Wardens Tackle Snowdon

Group (left to right) Orla O'Neill, Tom Beckley, Chin Wei Ong, Gwawr Parker, Caoimhe Martin, Alex Aldred, Lindsey Swift, Stephen Clear, Hayley French and Max Davidson. (left to right) Orla O'Neill, Tom Beckley, Chin Wei Ong, Gwawr Parker, Caoimhe Martin, Alex Aldred, Lindsey Swift, Stephen Clear, Hayley French and Max Davidson.A group of eight University Halls Wardens took on the challenge of climbing Snowdon in the dark, with the aim of reaching the summit by sunrise recently.

Setting off at 3.00 am the intrepid crew: Stephen Clear (School of Law), Alexander Aldred (Business School), Caoimhe Martin (School of Sport, Health and Exercise Science), Chin Wei Ong (School of Sport, Health and Exercise Science), Hayley French (School of Modern Languages), Gwawr Parker (School of Healthcare Sciences), Lindsey Swift (School of Modern Languages), and Max Davidson (School of Psychology), all Ffriddoedd Site University Wardens, took up the challenge.

They were led along the Llanberis ‘Miners’ path by their safety guide Alexander, who is also District Explorer Scout Commissioner for Gwynedd.

They set themselves the challenge of climbing the 1085m high mountain, the highest in England, Wales and Ireland, in order to raise money for their selected charities. For four members of the group it was their first time climbing Snowdon. Stephen Clear, commented on how the conditions at 3am were “cold, wet, heavy snow and dark.”

(left to right) Terence Swift, Lindsey Swift, Chin Wei Ong, Alex Aldred, Stephen Clear, Tom Beckley, Gwawr Parker, Hayley French, Orla O'Neill and Max Davidson (left to right) Terence Swift, Lindsey Swift, Chin Wei Ong, Alex Aldred, Stephen Clear, Tom Beckley, Gwawr Parker, Hayley French, Orla O'Neill and Max Davidson The whole team successfully made it to the summit just after 7:05am, 5 minutes before their self imposed sunrise deadline. The team enjoyed spectacular views on their way back down to Llanberis. Caoimhe Martin commented on how “unfortunately at the top we were unable to see sunrise due to snow clouds, but luckily on the way down we emerged from cover and had the chance to glimpse the views that remind us how lucky we are to live in such a breathtakingly beautiful place.”

To date the team have raised over a £1,000 with gift aid for five different charities. These are Home-Start, Barnsley Hospice, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Veterans Aid and the RAF Association.

If you would like to donate to one of these charities, or the Warden team’s effort, please visit their Just-Giving page. www.justgiving.com/teams/Bangor-Wardens

Publication date: 29 November 2012