Snowdon for Sunrise
Summit Trek in aid of Rafiki Thabo Foundation
Fancy a challenge with a difference? One that you don’t have to be ‘super fit’ to take on, but which will challenge you and excite your senses!
Snowdon is a popular summit trek by day-time, but take it on at night for an altogether different and more spectacular challenge!
Starting the trek in magical moonlight and standing at the summit as you watch the sun rise will be an unforgettable experience. Witnessing the spectacular landscapes opening up before you as you descend the mountain slopes as the day grows lighter is spellbinding.
Date: 22nd September 2024
Start/Finish: Snowdon Mountain Railway Station
UPDATE 28/08/24! We have 4 spaces left on first come first serve basis – you can still sign up!
Payment on registration:
£20 to register + £250 minimum donation, choose either option (1) or (2):
- Donation of £250 now, or
- Donation of £125 (50%) now, with a pledge to raise a further minimum £125 in sponsorship by the 22nd September
Just imagine…
You could be taking in the sunrise at a staggering 975 metres!
Your journey will start in the early hours of the morning as you begin your ascent by moonlight. Witness the breath-taking views from the peak of the mountain at sunrise and the spectacular landscapes below as the day grows lighter.
You will follow the longest and most gradual of the six main paths to the summit of Snowdon, Llanberis Path, which offers fantastic views of Cwm Brwynog, Llanberis and over the Menai straights towards Anglesey. A remarkable geological feature can be seen from the Llanberis path, the Clogwyn Du’r Arddu syncline. The syncline was formed over thousands of years, as the earth moved and transformed horizontal deposits into vertical layers of rock.
The total distance to the summit and back is 14.5km and will take around 6 hours.
The challenge is rated medium by our event company Sky Blue Adventures, but if you are moderately fit climbing Snowdon is definitely within your reach, and although Snowdon is one of the highest mountains in the UK and the tallest mountain in Wales, it is probably the friendliest for the novice walker to ascend. Besides, you can rest assured that Sky Blue Adventures’ highly experienced mountain leaders will take care of you on the day so that can enjoy this magical experience.
So what are you waiting for?
Sign up now for £20
To cover the cost of your challenge and to raise funds for our work, we ask that you pledge to raise a minimum of £250. With this you will be paying for half a year at secondary school for one disadvantaged child in Kenya, Uganda or Lesotho who would otherwise not be able to afford their school fees. We know that some people are not comfortable asking others to sponsor them so we are also giving the option to donate at least £250.
We will help you every step of the way with resources and fundraising tips. Here is a link to our fundraising pack to get you started, it includes a host of fundraising ideas as well as how to set yourself up with a Just Giving page. We also plan to set up a dedicated Facebook Group nearer the time so that you can meet your fellow participants and share your experiences, tips and excitement.
It takes so little to transform a life – have a look at the difference the money you raise will make:
As you mull it over and reach out to your friends to join you, enjoy some interesting facts on us:
- Edmund Hillary trained on Snowdon before conquering Mount Everest.
- Snowdon is said to be the tomb of the giant Rhitta Gawr. Rhitta wore a cloak made of men’s beard and was killed by the legend King Arthur.
- You can find a rare flower on Snowdon, The Snowdon Lily. A delicate, artic-alpine flowering plant which has grass like leaves. Although it has wide spread distribution in alpine and arctic regions, Snowdonia is its only known location within the UK. Here, they grow on north/north-east facing cliffs, and can be found in a few inaccessible ledges and rock faces, out of reach of grazing animals. It is thought to have survived on high mountains tops within Snowdonia since the end of the last ice age, on areas which remained free from ice sheets and glaciers.
Sign up now for £20
Some things to note:
Sky Blue Adventures are leading this challenge for Rafiki Thabo Foundation, and the event will go ahead subject to a minimum of 5 people signing up. In the unlikely event we have a smaller group, you have the option to still go ahead and simply join up with another group on trek day, also organised by Sky Blue Adventures.
Who can take part…
Anyone over the age of 14 (under 18s must be accompanied by an adult).
You will require a reasonable level of fitness and no serious health conditions to take part in this challenge. Subject to numbers you will be grouped into a team according to your ability.
Timings
03:45 – Meet Sky Blue Adventures Team at Snowdon mountain railway Station.
04:00 – After a team briefing commence climb on the Llanberis Path
07:00 – Reach Snowdon Summit and enjoy the views from the Summit Café
07:30 – Start descent down the Llanberis Path
10:00 – Arrive in Llanberis and finish challenge
Where to meet
Start/Finish: Snowdon Mountain Railway Station
Parking Directions – Llanberis Community Centre car park
Post Code: LL55 4UR
What is included
- Highly experienced mountain leaders (fully qualified and first aid trained)
- Maximum Mountain Leader/client ratio of 1 leader / 10 clients
- Safety equipment (carried by your Mountain Leaders)
- £5m Public Liability Insurance
- £5m Professional Indemnity Insurance
What is not included
- Travel costs to start/finish location (Snowdon Mountain Railway Station)
- Parking at Llanberis Community Centre – £8 Pay and Display
- Personal trekking equipment
- All food, snacks and drink including water
Kit List
- Rucksack – about 35 litres
- Boots (with ankle support and soles which will grip on rock, grass and mud)
- Waterproof jacket (with hood)
- Waterproof over trousers
- General trekking trousers (not jeans or cotton material)
- Thermal top
- Fleece top
- Gaiters (not always essential)
- Warm hat
- Gloves or mitts
- Spare layer e.g. fleece top
- Torch (preferably a head torch)
- Food & drink
- Whistle
- First Aid Kit (small)
- Mobile phone
- Sunhat
- Sun cream
- Sunglasses
On behalf of Sky Blue Adventures:
Participation Statement & Safety Policy
We ask anyone booking one of our courses to ensure they have read, understood and agreed to both our Safety Policy and Participation Statement detailed below.
Sky Blue Adventure Safety Policy
Part of our mission is to help educate our clients to the risks involved and make them aware of the processes we use to manage risk. However, it is also important to understand that we can’t remove all risk to clients, instructors or people around us.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) identity four ways to demonstrate the competence of leaders. They should hold the relevant national qualification (NGB), hold an equivalent qualification, have received appropriate in-house training or be competent through experience. When Sky Blue Adventure employs freelance staff we ensure that activities are run by holders of appropriate NGB awards.
We hold Public Liability Insurance and freelance instructors either hold individual Public Liability Insurance or, in some situations, are covered under our policy. Clients are recommended to take out personal accident and cancellation insurance.
We ask clients (or parents/guardians booking for under 18’s) to carefully consider whether the activities suit their needs, expectations and capabilities. It is also essential that participants actions conform to any safety guidance and that any distress caused during or resulting from the activity is drawn to the attention of the activity leader.
Sky Blue Adventure Participation Statement
When activities becomes predictable and absolutely safe, they cease to be as exciting. They also cease, by definition, to be an adventure. Adventures have an uncertain outcome and will carry risks.
Going into mountain areas is hazardous, and, when adventurous activities are added, the hazards are inevitably increased. This implies a potential risk of injury or, in extreme circumstances, loss of life. Anyone considering taking part in a course or expedition needs to consider this very seriously and to both take responsibility for their participation and acknowledge and accept these risks.
The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) acts on behalf of walkers, climbers and mountaineers in the UK and offers the following participation statement that we ask you to agree to:
“The BMC recognises that climbing, hill walking and mountaineering are activities with a danger of personal injury or death. Participants in these activities should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own actions and involvement.”