North Wales - 17-20 March 2006
Ten of us made it to Wales for a cold and icy weekend in Snowdonia.
- Jell
- Alice
- Pete
- Rod
- Patrick
- Pete
- Woody
- Patrick
- Ed
- Rob
[See pictures of the team]
Unfortunately Merfyn and Geyve had to pull out at the last minute.…. Maybe next time!
Friday 17 March
Patrick picked up Jell at 0600, and we drove north to pick up Alice in Birmingham at about 0815. Pete and Rod were travelling in parallel from Hampshire, and we all met up 1230 in Betws-y-Coed for some essential (and frivolous) gear shopping and a bite of lunch at the (expected but frustratingly slow) café above the Cotswold Rock Bottom bargain shop. Pete and Woody, meanwhile, were playing with axes and crampons on the snow on the slopes of Pen yr Ole Wen, having arrived the day before.
When we arrived at Gwern Gôf Isaf we realised just how cold the weekend was going to be. There was a raw cutting wind blowing down the valley as we put our tents up, speckled by some light snow. After a brew, and settling ourselves into the bunkhouse, we set off, with Pete and Woody, for a walk up the valley. Pete, Rod and Patrick opted for a steep scramble up the gully in the middle of Craig yr Ogof, while Jell, Alice, Pete and Woody stuck to the lower ground, negotiating rocks, walls and bogs before returning to camp.
The plan to eat out was abandoned in the face of the mountain of food we had brought with us, and as night fell several pots of pasta and rice were bubbling in the kitchen, and being mixed with sauces and soups and sliced frankfurters, and whatever else edible came to hand. Wine corks popped and beer cans plinked as we relaxed in the fug of the tiny "kitchen", waiting for news of Patrick II (who was expected at 2100ish) and Ed and Rob.
 Ed and Rob had been travelling since Thursday in Tess, Rob's pride and joy. They had spent the night in Builth Wells after a day's green laning and off roading, and were intending to join us for supper on Friday night. The sight on the map of a track leading from Capel Curig direct to the campsite proved too much of a lure in the final few miles of the journey and they happily took up the challenge in the fading light. The negotiated the first bog, only to meet an impassable section just 300 yards from their final destination. Turning round they travelled back towards Capel, only to get themselves thoroughly stuck in the original bog. Alice and Jell dressed up in coats, buffs and gloves, and walked a short way down the lane to see if we could see them, but they were too far away, and we returned to the warmth of the bunkhouse to wait. After an hour or two, and much winching, they managed to get themselves clear, and finally arrived at the campsite at about 2200, for a much deserved pot of pasta and a glass or two of malt!
Somewhere in the increasingly merry chaos Patrick II arrived (and probably wondered what he had let himself in for!). He was immediately accepted as a true member of the group when he produced two bottles of wine.
Saturday 18 March
Life started at 0630 or so with stirring and scratching in various tents, followed by the hiss of brewmaking in the kitchen. We all slowly came to life and Pete cooked a big pot of porridge, which was devoured with copious amounts of maple syrup and mugs of coffee.
We had decided to take a look at Snowdon, not knowing whether we would be able to make the zigzags in these conditions, and happy to turn back if it got too icy. Patrick, Pete and Woody has crampons and axes, but the rest of us didn't, so it seemed unlikely that we'd get all the way up. (See a map of where we got to) 
Arriving at Pen y Pass at about 0900 we found space in the car park (Patrick's Discovery was waved into a slot for coaches), but there were plenty of people getting ready to walk. Looking down the Pass, there was sunshine on Llanberis, but it was cloudy, cold and windy at Pen y Pass, and the ridges disappeared into the grey hill fog. Well togged up, we set off up the Pyg Track , with the track getting icier as we went over the Crib Goch ridge and down the other side. Soon the ground was completely covered in snow, and people were stopping to put on crampons to get a grip on the snowy icy paths. 
A lovely cold walk, the cliffs impressively picked out by the snowy details, but it rapidly became clear that the main path up the zigzags was impassable. This was confirmed by the tragic sight of the mountain rescue team bringing down the body of a climber who had fallen the night before. We turned back, and retraced our steps, intending to pick up the Miners Track and walk back round the lakes, but the junction was completely covered by snow, and there was no sign of the path. We had lunch and a brew at the Crib Goch junction, and made our way back to Pen y Pass.
After a coffee and a warm up in the café we drove down to Llanberis for a wander round the gear shops and a look at the lake. Then back to the campsite. It was still early (1530ish) - too early to stop for the day – so we drove down to Ogwen Cottage. Pete and Rod walked back to the campsite round Llyn Ogwen, while the rest of us (Me, Alice, Patrick, Patrick and Pete) walked through the gorge up into Cwm Idwal for a great walk round the lake, with the impressive backdrop of the snow covered hills and cliffs and the iced gullies of Devil's Kitchen.
 Back at camp, Pete and Rod had got a brew on and had lined up the wine bottles ready for the evening. A text message from Ed and Rob told us that they wouldn't be back that evening (in fact they were settled in a warm hotel in mid Wales, with soft beds and an en suite bathroom!). For supper seven of us piled into the Discotruck and Patrick drove us down to Bethesda where we had a beer in the pub and bought some more wine and Fish and Chips to take back to the hovel. Patrick had generously provided his down jacket to wrap the food in, and we settled in for another warm wine and whisky lubricated evening.
Pen yr Ole Wen over Llyn Idwal
Sunday 19 March
 Dawn broke on Sunday a little warmer, possibly even above freezing! Jell dragged a stove down to his tent and brewed up snugged in his sleeping bag, watching the light swirling through gaps in the clouds on Tryfan and Pen yr Ole Wen.
Pete led the cooking of huge piles of eggs, bacon, sausages and mushrooms in the hut, and we all wandered in for breakfast, teas and coffees. We had cleared up by about 1000 and ready for the day.
Pete and Rod opted to walk up the hill behind the campsite, following the gully climbed on Friday afternoon. They has a snowy wander on the tops, returning at about 1400 for the drive home, getting back to Hampshire at about 1900.
Jell, Alice, Patrick, Patrick, Pete and Woody decided to try some of the hills further south, and drove through Betws and down the A5 to Ysbyty Ifan, and then up small lanes to the foot of Foel Boeth (509m, SH 804478).
Jell realised after about half a mile that he hadn't put his boots on, and was still wearing his (non-waterproof!) approach shoes. Too late! We carried on to have lunch on the top with excellent views across to the Snowdon Massif. A soggy (especially for Jell!) and heathery walk back down the valley west of the hill brought us back to the cars.
We all set off for home, reversing Friday's route, Patrick dropping off Alice in Birmingham at 1800ish and Jell in Micheldever at 2100.
All in all a great weekend. Good company, as ever. New challenges, and reminders of the dangers and difficulties of snow and ice in the mountains.
You can see more pictures of the trip by clicking on:
and a video of Tess going through her paces.
|
