Preparation and training

Introduction

All praise is due to Allah (SWT) and peace and blessings be upon our beloved
Prophet (SAW). Please find detailed information for the sponsored walk
Handsworth Wood Youth Group is organising on 13th May 2018 for the
Yemen through Paradise Plantations and Felicity Inspirational Development.
Please ensure you read and understand all sections. This guide will cover the
following areas:

 Mount Snowdon
 Preparation and training
 Equipment required
 Sponsorship
 Transport
 Timetable for Sponsored Walk

Mount Snowdon

It is fashionable to decry Snowdon and moan about the café and the masses
of tourists on the summit. In fact, Snowdon rates amongst the most beautiful
mountains in the world. Whichever direction you approach it from the size and
grandeur impresses. Its starfish shape radiates six magnificent ridges each
with their own special and individual characters. The deep cwmoedd
(glaciated valleys) range from the easily accessible to hanging valleys only
reached by complicated scrambling.

This mountain has everything from the rarest flowers and insects to ruined
mines, from fascinating volcanic rock formations to fossils on the summit.
Whether your interest is in challenging ascents, emotive photographs,
Arthurian legends, or in studying humanity in every form, the mountain's got
something for you!

The Summit is owned by the National Park but leased to the Snowdon
Mountain Railway who operate the café at the summit normally open from
Whitsun (late May bank holiday until October half term)

The Peak

Height m Height ft English Name

Yr Wyddfa 1085 3560 Snowdon

Surrounding Villages and car parks

The main access points to the range are: from Llanberis on the A4086, Pen y
Pass at the top of the Llanberis Pass, on the Beddgelert Road the A498 at
Bethania and on the A4085 at Rhyd Ddu and the Snowdon Ranger. There are

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bus services from Betws y Coed, Llanberis, Bangor and Caernarfon and a
steam train from Caernarfon. In summer months a regular "Snowdon Sherpa"
goes around the mountain meaning that you do not need to start and end at
the same place. Bus timetables:
www.gwynedd.gov.uk/bwsgwynedd

Routes up Mount Snowdon

The Easiest - The Llanberis Path

Also known as the Tourist Path, The Llanberis Path is not the shortest but is
the easiest in terms of steepness and terrain and the path is obvious all the
way up. Beware! Take good regard of the weather forecast especially wind
and remember that Winter Conditions mean there is no easy way up
Snowdon!

This track is man made all the way although you'll still need boots with good
ankle support. Every year many people injure their ankles by attempting the
stony path in trainers or even high heels! The path was originally used as a
pony and mule track to carry tourists up from Llanberis hence it is a bridle way
- although there is a voluntary agreement with mountain bikers to stay off this
track during the peak hours in the summer.

Start with your back to the Snowdon railway station turn right and then
take the first road right (Victoria Terrace). Follow this steeply up until
you go through a gated farmyard. Before the next gate on the road, turn
left on to a track -signposted Snowdon and then follow this clear track
all the way to the top, with the railway, sometimes on your right and
sometimes your left. (If you have the navigational confidence to leave
the main path you can head left after the first (and only stile) on this
route up to top of the ridge that the main path follows below the crest.
Turn right when you reach the top of the ridge with the farms and
houses of Nant Peris in miniature below and then follow the crest of the
ridge - sometimes steeply up and, beware, there is no path. You regain
the Llanberis path after Llechog at the station known as Rocky Valley.
This is as far as the train goes on windy days.)

On your right is the roller coaster ridge of Moel Cyngorion, Foel Gron and
Moel Elio and between these mountains and the path you are on is Cwm
Brwynog (Rushy valley) - You can see from the vegetation why the valley got
its name, dotted with ruined farms that were habited right up to the last
century with their own chapel and community - all tenants of the Penrhyn
estate. The family's castle dominates the landscape just outside Bangor.

The gradient is always there - there's no easy way to climb over 3,000 ft.
Around you there is lots of evidence of ice-carved landscape with enormous
boulders left perched by the retreating glaciers. As you leave after halfway
house (at present being rebuilt into a café by Mr Morris the landowner and

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halfway up this route in terms of height and distance) you will see the steep
cliffs of Clogwyn Du'r Arddu - itself carved by retreating glaciers with the ruins
of copper mines as dark slits in the cliffs and much loved by climbers and
botanists alike.

