June 8, 2025
Life’s better in hiking boots!
Last Saturday night, along with nine other determined (and slightly sleep-deprived) participants, I took part in the Snowdon Night Summit Challenge with Action Challenge – a climb that started under dark skies at 9:00pm. We summitted at approximately 1:00am and concluded back down in Llanberis around 3:45am. While the idea of hiking Wales’ highest peak in the middle of the night might sound daunting, the experience was extremely unique and exciting. This trek is designed to help those training to climb Mount Kilimanjaro! This made for an even more interesting group of people, as most are climbing Kilimanjaro with us over the next couple of months. However, if Kilimanjaro is not something that you are planning, Snowdon is still an exciting challenge to push yourself to new heights.
The Day Before the Climb
Our group met in Llanberis at 2:00pm, full of energy and a couple of nerves. To break the ice and settle into the day, we went on a gentle walk around the area. Llanberis is steeped in history, and our visit to the old Quarry Hospital and its museum really added to the charm.
We regrouped later for a pre-challenge briefing before dinner. Our group leader Hywyn– who was nothing short of brilliant – set the tone for the night. He has been climbing Snowdon his whole life, and it was in fact his second ascent of the day! Calm, confident, and endlessly knowledgeable, he walked us through what to expect and filled the evening with fascinating facts about the mountain, with a sprinkling of ghost stories!
Into the Darkness
At 9:00pm we set off on our adventure.
The weather started clear with temperatures perfect for trekking, however as we climbed, it quickly turned, and we were struck by a couple of short local showers (even hailstones at some points!). With our beams of light bouncing off the wet rocks and the path ahead, we stayed close, encouraged each other, and felt even more motivated as we headed to the summit.
Reaching the Summit
By 1:00am, slightly delirious by this point, we reached a very empty summit of Snowdon. We took some celebratory photos, before starting our descent back down along the rail tracks.
Looking Back
Although the descent was quite cold and damp, our spirits stayed high—we were so proud of what we’d accomplished and kept warm by chatting and laughing with our newfound friends all the way down. By 3:45am, we arrived back at Llanberis and had our final photos and goodbyes to Hywyn, his assistant leader Keith and the rest of the group.
This was truly a brilliant experience and one I will be recommending for a long time. This challenge is especially beneficial for those preparing to climb Kilimanjaro, as it serves as ideal training. The climb begins at night in the dark, which is perfect for getting used to walking while tired and in low visibility—just like the final summit push on Kilimanjaro.
As a member of the Action Challenge team, I knew I wanted to take on this challenge from the moment I first read the itinerary—and I can honestly say it did not disappoint.
BOOK YOUR PLACE NOW > Snowdon Night Summit – Action Challenge
I cannot wait to book my next adventure, and I know from chatting to my fellow challengers, that the feeling is mutual! The only question is which one?
