The Snowdonia adventure
My friend Steve and I joined Claire, an extraordinary adventurer, as she embarked on a challenge: packrafting the longest lakes and climbing the highest peaks in the UK. Despite not considering herself a full-time athlete, Claire's remarkable achievements, including a world record for rowing the Atlantic, speak volumes about her capabilities.
Claire's spirit is truly special, she possesses extraordinary resilience. Her love for simple pleasures like cakes and ale adds relatability, but it's her formidable willpower that sets her apart. Meeting Claire sparks admiration and belief in one's own potential.
Claire did a fine job of preparing for the journey meticulously. Our escapade kicked off at the picturesque Lake Bala, where, with our bikes securely fastened, we embarked upon the serene waters on our pack rafts. Despite an initial greeting of morning showers and playful squalls across the lake's surface, the weather graciously shifted, blessing us with brilliant sunshine, albeit accompanied by a challenging wind. This initial leg not only tested our readiness but also set a spirited tone for what lay ahead. The total padal was just over three miles.
We made land again and packed up the rafts to take to the now loaded bikes and cycle through the beautiful Snowdonia national park to Snowdonia, a total distance of 67km, encountering captivating landscapes with some steep ascents that tested our quads and lungs!
We made it to Snowdon for around 1730 to take on the final leg, a 13km hike to Snowdon's summit. From the bright blue skies as we reached the summit for sunset the clouds came in, the wind picked up and the temperature dropped! A quick interview on the top and it was head torches on for the descent back down to the bikes.
From here we got down a few miles lower and crept into our bivvys for a cold night, it was nearly midnight by this time!
This adventure left an indelible mark on our hearts, reminding us of the joy in pushing beyond our limits. Theres something about self-propelled travel, exploring stunning landscapes with great company. A sold bond develops for adventure and people. It really is something special.
Get out and explore …. ❤️
