It had been ages since I had had a weekend with the "old crowd", and it was great to get together with Pete, Alice, Patrick, Pete, Ro, Sophie, Frans, Simon, Lou and Hannah for a weekend of walking, chatting, eating and drinking in the mountains.
Friday
Pete arrived at about 1820 and we were on our way to Wales by 1830. Picked up Alice, as planned, at Helyx at about 2000 and arrived at the bunkhouse at Gwern Gof Uchaf in Ogwen Valley at 2315ish, to meet Frans, Simon, Lou and Hannah.
Saturday
Up earlyish to start getting the place sorted for breakfast. Soon everyone was up and Simon was sizzling bacon and eggs. Patrick, Ro, Sophie and Pete arrived at about 0900, and we were joined by another Pete and some others from the Romsey Climbers.
A plan had formed and reformed through the previous 24 hours, but we settled on driving round to the Pen y Gwryd hotel ,and walking from there back over the top to the bunkhouse. If the conditions on the ridge looked ok, then we'd maybe walk up to Glyder Fawr. Well that's what we did!
10 of us (me, Pete, Alice, Patrick, Pete, Simon, Lou, Hannah, Frans and new Pete) climbed the Miners Track, starting on bare grass, then through snow patches and eventually as we reached the ridge, walking through 6 inches of snow. Once on the ridge we decided that conditions weren't too bad, so after a stop for a snack/lunch, we continued up through the shattered rocks to the summit of Glyder Fach. Obligatory pictures were taken on the Balancing Rock and of a raven perched on top of the snowy Crown, and we headed back to the bwlch to continue our descent to the bunkhouse.
10 of us (me, Pete, Alice, Patrick, Pete, Simon, Lou, Hannah, Frans and new Pete) climbed the Miners Track, starting on bare grass, then through snow patches and eventually as we reached the ridge, walking through 6 inches of snow. Once on the ridge we decided that conditions weren't too bad, so after a stop for a snack/lunch, we continued up through the shattered rocks to the summit of Glyder Fach. Obligatory pictures were taken on the Balancing Rock and of a raven perched on top of the snowy Crown, and we headed back to the bwlch to continue our descent to the bunkhouse.
Our planned route along the path towards Bwlch Tryfan was blocked by a steep snow slope, so we picked a route down the adjacent ridge. On the way there was talk of hot cups of tea and biscuits, so Alice and I decided to run ahead and execute our plan of cake baking, and surprise the team with the smell of fresh baking as they stumbled in. I enjoyed our yomp down the ridge and across the wet valley floor, running in boots and with packs, but enjoying the freedom and the speed. We were back in plenty of time to make the cake mixture and put it in paper baking things, but our plan was stymied at the last minute by the gas running out! (All was not lost. The cakes were eventually cooked for afters after supper, with a slice of Snickers melted on top for icing!)
A typical group camping evening ensued, albeit in a bunkhouse kitchen rather than in the familiar dome of Big Blue. Pasta was cooked, and consumed with big pots of tomatoy sauces (frankfurters, chorizo, mushrooms). Cakes followed and beer, was drunk, and wine and whisky and many of the walkers!
Bed at about midnight.
Sunday
I was first up, making fresh bread in the kitchen, but I had started a trend, and I was soon joined in the kitchen by a warm and slightly hungover huddle of tea and coffee drinkers. Pete made pancakes, which we ate with bacon and eggs. This was not a low calorie weekend. The weather looked horrible outside , so we settled for a walk round Cwm Idwal and gear shopping in Betws.
The walk was a real test of our gear, with heavy rain, sleet and snow, but it is always a magical place for me, with the snow capped cliffs rising around the head of the cwm, cupping it and holding it. Happy memories of running round it in the summer. My Paramo Cascadas were excellent - warm and dry despite the driving rain.
Pete, Alice and I nipped into the bunkhouse to get changed on the way back, and then drove to Betws to join the others for a coffee and a bit of gear shopping (I got a thin foil jacket for my DofE emergency pack), and then soup and a roll in the station café before returning to base.
It was just the three of use for the night and we continued the cooking theme with biscuits made with melted Mars bars, a HUGE vegetable pasty and roast vegetables. We had a quiet evening, with a couple of glasses of wine. Pete was asleep by 2030, and Alice and I sat in the kitchen quietly reading, before drifting off to our bunks for a good sleep.
Up at about 8ish for a light breakfast before climbing into running gear for a run round Llyn Ogwen. It was cold as we set out, but I had my waterproof socks on and splashed happily through the puddles on the track down to the road. We ran along the lake edge by the A5 before crossing the bridge and picking our way, half running and half walking (and occasionally clambering) through the slippery rocks and grass. It was cold and breezy, but my Rab top did the trick again.
A lovely weekend. Good to see old friends again, and really enjoyed an evening with just Pete and Alice.
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