Scrambling on Tryfan.

19°C, warm and muggy, then thunderstorms. Very heavy rain all afternoon.
I hiked and scrambled up Tryfan with MapMyRide+! Distance: 4.90km, time: 05:40:00, pace: 69:23min/km, speed: 0.86km/h.

http://mapmyride.com/workout/2341404458

Tryfan’s north ridge was the aim for the day. The route was scrambling all the way with one or two exposed sections (that could be side-stepped). The rocks were all secure for grip and very few moved or sounded insecure. What a fine route.

We also passed the cannon stone about 2/3 the way up. Here was our first photo opportunity. The rock itself has a very coarse grain but was somewhat polished by the numbers of people who’d gone before.

Finally got the standard shot on Adam & Eve, I was the last of three to make the jump, and possibly the most nervous.
We scurried off the peak when the deep booms got louder. Thunder was approaching. The odd flash struck ground miles to the south. A few hundred metres down and large drops of warm water fell around us. It would continue, in waves. Two groups led by Plas-y-Brenin leaders passed by heading down. This point we, decided to abandon Bristly Ridge and the Cantilever. The groups seemed to be mostly girls, none of whom looked cheerful. They were having Type Two fun. Type 2 is the kind of fun you feel after the event. Type 1 is obviously the fun you have at the time. They listened intently.

The day ended at about 5h 50 in heavy but warm rain. We were all soaked with gurgling noises coming from our boots. All the footpaths had turned into small rivers. at least the grip on rocks was still good.

3: Carned y Gribeau and broken bridges.:

9°C. fog and no wind, no change from yesterday.

Wild-camp-> end: Woke to more fog and the sound of grouse. The night was utterly silent apart from the gurgling of the spring. Occasional soft drizzle and the odd waft in the calm air.

Back to the fenceline and head north. Back at L. Edno was a big pile of rubbish caught in a fence. The day before, made a note of this and returned to clear as much as possible. My storage was limited because I had my own rubbish, but I got the worst of it.
Next, walk north along the fences again. Net a fell runner heading south who seemed a bit troubled by the navigation. I know the conditions are tricky, but all he has to do is follow the fence line. His route round Edno is unnecessary, and probably slippery.
I continued passed the bwlch onto Carned y Gribeau. There was a brief moment of clear air which urged me on. The summit has a nice little lake which made a good place to shelter and eat.​
 For a small lake, it was amazingly deep. Even at the edge, I could plunge a fully extended walking pole.

The descent was aimed for the footbridges at SH673560. the ground in that area was horrible to walk on, lots of plunge holes and hidden streams. It was a struggle to get there only to find the bridges long destroyed and deeply rusted. Take note, they are clearly marked on the OS map, but not on Harvey’s.

Eventually, back at the car, I was glad to get my wet boots off and dip in the lake to wash my feet. You have to treat wet feet as soon as you can to prevent unspeakable problems later.

Mountain Leader training.

Day 1; micro-navigation,

Day 2: moving on steep ground. We climbed Pen-yr-ole Wen by the route from Llyn Ogwen. Our tutor demonstrated how a rope could be used on the scrambling section to get a group of novices up.
Day 3: steep ground practicing with ropes. Tried out several belaying types and the Sth African Abseil method. That one could be very useful on solo trips. Then we climbed up to L Tryfan ( the one by the Llanberis track).
Day 4: Confidence roping and river crossing in Nant Gwynant.

Day 5 & 6: expedition. This 36 hours of my life deserves a separate post.

Hill and Moorland:3 (result).

6~ 8°C, light W. Sunny with only 1 shower.
it seemed to go well on the hill today. No mistakes and additional skills were cleared easily. The kit check was fine, I even showed off my water filter.
The tension of last night was relieved in this morning’s briefing. The assessor regarded my errors as repaired after I identified them.
So the day went ahead. My tension reduced. Until the hour before final debrief that is.
Last outing: north Carneddau again. Another rolling grassland, this is Hill and Moorland after all. My navigation legs were fairly easy and error free so I could relax and enjoy myself again.
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HML assessment: day 2.

