I suppose the question many people will ask is why Snowdon, why not something smaller and/or closer to home? The answers simple I've used Snowdon as the benchmark for my personal fitness for the last few years. If I can throw my rucksack and boots in the car after breakfast, stand on summit in time for lunch and be back home for tea (hopefully without a speeding ticket), I'm maintaining an acceptable level of personal fitness.
The route I'd planned to take is one I did a few years ago, up the South Ridge and down the Watkin's Path. The reason I choose this route is because it has some very easy scrambling well below Grade 1 and provides a relatively gentle gradient to the summit. The only real challenge is the initial descent down a very steep and eroded top section of the Watkins Path. But it was only on the uphill sections of the Yorkshire Three Peaks I experienced breathlessness and with my blood pressure now under control that shouldn't be an issue. I also wanted to solo one of the quieter routes up Snowdon to prove to myself I still had the bottle to walk alone in relatively remote terrain.
The ascent up to the saddle between Yr Aran and Snowdon passed without issue. I decided to skip the 50 minute detour to the summit of Yr Aran, it was after all my first hill-walk for a couple of months and pushed on for the summit. Shortly afterwards Yr Aran disappeared as a band of cloud washed over me reducing visibility to near zero and coating the rocks with a slick, slippery film of moisture. By the time I reached the junction with the Rhyd-Ddu Path (my favourite route up Snowdon) my legs were like two lead weights holding me back and everyone coming up the Rhyd-Ddu Path was overtaking me. Nevertheless I still I made the summit in 3 hours.
However with my waterproof wetting out, my stamina and visability lacking, the Watkins Path looking very uninviting, I did something I've never done before, caught the train down to Llanberis and a taxi back to where I parked my car. Given how easily I romped up the Rhyd-Ddu and down the Rangers Path in June it struck home how quickly my fitness has collapsed over the last two or three months. Still I'm hoping the tests I've got over the next few weeks will give me some answers and a roadmap back to full hill-walking fitness, because hanging my boots up is not an option.
Looking back at events since Yorkshire Three Peaks it does feel like I've been going through the five stages of grief. Denial, after my bad day at the office training for it on the Brecon Beacons. Anger, at my inability to complete it. Bargaining on the way back for Snowdon, offering to trade in a few years for a higher level of fitness. Depression and acceptance are still to come I guess.
On a lighter note I've started work on a new short-story picking up some of the themes in last weeks blog. I'll also be reproofing my waterproofs and planning where to go next. Onward and upward as they say.