Did anyone see this last night? I doubt it was shown outside Wales.
Jamie climbed Snowdon for the first time in his life. He was well impressed
and IIRC he recommended that everyone should do it! Nooooo!!!! It's busy
enough up there as it is!
Much mention was made about how dangerous and life-threatening it was. Well
in bad weather yes, and on certain routes yes, but following the path from
Llanberis on a hot summer's day along with thousands of other people? He
mentioned the risk of getting lost, but how exactly? Granted it may be
possible away from the beaten track in bad weather, but even in zero
visibility, surely no-one could lose the path unless they made a specific
point of walking away from it? It took him over four hours to reach the
summit via the Llanberis path.
The day before, he met Sam Roberts, chief warden at Pen y Pass (who reckons
that he's climbed Snowdon, on average, once per week for the last 32 years -
that's 1,664 ascents!) and he asked whether he would advise people to walk
up Snowdon in the "grim" weather that day. Sam replied; "It's horrible.
There is a perverse enjoyment in simply getting to the top, I guess, but
it's not a nice experience at all."
That really surprised me, from the park warden! To suggest that the
satisfaction of reaching the summit was the only possible reason for
climbing a mountain in bad weather is way off the mark IMO. Maybe he said
that just for the cameras and for the benefit of the mountain rescue, but
I've done many rain and hill fog walks that I've thoroughly enjoyed
(although not all of them). It's not just the challenge, I really like the
atmosphere of walking in rain (provided my waterproofs are up to the task)
and the sight of rocky crags appearing out of the mist is really
atmospheric, I love that! I remember when Janet Street Porter climbed
Cadair Idris in the rain and fog, she slagged it off too, claiming to be
miserable. Why can't some people enjoy the hills when the sun isn't
shining? That suggests to me that they're more interested in the weather
than the mountains. They may as well just lay on the beach! ;-)
Anyway, getting back to the point. In spite of climbing up there with a
thousand other walkers, when he reached the summit, the camera shot him
ascending the steps to a completely empty cairn! Yeah right! "THIS IS THE
BBC! PLEASE CLEAR THE AREA!" He then told the camera that he'd missed the
last train and so was the last person on the mountain, and he had it all to
himself! Yeah right! Early evening on a beautiful summer's day on Snowdon?
No chance! I bet the crowds were all being held back behind the cameraman!
The parting shot showed him striding off across a grassy slope. All alone
on the mountain? Never climbed a mountain before? Night rapidly
approaching? Wandering away from the path? Now that's the way to get lost
Jamie! ;-)
Paul