2. 2010

Snowdonia in November.

In November our crazy vegan friend Vanessa suddenly decided to trek to Everest base camp, with just a few weeks to train. So, we decided to help her. We loaded her pack (and ours - why should she have all the fun!) with rocks and attempted to climb Mt Snowdon and the entire Glyderau mountain range in Snowdonia during a weekend.
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  • First, we climbed the North Face of Tryfan the hard way. We didn't accidentally take a wrong turn which cost us an extra hour of course, but rather deliberately chose this steep, rocky route to enhance our training. Unfortunately, I then obeyed female orders not to jump from Adam to Eve behind us on the summit (I'll just have to return some day...). However, it did snow on us during the descent which partly compensated for this, I hope.

    First, we climbed the North Face of Tryfan the hard way. We didn't accidentally take a wrong turn which cost us an extra hour of course, but rather deliberately chose this steep, rocky route to enhance our training. Unfortunately, I then obeyed female orders not to jump from Adam to Eve behind us on the summit (I'll just have to return some day...). However, it did snow on us during the descent which partly compensated for this, I hope.

  • Next, we ascended the scree slope to the left of Bristly Ridge. The latter would be extremely fun another day with a lot more time and possibly ropes.

    Next, we ascended the scree slope to the left of Bristly Ridge. The latter would be extremely fun another day with a lot more time and possibly ropes.

  • Having made the top of the Glyderau range, we posed for photos on the Cantilever.

    Having made the top of the Glyderau range, we posed for photos on the Cantilever.

  • Some were more coordinated than others...

    Some were more coordinated than others...

  • But we all made it up there in the end.

    But we all made it up there in the end.

  • Glyder Fawr

    Glyder Fawr

  • Castle of the Winds

    Castle of the Winds

  • Another fearsome scree slope.

    Another fearsome scree slope.

  • Elidir Fawr Andrew

    Elidir Fawr Andrew

  • Jasmijn on Elidir Fawr. The whole of NW Wales is visible below, and Ireland is visible on a good day. Unfortunately, however, it was about to become a very bad night. After carrying her rocks over the mountain range all day, the final 900 m odd descent nearly killed Jasmijn. Night fell and with it came freezing rain. The summer paths I recalled had become torrents which we had to navigate by fading torchlight. Jasmijn finally made it into Nant Peris, beyond exhaustion, still carrying her rocks! I had nobly assisted by eating some of her sweets to save weight. And carrying some of her smaller rocks.

    Jasmijn on Elidir Fawr. The whole of NW Wales is visible below, and Ireland is visible on a good day. Unfortunately, however, it was about to become a very bad night. After carrying her rocks over the mountain range all day, the final 900 m odd descent nearly killed Jasmijn. Night fell and with it came freezing rain. The summer paths I recalled had become torrents which we had to navigate by fading torchlight. Jasmijn finally made it into Nant Peris, beyond exhaustion, still carrying her rocks! I had nobly assisted by eating some of her sweets to save weight. And carrying some of her smaller rocks.

  • To our delight, a snow-dusted Crib Goch greeted us when we gazed out the window of the Pen-y-Pass youth hostel the next morning. Oddly, however, Jasmijn decided not to accompany me that day.

    To our delight, a snow-dusted Crib Goch greeted us when we gazed out the window of the Pen-y-Pass youth hostel the next morning. Oddly, however, Jasmijn decided not to accompany me that day.

  • So Vanessa and I headed up the Watkins Path to the summit of Snowdon. It was too beautiful a morning to be carrying rocks around, so we left them behind.

    So Vanessa and I headed up the Watkins Path to the summit of Snowdon. It was too beautiful a morning to be carrying rocks around, so we left them behind.

  • Watkins Path 1

    Watkins Path 1

  • Watkins Path 2

    Watkins Path 2

  • There are old miners' hut ruins, and old mines, scattered about the mountains.

    There are old miners' hut ruins, and old mines, scattered about the mountains.

