The vehicle has been left close to the Snowdon railway. Photo: Andrew Farquhar ![[CC-2.0]](/lib/img/layout/cc-attr.gif)
The latest addition to Wales’s highest mountain remains stuck a few hundred metres below the summit as the national park authority ponders how to remove the unwelcome unofficial tourist attraction.
It emerged today that a 39-year-old man had driven the maroon Vauxhall Frontera pickup up Snowdon on Saturday did it because ‘it was on his list of 50 things to do before you die’.
Craig Williams, of Gloucestershire, left the vehicle next to the main Llanberis path and just a few metres from the Snowdon Mountain Railway.
He told the BBC he hoped to be allowed to drive the pickup back down the mountain and admitted people might think his venture had been irresponsible.
A spokesperson for Snowdonia National Park Authority said: “The authority supports the views expressed by the Llanberis mountain rescue team.
“This sort of incident is unacceptable and shows a lack of responsibility on behalf of the individual or individuals involved.
“Along with the obvious dangers posed by this type of incident, it could cause damage to the footpath and landscape, which means added work for the Snowdon footpath teams.
“In respect of the severity of the incident, the Snowdonia national park encourages the police to take firm action against the owner of the vehicle.
“The Snowdonia national park will co-operate fully with the Snowdon Mountain Railway Company to ensure the vehicle is removed from the mountain.”
The authority and the railway company are considering various options for removal of the 4×4, including winching it off by helicopter, driving it up a ramp on to one of the railway’s trucks, or driving it down.
- North Wales Police said in a statement today: “The 39-year-old man from the Cheltenham area, who drove a 4×4 vehicle on to Snowdon over the weekend, has been charged with driving a vehicle on common land or moorland or land not part of a road.
“He has been bailed to appear at Caernarfon Magistrates Court on 16 September 16.”
A motor vehicle did reach the top of the 1,085m (3,560ft) mountain in May 1904, following a failed attempt four months earlier. Another attempt, driving up the railway, was filmed by British Pathé and is believed to have taken place in 1917 or 1918.
Chris
05 September 2011The people who drove cars up mountains in the early 1900s were considered heros; a Model T Ford was driven up Ben Nevis in 1911 - the same driver went up again a few years later in a Model A Ford. I don't think he was charged with anything other than having an adventure. These days you're not allowed to have such fun though, it's considered to be destroying the countryside, or some such tosh...
andrei martucci
05 September 2011Twat !
andy
05 September 2011bit strong,
Laurie Radford
06 September 2011This guy's got his priorities right, cracking idea, don't cancel the other 49 things to do, get on with them. Twin Towers, Tripoli, Gaddafi, Starving kids. Wake up people.
Dave
06 September 2011A really bright spark this guy, I shudder to think what else is on his list......
R Webb
06 September 2011Chris
Have you considered trying thinking?
These regulations are there to protect the rest of us from people like you.
Alan
06 September 2011Is there any way his vehicle can be confiscated? That might make him and other such fools think again.
Jon S
06 September 2011Confiscate the vehicle, auction it, and put the proceeds to footpath repair.
tucker
06 September 2011get over it you do gooders.....and chill out
Charles Britten
06 September 2011I'm delighted he failed to make it up. My brother is a petrol head who thinks a 4x4 can get up any mountain. Well, this failed attempt suggests otherwise.
outdoor ed
06 September 2011I dont agree with this guys excuse for driving a 4x4 up snowdon, I think this is irresponsible and just dangerous, and actually puts the people who.have to retrieve it in rather a dangerous situation.
However I will point out that what causes the MOST amount of damage to the hills and mountains of the uk is all the thousands of walkers.
Its all very well and good blaming 4x4 drivers and the like but, the majority of those when driving their vehicles off road do it on legal byways.
Some of you lot need to lighten up, the countryside is there for everyone to enjoy in their individual ways.
nbc reject
06 September 2011Well I personally know this guy, and well, fair play to him for having the guts to do it, he's not ruined any countryside other than what's already ruined by walkers, I really don't see the big deal in bringing it down! He drove it up there, so I damn sure he can drive it down! All you do-gooders need to lighten up and enjoy life a bit instead of bringing others down.
mutley
06 September 2011if he had a defender he would of made it up and down in one night!
landrover
07 September 2011Why did he not make it back down ? He did the hard part.
If he had broken down I would have liked to have heared the call to the RAC or AA for recovery... "sorry sir where have you break down ! ?"
We expect to see Craig Williams appearing in his own reality TV program quite soon, Top 50 things to do before you die. Also Top Gear want a few words.
I have a defender myself which I would not put onto those slopes, just the family on the train will do.
If he had lost control on the steep gradient coming down there would not be much left of this vehicle, it could have been a very different story. So don't do it again!
Tom
08 September 2011I think the least expensive option in these times of cut acne etc would be to make him bring it down himself and then let the courts deal with him afterwards
Mick
08 September 2011Not the brighest tool in the shed, but certainly the biggest.
Andy
19 September 2011The dickheads who say he hasn't damaged the countryside more than walkers are forgetting that this was one tool - if every 4x4 owning tool was allowed to do it the paths would be totally f*ed and people who genuinely want to get out in the outdoors would be driven off the mountain by f*heads who don't give a flying for anyone but themselves and their own adrenaline rush.
Comparing it with attempts 100 years ago in the early days of cars and before mass participation in the outdoors is plain stupid and on a grander scale the current obsession of enjoying life irresponsibly with no thought to the consequences or impact on others is what brings about many of the sad events mentioned by one bright spark. The recent rioters were only having a laugh, letting off a bit of steam and generally enjoying the 'rush' so why don't we encourage that as well ? Would it be quite so funny if he had lost control and mown down your friend/partner/child ?
Break his car into scrap and make him carry all the bits down by hand.
snowy
20 October 2011Mountaineer's don't use paths. If he'd tried off roading i could see why he'd have caused a danger. On a path? A big bright truck? Stationary? No danger there, pretty sure i could navigate my way around it without incident.
SOMB
20 October 2011haha he's done it again :)
Two fingers to all you twats on your soapboxes.
Pollution, environmental impact, running over your non-existent siblings on a random hillside... who cares? It's an entertaining read and made me laugh (again).
Craig Williams
21 October 2011Charles Britten
Failed attempt? Alas, I think your brother was right. I rest my case. :)
jcs
22 October 2011Nice to see a bit of good old British grit.its true he shouldnt have done it,but its not the end of the world.as far as destroying the mountain,what a load of tosh.they built a railway up it for crying out loud,that didnt destroy it so a mear 4x4 causing untold devestation is a little over the top.i take my hat of to the guy and wish him the very best in his next adventure.
jcs
22 October 2011As far as selling the vehicle to pay for footpath repairs,why on earth built the footpath in the first place.its a MOUNTAIN . shouldnt a mountain be an untouched natural place. building a path up it has surely scared it for life.
mbiker
06 December 2013in my view they have already ruined the mountain putting a train station a cafe and a restriction to bikers.
this is just another one of those things that they are scared will get out of hand. not being funny but i think he was quite responsible and had obviously done his research i think the only stupid thing was seemingly leaving it there to gloat and show off this task. next time take a picture with a smile and get back down again (thats why Go pros were invented! ...)
good effort on him hope the 22 months didnt taste too bitter!