Eryri National Park Authority has confirmed it will not intervene in disputes over hikers skipping queues at the top of Wales' highest mountain. Social media videos have sparked debate over people refusing to wait in line to reach the trig point at the summit of Yr Wyddfa, also known as Snowdon.
Some walkers have been seen bypassing the line to touch the metal plate marking the end of the challenge, ignoring a queue that had formed as people waited to pose for photos at the 3,560 ft high endpoint.
Hot weather draws visitors
The queues are believed to have been exacerbated by recent hot weather, which has drawn visitors to the national park this summer.
A spokesman for the Eryri National Park Authority said its policy remained one of "self-policing" at the summit. He said: "There are three quarters of a million people summitting annually, so queues are likely to be expected in peak times."
No new measures this year
The spokesman added that there were no plans for new measures to be implemented this year, but that the matter would be discussed at an end-of-visitor-season meeting in the early autumn.
Standing at 1,085m, Yr Wyddfa is the highest mountain in the National Park and Eryri's most popular summit. The park has issued reminders this summer urging visitors to leave trails clean and not to disturb wildlife.
Princess of Wales among climbers
More than 6,000 people climb Yr Wyddfa every year, and among them this year was the Princess of Wales. Kate took on the gruelling Three Peaks challenge in June, climbing the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales – Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon – within 24 hours.
She took on the challenge to raise money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and "explore life beyond diagnosis". At the finish, she was welcomed by the Prince of Wales, their children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – as well as her parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, and her brother, James Middleton.