Joe Brown who's climbing shop is in the village made several famous first
ascents here and a limestone layer sandwiched between volcanic rocks yields
interesting botanical finds. You now come to one of the steeper parts of
the path as you plod up and under the bridge under the railway.

Do pause after this bridge to enjoy the view down to the Llanberis Pass but it's
a windy place - the valley below is known as Cwm Hetiau Valley of the Hats
since it's where the locals went to obtain nice new top hats in Victorian days
when the coaches of the railway were open and many a gentleman lost his
topper at this point!

After this bridge there is another steep section until the path cuts across
the slopes of Garnedd Ugain and the gradient lessens. Beware here if
there is any snow or ice and you are not prepared with crampons and ice axe.
There are steep cliffs below and accidents have occurred here in the past.
Turn back here if in doubt. But if conditions are good enjoy the views and look
forward to a drink at the summit from the end of May to the last week of
October.

The following are useful sites you may look at:

http://www.hightrek.co.uk/snowdonia/snow.htm

http://www.aqua3.com/index.asp (Maps)

Preparation and Training

The mountains are one of the few places left where you truly understand how
small you really are. Good planning, preparedness & training capped with
Allah’s (SWT) blessing will get the whole group up and down Snowdon safely.
I would strongly advise on the following;

 Every participant should have access to a copy scale OS1:25000 map

of Snowdon area in case they descend/ascend away from the main
group. Minor error could result in wandering for hours (or even as there
are several tracks and they can all look the same).
 Practice, exercise and train as much as possible – Think carefully, how
recently was it since you walked for 3 hours uphill and 2 downhill?
Starting at 8.00am, potentially after a long day and night before? These
factors need to be taken into consideration. The fitter you are the more
you will enjoy yourself. Be realistic if you are not relatively confident
about your abilities. It’s no fun for the group leader to escort people
down halfway into the walk. Especially if it’s wet and waiting for the rest
of the group to return is not practical. It’s also no shame to stop if you

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 feel unwell. The group is only as fast as its slowest participant –
encouragement and supporting each other helps with this.
 Wear clothes in layers. Keep what you don’t use in your backpack. If
it’s a sunny 27C in Llanberis it’s quite likely to be 0 at the summit.
Water proof coats are almost essential and water proof trousers highly
recommended. Wet clothes become very cold in the slightest breeze.
Cotton T shirts are not recommended as they will not dry sweat
properly. While catching your breath or waiting for the group to keep
together you can get quite chilly. It could be wet and windy for six
hours or calm and sunny- but almost always quite cold towards the
summit. New walking boots should be broken in before; otherwise you
might get major blisters. Good walking socks go a long way in
protecting your feet. A change of socks in the car is heavenly after a
long walk!
 Take wet wipes! No toilets for 3+ hours and if you have to go you will
have to go behind a rock somewhere and with the strong possibility of
other walkers being around. (Tayammum)
 A comfortable backpack to store your food/water/clothing which leaves
your 2 hands free is important. Take only what you need. Smallest
things feel real heavy after a while!
 Mobile phone coverage is reasonable on Mount Snowdon but should
not be relied on. Make sure they are fully charged. Don’t rely on others.
Visibility changes from 10 miles to 10 meters in a matter of minutes
and it’s very easy to get separated from the group.
 All walkers should carry at least 1 litre of water and supply of
glucose/energy snacks each.
 Bring any essential medication you normally take – e.g. Asthma
inhalers. Take advice from your GP if you suffer from any
 Condition which is affected by exertion including any knee/back
joint problems. Walking/trekking poles can be quite helpful.
 Remember if you are planning to drive any serious distance after the
walk, you may be very tired and need to plan for this.

Insect Repellent (costs around £5)

Mount Snowdon is not just like a hill and therefore can’t be taken for granted
summer or winter. Everyone should take responsibility for there selves and
not rely or burden others. However by being prepared you can almost
guarantee an unforgettable day out and a well deserved sense of
achievement.

There is lots of interesting information on the net which is usually updated with
detailed mountain weather forecast, Important and specific information
relating to expected temperatures/wind/visibility, corresponding to different
heights. Information sometimes posted in youth hostels or at start of route.
This should be checked by route leader before starting the walk. Mountains
stand in the way of six main types of airflow, each having its own
characteristics and in turn, the mountains also influence these airflows.

