Snow, Sunshine, and Scouts: part 2 – FLAGS does Snowdon

The first FLAGS* outdoor weekend event was held in Snowdonia last weekend. Four members of FLAGS attended from Shropshire, Birmingham, and Northern Ireland. With the campsite at Dôlgam between Capel Curig and Betws-y-Coed on the A5 road, we woke up on Saturday morning to a great view of Snowdonia, which we were set to climb that day.

View from Snowdon, Photo: Eddie Hulme 2011 — Ian looks out over the valleys below Snowdon.

We rose, pooled the resources for making breakfast and got going in Eddie’s car to Rhyd Ddu via Beddgelert. We climbed up the Rhyd Ddu path to the summit with lots of stunning views. The weather was truly glorious. We were very fortunate indeed as on the Friday there had been snow on Snowdon.

Three of the party were well used to climbing the mountain, but one of them was on his first ascent. It was his first walk outdoors like this since September 2008. The three others made sure that the party went at the pace of the slowest (me) and everyone got round safely.

At the summit, there were many, many people in all sorts of attire, from other Scouts safely dressed to many in jeans and tshirts and even one guy in a blue string vest! After the obligatory photographs at the top, we sat down and had our lunch and watched the trains go past.

FLAGS at the top of Snowdon — The four FLAGS members at the top of Snowdon on Saturday 11 June 2011.

On our way down, we crossed over the railway and continued down the Snowdon Ranger path, where we past a group who were on their third climb up that day. They were climbing to raise money for VSO and we were impressed at how well they were coping – one of them even had a can of liquid refreshment in his hand as he climbed up.

FLAGS camp at Dôlgam Photo: Michael Carchrie Campbell 2011 — The marvellous view of Snowdonia from the campsite at Dôlgam

All in all, it was a truly amazing day. We obviously had the luck of the Irish with us as we had such gloriously sunny weather, which did not last into the Sunday. On the Sunday, we woke up to pouring rain, and so we abandoned any thoughts of heading into the hills, and got on with the business of making breakfast in the rain by cooking under umbrellas and then striking camp and heading into Betws-y-Coed.

Eddie made sure that I was shown other mountains including Pen yr Ole Wen, Tryfan, (or rather the feet of them in the rain and mist) before heading into the village, and then all of us departing our various ways after having coffee near the station in Betws-y-Coed and a brief foray into Cotswold.

Many thanks to Eddie Hulme for organising the weekend. Those of us who attended had a fantastic time. We all agreed that it was well worth the effort in getting there and that there should be more outdoor events in the next year.

How long will it take for FLAGS to have climbed Snowdon, Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis, and Slieve Donard? That’s the usual three peaks challenge with the addition of Northern Ireland’s highest mountain as well. Where’s next? Scafell Pike, Slieve Donard, or Ben Nevis?

originally written for the FLAGS website.

* FLAGS is a National Scout Active Support unit as part of The Scout Association UK. Its objective is simply to spread the message that its Ok to be Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender and be in Scouts and it will support anyone affected by such issues.