6°C, some sun to begin, snow after lunch turning heavy.

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I’m starting to
enjoy myself now. My leads were ‘spot on’. Again, a couple of errors crept in while following. The Assessor thought my geology presentation was ‘enjoyable’. On the walk in, there was a fine piece of cut slate near a working quarry. On close inspection, it was peppered with iron pyrites. A nice piece.
Sunshine to start, later there were small hail stones pinging off our packs. In the last hour, snow fell. That reduced visibility as much as fog does, the grip is less too.
I have the feeling that when folks back at work ask what
I did go my holiday, they’re not going to be all that jealous.

Tonight is night walk. More micro-navigation but after dark. This rain should just about finish for an hour. I hope for no more snow, head-torches can work against you with bright reflections from larger flakes.
I can sense the possibility that I may just pass this.

Night walk…

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Hill and Moorland Assessment:1

6°C, grey start with brisk W,
In a double room with a stranger, his name is Dave and he seems okay. I felt a little more than awkward. Kate last evening,
I introduced myself to two others in the bar. On their table saw their copy of the green book ‘Hillwalking’.
Meeting them did reduce my nerves somewhat.
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Loop round Llyn Idwal

14°C, strong SW but dry with clear summits.

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Two mile walk around this familiar lake. We found a dry and surprisingly green landscape.
The lip of this corrie whipped up the wind that funneled up the Nant Ffrancen. Though grey, clouds were easily clear of the summits. I could only imagine what conditions were like on the tops. You could probably double the windspeed up there. Apart from that, it’s a good day for walkers. Rocks are dry and low level temperatures above 12°C; no ice on the ridge.

Under a tarp.

11°C, brisk W. Just below cloud base.
Searched for hours for somewhere to bed down. Now I’m on the Bwlch between Yr Aran and an unnamed hill to the east. Altitude about 500m. Inside the bivvy is warm and the tarp is flapping noisily in the wind. This was the most still pocket of air I could find.
The forecast suggests low chance of rain.
It’s a pity the tarp is such a bright green. I prefer something better camouflaged. It’s great to be able to peep out and see the mountains. There has been nobody on this side of Snowdon all day. Unless you want to count a noisy twin rotor military helicopter.

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The Stone wall makes for a good wind break.

All along the Glyders.

12° to 7°C with moderate wind.
Up at 6 and set off for breakfast at the pinnacle cafe, Capel Curig. Excellent and at a good price too. Bought a pair of summer gloves for days like today. Nice in the valleys but cold aloft. The gloves I really liked were £85! No way!

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From Capel Curig, I climbed onto the Glyders from the gentle eastern slope. Today was all about walking the length of the range and something good happened as I went along. At each summit, the cloud lifted or even cleared. By the by mid afternoon, the sun was out and the rocks were in sharp relief.
As often on the year’s first proper hike, the descent was quite hard and slow. I came down off the range behind Llyn Idwal. Place have made this ground far easier. Coming off Glyder Fawr was the worst bit with its loose shattered rock on a bed of soil on a steep slope.
I should have some good photos to show off when I get back.

Ogwen Valley, Easter.

14~9C, barely any wind, clear.
Tonight will get cold. It’s still and quiet here in this valley in North Wales. I got here about three in the afternoon, made camp and decided there was time for a walk.
Camp is about a km from Tryfan, which I you to climb tomorrow. It is a rough scramble, so I never wanted to inflict that on Rosie.
It’s as strange walking without her as I thought would be. Somehow, it feels wrong. Enough sad thoughts, I am here to unwind and enjoy myself.
I walked 5 miles today along the eastern end of the Glyderau- a quiet area, the hordes in west from here. I saw no-one.
The Welsh hills are still straw in colour, there is green between the old dead plants from last year, but it’s yet to get going.
Mosses look bright enough though.
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First walks of the year are hard on the front of thigh muscles. I swear every time to train them up to get ready, but never I do.

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