Hiking hotspot overrun as tourists crowd trails forming interminable lines up mountain: My idea of hell

While many seek the great outdoors for its promise of peace and quiet, visitors to a popular European summit were greeted with long lines and maddening crowds this month.Mount Snowdon, the highest peak in Wales, is known to hikers the world over as a six-to seven- hour ascent that rewards the hearty with beautiful views over Llyn Llydaw and  Eryri National ParkWhile Snowdon typically draws upwards of 600,000 visitors a year, August has seen peak activity at the fabled peak, as exhibited in a recent video.

In a Facebook reel posted on August 9, outdoor guide company Trekking Tom Experiences showed a mess of hikers ambling up to the Snowdon summit.‘Great to see so many people enjoying the outdoors!’ he sunnily captioned the post– but thousands of commenters were outraged, likening the mob scene to an abomination.  “That is my idea of hell.

I don’t go outdoors to be in an environment more crowded than a city,” surmised one commenter.“If you ever needed proof that there are too many people in the world,” said another.

“No thanks, I’ll wait for winter,” said a third.According to Snowdon Info, summer is when crowds are at their thickest, especially on the mountain’s eastern paths.

The website notes that 42% of all Snowdon hikers opt for the Llanberis Path, while an additional 42% take either The Pyg or Miner’s Track.Conversely, the quietest paths can be found on the west side of the mountain, which many refer to as the “far side.” Routes include Rhyd Ddu Path and the Snowdon Ranger Path.

Other “hints for avoiding the herds” include going out of season, avoiding weekends and holidays, and summiting Snowdon by mid-morning, as the peak is at its most congested between 11:30 AM and 2 PM.And it wasn’t just Trekking Tom who recorded a record flux of mountain lovers on August 8th.In a TikTok clip shared by @Waywild, a snaking line of people can be seen waiting to get their selfie at the summit.

“Queue for the Snowdon summit giving ma...