Whether fate or coincidence, the FAW had no idea of Wilkinson’s bond with the breathtaking landscape when they decided there was no better spot to show how their side – not even officially recognised until 1993 – now deserves to be high on a platform of its own for everyone to see.
But the 43-year-old former Canada international had also used the mountain, also known as Snowden, to help change a mindset.
“This place is what we based our journey on,” said defender Rhiannon Roberts, who could not resist a trip to the summit for the announcement, having seen images of it throughout the qualifiers.
“From the start of the campaign, we’d have our badge and all the fixtures going up the mountain and then our goal, our summit, at the top.
“Each game, we’d climb up the mountain, ticking them off one by one. And here we are.”
As well as the PowerPoint to start international weeks, posters were dotted around the team’s breakfast and meeting rooms.
“We got on board with every camp as we moved up and onto the next fixture,” said goalkeeper Olivia Clark.
“And then we reached the top with qualifying, but we’re going again because we’re at the tournament with a new mountain.”
One that perhaps represents a bigger challenge, hence the inclusion of the influential and experienced Sophie Ingle in the 23-player squad for Switzerland – where Wales face the Netherlands, France and England – represented such a timely boost after nine months out.
Ingle, 33 and having won 141 caps, has been on this journey longer than most, one that Wilkinson admitted some players and staff openly wondered if they would ever accomplish given the number of near misses to qualifying.
She suspected a mental block, so brought in a mental performance coach to try and place past baggage behind them, and returned to the mountain.
“It was used as a theme because it was always going to be an uphill battle, with setbacks,” Wilkinson said. “The challenge of steeper parts, the flattening off, all these parallels.
“And as we move towards the Euros, we’ve started talking about the Everest part of it, that something is impossible until it isn’t. And we’re there.”
Getting ‘there’ is new for Wales, but not for Wilkinson. She won two bronze medals from three Olympics and appeared at four World Cups during her 181-cap career with Canada, being inducted into their hall of fame and recognised as one of their greatest players.
“They were huge moments for me, realising a dream to be an Olympian, but helping this team create a moment for themselves is very special,” she said.
The aim is for more moments.
“We will surprise people,” promised Wilkinson, who added that she also expects some of the lower-profile players in the squad, beyond the likes of Ingle and the iconic Jess Fishlock, to catch the eye now the platform is theirs.
As she put it: “These names should be known.”
