An 87-year-old man from Swansea has become the oldest person to climb Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) in a solo ascent, but needed to be rescued by a mountain rescue team on his way down.
John Llewellyn said he has taken part in many challenges over the last 25 years, including taking part in the Macmillan Marathon in Gower 24 times, raising around £23,000 in the process.
One Final Challenge for Charity
The pensioner decided he wanted to take on "one final thing" to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support, in memory of his father Tom Llewellyn, who passed away from cancer three decades ago. He wanted to give back to say thank you for their support at the time.
He chose to climb Yr Wyddfa in October, something he had done many times before, having once been stationed at RAF Valley on Anglesey for 18 months whilst carrying out national service.
"I just wanted to do it one last time, that's all," he said. "My younger son, Hywel, came along with me - we went up for the weekend, we booked a cottage. Hywel followed me up on the Pyg track, and kept a quarter of a mile behind me at all times until we reached the cafe at the top where we met up."
Difficult Conditions on the Descent
Mr Llewellyn admitted he found the challenge "really hard". He said: "I'd forgotten how difficult it was, mind you, I'm 17 years older than the last time I did it, but the weather was absolutely atrocious. It poured down with rain, there was fog and winds gusting at 70mph."
He reached his destination successfully, but it was on the descent from the mountain that Mr Llewellyn encountered difficulty. "Coming down, we decided to follow the Snowdon [Mountain] Railway track. The last train for the day had gone so it was quite safe," he said. "But after a mile, twice my legs gave way and I fell on the track. I wasn't hurt at all, but the strength of my legs had gone."
Rescue by Llanberis Team
Mr Llewellyn and his son had to call out the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team. "For two hours, we sat on a wet rock, with it absolutely chucking it down with rain, literally soaked to the skin," he said. "They arrived and stretchered me down, and what a wonderful group of people. It was foggy, and when we saw them arrive and saw their head torches, what a wonderful feeling. It was like winning the lottery, I think."
All in all, Mr Llewellyn and his son spent 13 hours on the mountain, having spent six hours to reach the top. "The rescue teams keep a record, and they told me I am now the oldest to climb Snowdon [solo] by two years," he said. "It is nice to know, interesting to know. I am quite pleased with what I did - I mean, I won't do it again. I don't think I can do it again, to be honest."
Mr Llewellyn said he has so far raised £400 through his challenge.