  • We ascended from the right into the Pass of the Arrows below. King Arthur and his knights apparently battled Mordred and his dark army, retreating up this pass, until Arthur finally slew Mordred. Unfortunately he was slain in turn by an arrow, and his body was carried away by the Ladies of the Lake. His knights are supposed to lie sleeping in one of the caves, awaiting the horn call to awaken them to return once more to the defence of the realm, should England ever be truly threatened. I'd love to meet his knights. I did see a couple of interesting cave mouths but unfortunately lacked the time to explore.

    We ascended from the right into the Pass of the Arrows below. King Arthur and his knights apparently battled Mordred and his dark army, retreating up this pass, until Arthur finally slew Mordred. Unfortunately he was slain in turn by an arrow, and his body was carried away by the Ladies of the Lake. His knights are supposed to lie sleeping in one of the caves, awaiting the horn call to awaken them to return once more to the defence of the realm, should England ever be truly threatened. I'd love to meet his knights. I did see a couple of interesting cave mouths but unfortunately lacked the time to explore.

  • Y Lliwedd Vanessa

    Y Lliwedd Vanessa

  • Afanc - the legendary demigod of the rains - was apparently relocated here by townspeople near his original lake, who were fed up with being constantly rained on. Knowing his partiality to young maidens, they lured him from his waters with an appropriate damsel, and then set upon him with chains. They bound him, dragged him to this lake, and dumped him. Times were tough back then.

    Afanc - the legendary demigod of the rains - was apparently relocated here by townspeople near his original lake, who were fed up with being constantly rained on. Knowing his partiality to young maidens, they lured him from his waters with an appropriate damsel, and then set upon him with chains. They bound him, dragged him to this lake, and dumped him. Times were tough back then.

  • Llyn Llydaw Andrew

    Llyn Llydaw Andrew

  • Llyn Llydaw Vanessa

    Llyn Llydaw Vanessa

  • Finally, we ascended a precipitous scree slope to the summit of Snowdon. Once again, we accidentally chose the hard way...

    Finally, we ascended a precipitous scree slope to the summit of Snowdon. Once again, we accidentally chose the hard way...

  • Screen slope below Snowdon from side

    Screen slope below Snowdon from side

  • Screen slope below Snowdon from summit

    Screen slope below Snowdon from summit

  • Screen slope below Snowdon Vanessa

    Screen slope below Snowdon Vanessa

  • Bad hair moment.

    Bad hair moment.

  • Mt Snowdon, or Yr Wyddfa - at 1,085 m, the highest point in England and Wales.

    Mt Snowdon, or Yr Wyddfa - at 1,085 m, the highest point in England and Wales.

  • We descended from the summit on the left, along this ridge, and down the face (there is a trail).

    We descended from the summit on the left, along this ridge, and down the face (there is a trail).

  • Icicles on the Pyg Track.

    Icicles on the Pyg Track.

  • Hiking with the ladies: personal grooming must always be maintained, regardless of the weather!

    Hiking with the ladies: personal grooming must always be maintained, regardless of the weather!

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    Jasmijn on Elidir Fawr. The whole of NW Wales is visible below, and Ireland is visible on a good day. Unfortunately, however, it was about to become a very bad night. After carrying her rocks over the mountain range all day, the final 900 m odd descent nearly killed Jasmijn. Night fell and with it came freezing rain. The summer paths I recalled had become torrents which we had to navigate by fading torchlight. Jasmijn finally made it into Nant Peris, beyond exhaustion, still carrying her rocks! I had nobly assisted by eating some of her sweets to save weight. And carrying some of her smaller rocks.
    To our delight, a snow-dusted Crib Goch greeted us when we gazed out the window of the Pen-y-Pass youth hostel the next morning. Oddly, however, Jasmijn decided not to accompany me that day.
    So Vanessa and I headed up the Watkins Path to the summit of Snowdon. It was too beautiful a morning to be carrying rocks around, so we left them behind.