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As always, the Everest climbing season is now over The story of rumination Regarding the traffic jam on the southeast ridge. It seemed to me like now was a good time to report on some of the more outrageous examples of mountaintop queuing that have emerged in recent years.
I first encountered it in 2022, during the Platinum Jubilee of our former Queen, which Edita and I celebrated Climb all 14 peaks in Wales over 3,000 feet above sea level. As I climbed to the summit platform of Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa, a mountain with two names, I heard a voice ring out:
“I say, imagine being that horrible, selfish person who pushes his way to the front of the queue while everyone else is patiently waiting.”
(To be fair, he probably didn’t say “horrible,” but I’m using that word here to illustrate the kind of person we’re dealing with.)
His accent was British and his attitude was one of restrained sarcasm that we would now call “passive-aggressive.” I guess this person is a school teacher. It took me a few seconds to realize that his words were directed at me.
I’m confused. I didn’t exactly push my way anywhere; one side of the summit platform was empty, so I just walked up there and asked Edita to take my picture.
It wasn’t until the man finished saying this that I noticed there were about 20 people queuing up to take pictures on the other side. I kind of noticed the queue, but it didn’t occur to me that they were queuing up to get to the top. Snowdon is a unique mountain with its own visitor center, cafe and train station at the top. They seem more likely to be lining up for ice cream (which is totally sensible, by the way).
There is no sign that you have to queue, and there are no waiters directing people to queue. On my many previous visits to this particular summit, people were just packed together. A little pushing is necessary. You have to be wary of selfie sticks swinging towards you, but people are always happy to make space. As far as I know, no one ever got into a fight over a top photo. so far.
This time, however, an orderly queue had formed and people chose to join it. These British people are crazy.
I might refute this person’s statement:
Imagine being the weirdo who walks all the way up a mountain and then waits in line for an hour to take a photo when you could.
Why are you doing this? I can think of a few reasons, but none of them make any sense. If you object to sharing the summit with others, that in itself is suspect. The summit is for everyone. If you want a photo without other people, just walk to a different part of the summit. Or, if you want to pretend that no one else is with you on the summit platform, there are easier ways to remove people from the background than waiting an hour. ChatGPT and other AI tools will accomplish this in a fraction of the time while enhancing your pecs and making you look more ripped.
Let’s be clear: queuing for half an hour or more in the sweltering heat to take a selfie at the top of a mountain is not normal. It’s one of those things that respectable people should never do, along with talking to a neighbor on a crowded train, facing backwards on an escalator, or wearing a sombrero in a movie theater. When we’re talking about trains, the Northern Line during rush hour is a great example. People just get on the bus and squeeze into the compartment. If you try to start lining up in an orderly manner, you’ll be late for work.
The disease has spread to other parts of the country. when i Climbed Pen y Fan in South Wales last yearThe queue for the wider summit was even longer on this mountain, which I had climbed many times without encountering summit craze.
Last month, this behavior was Make headlines. Jamie Richardson and Richard Theideman are two charity hikers who completed the Three Peaks Challenge, climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon in 24 hours to raise money for a friend suffering from Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
After running around for a day and night, when they reached the third and last mountain peak, they were sunburned and exhausted. If anyone is allowed to stroll up to the stone monument and take a photo without having to wait an hour in the sweltering heat, then these two fine young gentlemen certainly deserve the honor.
However, during their moment of victory, they were booed and pushed. Someone yelled “You should be ashamed of yourself.” One man even tried to prevent them from touching the summit cairn. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that people blew raspberries.
We hear on the news that terrible things are happening. Now this.
However, there is hope. I can see a simple solution to this seemingly intractable problem.
Life is extremely polarizing these days, but if two very different people climb Snowdon, why not look after both of them?
The summit of Snowdon is large enough to accommodate two summit cairns. Those who prefer to keep going, take photos and then find a quiet spot to enjoy lunch can continue to squeeze up to the summit platform and take photos with whoever happens to be there at the time. I’m very much in this camp. Even my Everest summit photo had someone behind me taking a selfie with their phone. My Everest summit day took 18 hours. Waiting another hour at the top for everyone else to leave is just crazy.
For me anyway, but not for everyone. For those who prefer to queue for summit photos, a separate summit cairn should be provided.
But if we are going to go this route, then we should do it right. These people should pay a small fee for quality service. The fee will be dynamically priced: the longer the queue, the more you’ll pay. Two separate lines are required for men and women. Each must submit to a body search from a uniformed man or woman wide enough to block Messi’s free-kick on their own. They need to remove all coins from their pockets as well as their belts and shoes. Hiking poles must be confiscated. Their luggage must be searched. Cell phones and liquids need to be placed in separate transparent containers. If they had alcohol with them, it would either be confiscated or they would have to drink it there before going to the top. Under no circumstances should they carry cans of beer hidden inside Pringles tubes.
Then, and only then, will these archival enthusiasts be allowed to take individual photos on the summit.
By establishing two summit cairns, the desires of two groups of hikers can be accommodated. Dangerous handbag battles will be avoided and social media users can renew the debate over whether people should carry maps and compasses (and know how to use them).
If you also feel strongly about this important issue, please write to Airiri National Park Service Express your concerns. If they can afford to build a train station and a restaurant at the top of the mountain, additional summit platforms should be simple.