Report and photos from Acting Group Leader, Bill ...
On Saturday we went up Cader Idris. This was easier for Mark and Rachel to meet us coming up from Cardiff. However I decided to leave a car on the other side of the mountain so that we could do a complete linear traverse. This was OK, except I took a wrong turn out of the YHA which took a few miles to rectify, then took a narrow road which ended up being really narrow and steep with gates to open and shut and a flock of sheep dashing in front of the car! So we were 25 minutes late for Mark and Rachel with no mobile reception! So, a great start to my navigation abilities to inspire confidence.
The rest of the walk went OK, but the main peak was in cloud and a bit blustery. But everyone enjoyed the traverse and the fact that the walkers had to wait in the pub while cars were being fetched.
Next day we went to a lovely valley to do Aran Fwyddwyyywwwdd or something Welsh. Forecast not good at all. But we drove out of the rain so started off up an atmospheric gulley. At the top, the rain started up again, but optimistically we thought it might blow over. Also the gulley had lots of slippy rock to descend, and the other descent was a more gentle path. So we carried on in the rain and wind and clouds. And on in more rain. And on in yet more rain and gales. Poor Kelly had no waterproof trousers, no gaiters and new boots but kept smiling and insisting “I’m fine!”, despite the fact she must have been soaked and very uncomfortable. This was a bit of a trudge as there was no chance to stop for lunch. Also it crossed a fairly featureless bog with a lot of very slippy railway sleepers and very deep boggy mud waiting for any slip! A real obstacle course.
Fortunately the path down opened up to give great views into the valley below the clouds and was sheltered. So we all survived and didn’t put anyone off (even a bedraggled but still smiling Kelly!). It was probably one of those days that in retrospect was almost enjoyable as character building! Definitely one to do again on a nice day though as it is a beautiful and relatively remote valley.
3 comments:
Great photos Bill (especially Mark with his sheep-friend!)... Many thanks for your great leadership and company. Really enjoyed the weekend, despite the rain on Sunday. Hope to see everyone again soon - and Bill, I'll try and catch up with you for some climbing practice.
Rachel.
This makes traversing the Andes sound like a walk in the park! Some of the photos look a bit like Ecuador on a rainy day though. Really glad you got it together for a weekend and thanks Bill for keeping it all going - maybe I won´t have a ´job´ to come back to!
Liz
Sounds like a classic offtrack adventure. I'm rather perturbed, however, to discover that either a) I was there but don't remember any of it, or b) I have been replaced by another more interesting Kelly!
Help!
Kelly (no.1)
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