, local people have been awoken in the early hours by walkers setting off. From Llanberis, the summit takes around three hours for most people, which in summer means leaving before 2am. As night-climbing’s popularity has soared, so has the amount of interrupted sleep. Returning jubilantly after a successful dawn summit can be just as annoying.
To make life easier, pick a night when the moon is up and the weather forecast is good. It will make the trek up easier and you’re less likely to be disappointed by a cloud-shrouded summit. Other tips are pretty obvious. Pack plenty of warm clothes as it will be colder than you think.
Take plenty of food and a hot drink, as you may be hanging around waiting for the sun to rise. At the very least, take spare batteries for your head torch. And don’t forget your mobile for those fabulous Insta photos.
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