SNOWDON (YR WYDDFA) AT NIGHT CHALLENGE: AN ESSENTIAL GUIDE

The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) at Night Challenge is a tough yet thrilling trek ascending to the summit of Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa). We’ve pulled together an essential guide to give you a taste of what expect and provide the top tips from the experienced Charity Challenge team…

What is the Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) at Night Challenge?

Beginning in the town of Llanberis, in the heart of the Snowdonia National Park, this spectacular challenge will see you and fellow fundraisers trekking to the top of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)….at night! You will be fully supported all the way by our experienced Mountain Leaders and then celebrate at the finish line with a well-deserved breakfast.

Highlights include:

• Take on the highest mountain in Wales (1085m), at night!

• Trek under the starry skies of Snowdonia to reach the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa).

• Reach the summit as the sun begins to rise over the views of Snowdonia National Park.

What will I achieve?

Summiting Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) is one of the most popular UK mountain hikes. Boasting lush views of Snowdonia National Park, rocky mountainous terrain and an ascension not to be sniffed at, it’s easy to see why. The Snowdon at Night Challenge pushes this trek one step further. By setting out late at night (to catch sunrise at the top), you tackle the extra obstacle of your headtorch being your only light source. With adequate training and the support of our experienced mountain leaders, this is a special challenge to tick off your list. Upon completion you can be proud of yourself for achieving the following…

• Trekking for approximately 8 hours continuously.

• Covering 21km of undulating terrain, with the added challenge of walking through the night!

• Ascending a total of approximately 975m in a single night.

• To top it all off, you will be tackling this in aid of a charity of your choice – making each step and summit all the more worth it.

I’m thinking of booking, what do I need to know?

For a quick overview of what to expect from this challenge, we’ve pulled together some need-to-know essentials below – including some top tips straight from our experienced team! For further information please visit our Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) At Night Challenge webpage, which covers all information and details thoroughly.

1. Plan Your Travel & Allow Rest Time

Your challenge begins in the evening, trekking through the night to the summit and then back down, arriving at the finish for a celebratory breakfast in the morning. So, it’s safe to say you’ll probably be feeling very tired! It’s vital that you consider this when planning your journey home. Factor in some rest time by using public transport, getting a friend/relative to pick you up or by staying another night and enjoying the area of Llanberis (VisitSnowdonia lists lots of accommodation options).

Top Tips:

• Make a plan to for when you finish so you don’t travel home tired. Book some accommodation, have someone else drive you home, or use public transport so you can show your medal off whilst having a snooze on the train! – Laura Harris, UK Operations Manager
• As we cannot guarantee a precise finishing time, make sure any public transport tickets you buy are flexible!

2. Fuel Up For Your Challenge

During this challenge, you’ll be walking for around 8 hours non-stop through the chilly night air and elements, so it’s important you fuel up to keep your energy levels high.

Top Tips:

• Make sure to have a substantial dinner before you arrive, so you start the challenge fully fuelled! – Laura Harris, UK Operations Manager
• Bring lots of snacks to keep you going during your trek and have 2 litres of water on you at all times. There is water available at the event venue beforehand, but not on the mountain itself. – Toni Howden, UK Operations Manager

3. Clothing and Equipment

We always advise good quality, broken in walking boots for our trekking challenges. Read our Taking Care of Your Feet On Challenges blog post for detailed advice. As this challenge runs through the night, it’s really important to bring the correct clothing and equipment, including: warm layers, a head torch and trekking poles. (Read our kit list for a full breakdown).

Top Tips:

• Remember spare batteries for your headtorch – you don’t want to get to the summit and find you can’t see anything – Laura Harris, UK Operations Manager
• Bring and wear layers, it gets cold up there at night time! – Toni Howden, UK Operations Manager
• Don’t forgo proper footwear, hiking boots are always best. The Llanberis path may be considered the easiest Snowdon route, but it still has loose rocks and when walking at night, the drop in temperature could cause frosty, slippery surfaces! (Plus you can use your boots on your next Charity Challenge). – Laura O’Connor, Marketing Assistant
• When you book with Charity Challenge, you can enjoy a range of discounts and member-only benefits from a range of high quality clothing and equipment specialists.

To conclude… start preparing!

If you are now seriously considering taking on the Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) at Night Challenge, we strongly recommend heading over to our website to read through our full Itinerary, Costs, Kit List and extensive Essential Information tabs.

You’ll find everything you need to know here in detail, from timings, locations, accommodation, food and drink, difficulty level breakdowns, training advice, group safety, equipment and much, much more (including answers to those all-important ‘what if?’ questions).

Why should I book Snowdon at Night with Charity Challenge?

Over the years Charity Challenge has built up a wealth of experience that has enabled us to create the best Snowdon at Night Challenge itinerary that is geared towards providing everyone with the very best experience and opportunity to complete the challenge safely.

Since 1999, we have specialised in operating challenges for charity fundraisers. We partner with 1000’s of UK and Irish charities already – and our team is happy to reach out to a charity of your choice to make your dream fundraising challenge happen. (Or, if you don’t fancy fundraising, the good news is you can simply self-fund and join us on the summit anyway!).

• You will be briefed, led and fully supported throughout this challenge by our highly experienced, knowledgeable and motivating Leaders.

• Due to the extra risks posed by trekking at night, we always use a higher ratio of Mountain Leaders to participants on this trek, to maximise safety. You will be accompanied by a Mountain Leader at all times – helping you focus on your challenge!

• Enjoy a celebration breakfast (included) after descending and reaching the finish line.

• Snowdon is a popular trek but your Charity Challenge experience is unique and all the more meaningful; you trek alongside like-minded individuals (and passionate Mountain Leaders), giving you the chance to share stories and bond over the causes close to your heart.

Remember, the Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) at Night Challenge is a graded as a ‘tough’ trek. With the right preparation, this unique expedition is incredibly rewarding and impressive to complete – making it an excellent choice for a UK charity fundraising challenge!