2. 2015

Snowdonia in August

My American animal welfare exams were finished so it was time to celebrate! And so we decided to join the attempt to break the world record for the number of people eating vegan cake on a mountain top at the same time, which was set at 214 in 2014 on Mt Snowdon. So with even more vegan we headed for the Snowdon Vegan Party http://www.snowdonveganparty.co.uk! Thanks to Guy Dessoy and Jasmijn de Boo for some of these pics!
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  • We took over the entire Pen y Pass youth hostel, who provided vegan food all weekend :)

    We took over the entire Pen y Pass youth hostel, who provided vegan food all weekend :)

  • Unfortunately it was a Welsh summer, which is to say, dangerously, horrendously, wet and cold! Jasmijn had to commandeer a gear rubbish bag from my pack to try to stay dry/warm...

    Unfortunately it was a Welsh summer, which is to say, dangerously, horrendously, wet and cold! Jasmijn had to commandeer a gear rubbish bag from my pack to try to stay dry/warm...

  • Scary drops into the clouds near the summit

    Scary drops into the clouds near the summit

  • Finally, we made the summit at 1,085 m, where our attempt to light candles for the birthday cake I smuggled up for Jasmijn, and to have about 300 of us up there at once, was thwarted by freezing sleet and high winds. Welsh summers...!

    Finally, we made the summit at 1,085 m, where our attempt to light candles for the birthday cake I smuggled up for Jasmijn, and to have about 300 of us up there at once, was thwarted by freezing sleet and high winds. Welsh summers...!

  • Candles on the summit, which refused to be lit in the wet and cold

    Candles on the summit, which refused to be lit in the wet and cold

  • A spot of salsa near the summit...

    A spot of salsa near the summit...

  • And then several hundred of us crowded miserably into the summit cafe. At least this time it was open. My last 7 visits it had been closed.

    And then several hundred of us crowded miserably into the summit cafe. At least this time it was open. My last 7 visits it had been closed.

  • On the way down the cloud finally started to clear and the famous Crib Goch ridge started to tempt us tantalisingly...

    On the way down the cloud finally started to clear and the famous Crib Goch ridge started to tempt us tantalisingly...

  • And so Guy and I decided to head straight up the mountain for it

    And so Guy and I decided to head straight up the mountain for it

  • It probably would have been easier to take the path. And definitely smarter

    It probably would have been easier to take the path. And definitely smarter

  • Finally, we made the ridge!

    Finally, we made the ridge!

  • Guy happy and perhaps a little surprised to be still alive!

    Guy happy and perhaps a little surprised to be still alive!

  • The ridge trail awaited us :)

    The ridge trail awaited us :)

  • The most spectacular ridge on the British mainland

    The most spectacular ridge on the British mainland

  • Guy takes in the awesome views

    Guy takes in the awesome views

  • Llyn Llydaw, where the legendary Afanc - demigod of the rains - resides

    Llyn Llydaw, where the legendary Afanc - demigod of the rains - resides

  • View to the West

    View to the West

  • Soon we reached the pinnacles, which must be climbed to pass further

    Soon we reached the pinnacles, which must be climbed to pass further

  • It's a most interesting trail

    It's a most interesting trail

  • If a little steep

    If a little steep

  • Definitely not the easiest route

    Definitely not the easiest route

  • But finally we made the top! Only to discover it was the wrong top...

    But finally we made the top! Only to discover it was the wrong top...

  • Then we discovered we'd somehow missed this extremely fun bit!

    Then we discovered we'd somehow missed this extremely fun bit!

  • So we dropped our packs and reversed - and did it again! :)

    So we dropped our packs and reversed - and did it again! :)

  • The views up here were awesome

    The views up here were awesome

  • The Glyderau range to the north of the tiny road barely visible in the valley far below

    The Glyderau range to the north of the tiny road barely visible in the valley far below

  • Crib Goch

    Crib Goch

  • Heading for Crib Goch summit

    Heading for Crib Goch summit

  • Crib Goch AK 2

    Crib Goch AK 2

  • Taking in the views

    Taking in the views

  • The awesome NW ridge. The record time from here to the tiny town in that valley is about 15 mins I think - partly set by running down that scree slope!

    The awesome NW ridge. The record time from here to the tiny town in that valley is about 15 mins I think - partly set by running down that scree slope!

  • While I was there a rescue helicopter appeared just in front of me...

    While I was there a rescue helicopter appeared just in front of me...

  • Two crew were winched onto the ridge, where they attached themselves to a climber...

    Two crew were winched onto the ridge, where they attached themselves to a climber...

  • And winched him or her up! I never found out why...

    And winched him or her up! I never found out why...

  • Crib Goch helicopter 3

    Crib Goch helicopter 3

  • And then it was on to the summit...

    And then it was on to the summit...

  • Finally it was out turn to descend, to Pen y Pass - just visible in the distant valley

    Finally it was out turn to descend, to Pen y Pass - just visible in the distant valley

  • It was an awful long way down...

    It was an awful long way down...

  • The view back up the way we'd come

    The view back up the way we'd come

  • That night we all enjoyed some seriously strange and fun music by a vegan band

    That night we all enjoyed some seriously strange and fun music by a vegan band

  • And the next day we stopped off in Betws y Coed on our way home

    And the next day we stopped off in Betws y Coed on our way home

  • Betws y Coed AK & GD

    Betws y Coed AK & GD

  • Betws y Coed JdeB

    Betws y Coed JdeB

  • We encountered this girl in a park. Needless to say the children loved her :)

    We encountered this girl in a park. Needless to say the children loved her :)

  • Then we encountered this rhino made of recycled bottle caps, whom we all loved!

    Then we encountered this rhino made of recycled bottle caps, whom we all loved!

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    And then several hundred of us crowded miserably into the summit cafe. At least this time it was open. My last 7 visits it had been closed.
    On the way down the cloud finally started to clear and the famous Crib Goch ridge started to tempt us tantalisingly...
    And so Guy and I decided to head straight up the mountain for it