Long queues at the summit of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) have been described as 'absurd' by a mountain leader, following an incident where a fundraiser was booed for skipping the line. Richard Thiedeman, 34, from Lincolnshire, climbed the mountain on May 24, 2026, to raise money for a friend with Motor Neurone Disease (MND), but was met with jeers when he bypassed a queue for the summit marker.
Speaking to WalesOnline, Mr Thiedeman said he was attempting the National Three Peaks Challenge with his friend Jamie to fund a 'send-off' for Thomas, a school friend diagnosed with MND at 31. He described the atmosphere at the summit as hostile, with people 'actively booing' those who did not wait in line, despite his T-shirt stating his fundraising purpose.
The incident has sparked debate about hiking culture, with some social media users defending the queue as an unwritten rule, while others argued that such behaviour is performative and territorial. One commenter noted that after a long hike, it may not occur to people to look for a queue, especially in dense fog.
The mountain leader, who has hiked extensively in Wales and abroad, said the rise of social media has led to overcrowding at beauty spots, with queues for photo opportunities becoming common. In 2020, a fight broke out on Snowdon over a summit selfie, highlighting the growing tensions.
Mr Thiedeman's experience has raised questions about the purpose of mountain climbing, with many arguing that fundraising challenges should be exempt from such social norms. The incident has also drawn attention to the impact of performative hiking on the outdoor experience.
