Levels Explorers conquer Crib Goch, Snowdon and Tryfan, raising money to send 3 members to World Scout Jamboree in 2011

Levels Explorer Scouts (aged 14 to 18) have been raising money to send three members to World Scout Jamboree in 2011.  Their latest idea was a sponsored event; seven members ascended Snowdon via Crib Goch on Saturday 16th October, followed by Tryfan (for fun) on Sunday 17th.  None of the Explorers had ever attempted anything like this before.

Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) is the highest mountain in Wales and is Great Britain's highest mountain south of the Scottish Highlands.  The summit (Yr Wyddfa) is at an altitude of 1,085 metres (3,560 ft) above sea level.

Crib Goch is a knife-edged arête. The highest point is 923m above sea level. Crib Goch includes rocky mountain paths, and some Grade 1 scrambling. The moves are not particularly hard, but huge exposure and polished rock make this challenging for most.

Tryfan is one of the most recognisable peaks in the region, having a classic pointed shape with rugged crags and it boasts Adam and Eve (two rocks 3m high and 1.2m apart).  It is the only mountain on the British mainland, and the only one in the United Kingdom outside the Cuillin of Skye, to require scrambling on the ascent.  The highest point is 917.5 m.

Because Crib Goch is a knife-edged ridge and involves scrambling, we needed dry weather with little wind to be able to climb it safely as all the Explorers were ‘beginners’ (the chances of getting this weather in October were pretty slim!).  We set off for Snowdonia on the Friday evening and the weather got progressively worse; we arrived at about 10:30pm to put tents up in the wind and rain.  However, Saturday dawned bright and clear and we set off from Pen-y-Pas car park at 9am.  The weather remained dry and settled and so off we went past the “Caution: Crib Goch” sign.

Most people find at least some parts of Crib Goch challenging and frightening due to the scrambling, (that means you have to use your hands while you climb but there’s no need for climbing equipment like ropes) steep slopes and exposure.  As Emma Neslen said “This is rock climbing without any ropes”.  The Explorers all coped extremely well under the leadership of Tony Dyson from County Scouts.  The true meaning of team work hit home as they helped each other over the more difficult parts of the route.   It took us quite some time to cross Crib Goch (and they all realised the reason why it’s called a knife edged ridge)  but we were all very proud of ourselves when we had done it.  “You have to love the rock, be one with the rock, own the rock” (Jake Austin, 16).  Then it was a little more scrambling and trekking to get to the top of Snowdon.

The views on the route up were amazing - as far as the eye could see.  We couldn’t have hoped for better weather, there were a few gusts of wind as we ascended Crib Goch but as we crossed the ridge the wind dropped (either that or we were all concentrating so hard that we didn’t notice).  It could have been June.

The summit of Snowdon was busy as a train had just arrived with a welsh choir.  We didn’t hear any singing unfortunately, and the sight of the train emphasised (rather than dimished) our achievement of the route we’d taken, as we felt like we deserved to be there.  We were clouded in mist at the summit, which made it feel higher in a way and we were treated to a complete arch of a rainbow.  The mist cleared as soon as we started to descend via the Miners Track along the edge of the lake.  Then back to the campsite for a hot meal and straight to bed.

The next day the weather was just as good and so we packed up the campsite and headed off to Tryfan (well it was silly not to do another mountain while we were there).  More scrambling, but this time with sore legs and arms from the day before!  In some ways this mountain was more challenging as the scrambling on the ascent seemed harder.  We were back at the bus by 2pm, ate a hot lunch on the pavement (much to the amusement of some passers-by) and were home by 8pm.

Thank-you to George (parent), Jeff (parent), Charlotte (Levels Scouts), Neil (Shepton Scouts) and Tony (County Scouts) for coming with us, to St Cleers Chapel Somerton for the loan of a minibus and to parents for letting the Explorers go and coping with tired teenagers on Sunday night. 

It was an amazing weekend for all the Explorers and the Leaders.  “I’ve never had so much fun and been in so much pain at the same time”, Amelia Labdon (14) “It was the best weekend of my life”, Becca Labdon (16).

In total we think we’ve raised over £600 in sponsorship – thank-you sincerely to every-one who sponsored us!  Personally I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed a sponsored event quite so much.

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