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No matter from which direction the air comes, if it meets a range of hills it will
have to do one of two things: either find a way through the valleys or be
forced over the top. When air is forced to rise, it always cools. The rate of
cooling is not constant, but on average temperature drops by around 2 °C per
300 m (1,000 ft) of ascent. This means that at the summit, the temperature
will be much cooler than in the valley. Couple this with the average doubling in
wind speed at 900 m compared to low ground, and the overall wind-chill effect
on a wet or perspiring human body can be very large indeed. A wind of 40
mph. and an air temperature of 3 °C, not at all an uncommon combination
even in summer, will yield a wind-chill temperature of -10 °C.

Mountain ranges produce a number of potentially hazardous weather

phenomena.

 Gales, storm-force winds, persistent heavy rain or blizzards can be

raging at the top, when it is merely cloudy in the valleys.
 Ice and snow can last long into spring or summer, especially on the
sun-shielded north-facing slopes.
 Certain conditions can also give rise to avalanches.
 Low cloud is usually more frequent and extensive on the windward
slopes, giving widespread hill fog, although under some situations the
lee slope can also be affected by hill fog.

However, on a day-to-day basis, such potentially dangerous weather is the

exception rather than the rule. Checking the forecast gives essential forewarning of
the likely conditions on your chosen route. Many different types of forecast are
available nowadays — the Met Office produces forecasts specifically designed for hill
walkers.

Equipment required

Good strong walking shoes (no trainers or sandals)

Coat / rain coat
Water bottle
Binoculars (optional)
Extra pair of clothes
Rucksack
Towel
Snacks
Sleeping bag - optional (although bed linen will be provided by youth hostel)
Torch
Mobile phone
First Aid kit
Map
Compass
Woolly hat

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Sponsorship

 Sponsor forms will be sent out to everyone via email or post. We would
like everyone to raise at least £100 each. Preferably more. Our Group
target is £5000.

 Please try to encourage your sponsors to give you the money before
you do the walk as often people to tend to forget or their financial
situation changes afterwards.

 All sponsorship funds collected should be sent to Jamshed Mohammed

or Mohammmed Govalia 07860 923312 or Sheikh Ilyas Hambali
07578765374. Cheques should be made payable to “Paradise
Plantations” Reference is: Snowden Trek. Please do not post Cash.
We request brothers to pay via our online fundraising page.

 All outstanding sponsorship funds and completed sponsor forms

should be collected and forwarded to Jamshed Mohammed or
Mohammed Govalia or Sheikh Ilyas Hambali within 1 week of
completing the walk i.e. Sunday 20th August 2018.

 Please try to get a group of friends to attend and fundraise together.

We have a 50 seat coach.

 Everyone should be very polite and courteous when asking for

sponsorship. In order to achieve at least the target I suggest
participants ask their potential sponsors to sponsor them an amount for
example; I would suggest that you ask your close friends and relatives
to sponsor a minimum of £10 each. However please remember we
need to be very grateful even if somebody donates £1.

 Once all sponsorship funds are received a receipt will be issued by

Paradise Plantations along with a certificate to each participant.

 To make your fundraising efficient and effective you may use the
following site to raise funds:
https://mydonate.bt.com

I pray and hope that everyone enjoys this challenge and I ask Allah
(swt) to allow us to succeed in helping needy causes. May Allah bless
you all for helping us in this noble cause.

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Transport

Each Participant to pay an administration fee of £20. This will include your
food (lunch and additional snacks), drinks and transport.

A coach has been booked. All participants to attend Masjid Aisha, The
Grange, Hamstead Hill, Handsworth Wood. Birmingham, B20 1BH.

Time of Coach Departure: 7:30 am. Please attend on time. Don’t be late.

Timetable for Walk

Sunday 13th May 2018

7:30 am – Depart Masjid Aisha, Handsworth Wood.

11.00 am – Briefing about walk– Start walk

12.00 pm – Lunch/Picnic

6:00 pm - Walk Ends

Arrive back to Birmingham: 9:00 pm

For further info call Jamshed: 07929655383