J
Judith
Guest
(I'm sorry this is so long. I got carried away.)
A small group of URW-ers (Me, Phil C, Fran, Thomas (Fran's son)) met
up at Bryn Tyrch campsite on Boxing Day. I believe that the usual URW
Expedition campsite is Dol Gam and I wouldn't recommend that we moved
to Bryn Tyrch unless we decided to use the bunkhouses. The camping
field was tiny and uneven but plenty big enough for the 4 of us.
On Monday (Boxing Day) I did a two hour walk up to Llyn Crafnant and
back. It was beautiful weather for walking. It was a bit breezy but
very pleasant. There seemed to be several largish groups out and I
couldn't be sure if they were "organised" or just families burning off
the Christmas excess.
I had already bumped into Fran and Thomas in B-y-C but, on the walk
back to the campsite, I could see there was another car and tent so
presumed that Phil had arrived but there was no sign of anyone when I
got back to the site. I wondered if I could guess where they had
walked to and try and catch up with them.... but then I decided that
sitting in the car eating cake was a better idea. After a while I
decided to walk along the road towards B-y-C and see if any pubs were
open. I'd already checked the Bryn Tyrch and it was shut, so my
dreams of beer and pub grub were in danger of being dashed. Just
then, Phil, Fran and Thomas turned up and assured me that Cobdens
looked like it was open. Phew!
We then had the typical winter camping dilemma of what to do when it
goes dark, so we thought for a couple of minutes......... and went to
the pub. Lots of food, a reasonable amount of beer (as nobody wanted
to be up in the night) and we were all tucked up in bed by 9pm.
I woke up a few times in the night but I don't suppose that's
surprising considering how early I went to bed. I was using my new
down sleeping bag for the first time and was generally pleased with
it. I did wake once with a cold spot on my back, but I think that was
because I had rolled off my mat. Just before dawn, I awoke again and
was a bit chilly but I tightened the neck baffle and was warm again.
I was genuinely surprised when I unzipped the tent door (at 8 ish?)
and saw that everything was covered in frost. Usually when camping in
snow/frost I need to put my coat over my bag or put on more clothes,
so I reckon the new sleeping bag was a success.
In true URW Expedition style, we took forever to get ready in the
morning. I was treating the weekend as a holiday rather than an
"expedition", so was in no hurry to get going.
Fran and Thomas decided not to walk with Phil and me and, with
hindsight, I think they made the right decision! Phil had told me
what route he was considering but I had obviously not bothered to look
at the contour lines. We parked the cars along the A5 and set off for
Ffynnon Lloer. The path was generally obvious apart from one bit when
we found ourselves on the wrong side of a stream..... well, "torrent"
would be a better word for it. I think this was my fault as I
remember commenting on where the stream and path crossed but I didn't
bother to pay attention to which side we should have been on now. I
decided to head higher and higher in the hope of finding an easy bit
to cross (all the time hoping that I wouldn't have to drop down
again). Eventually we both got across without getting wet or slipping
on the rocks which were either green and slimey or icy.
I found the climb alongside the Afon Lloer manageable but was hoping
for some flatter land soon. It then dawned on me that this was
probably going to be the easiest bit of the day and that Phil was
fully intending to climb up that big rocky thing to the left (Pen yr
Ole Wen). Er.... right..... time to think of an excuse. No, can't
think of one apart from "See you later, I'm *NOT* going up that!" We
arranged to meet up on the ridge and I left Phil to do the scrambling
thing while I trudged up the shallowest part of the hill to the NE of
Ffynnon Lloer. I occasionally checked to see if I could see Phil on
Pen yr Ole Wen and, eventually [What kept you, Phil?] saw him
approaching the summit....... the cloud descended and I saw nothing
more for the next hour. I had been quite happily walking on a compass
bearing and occasionally refering to the map, but now I couldn't see
any land features at all. I could blindly walk on the bearing but was
conscious that there was no way we could hope to find each other by
sight and the parting words of "I'll see you somewhere up there" were
not going to be adequate. I got to where I thought the ridge was but
couldn't be absolutely certain so I knew it was now time to get the
GPS gadget out. I was about 20 metres short of where I thought I had
been so used the GPS to get onto the "path" (such as it was) and edge
back along it to the point that I reckoned Phil was most likely to
pass. I still couldn't see much but had heard some voices and hoped
that they had been the two people who were just ahead of Phil when I
last saw him.
I was now wondering what decisions I might have to make. Could he
have passed by already? In which case there was no point me staying
where I was? How long should I wait? Thankfully I could just make
out a Big Grey Man about 30 feet away ..... and it answered to the
name of Phil!
We carried on to the summit of Carnedd Dafydd and took shelter from
the wind while we had something to eat. My hands were frozen; I
usually wear thin Meraklon gloves as I hate bulky gloves and find the
Meraklons fine as long as I keep moving. As soon as we stopped, my
hands turned to ice. I'll have to investigate whether over-mitts
would help during a stop (or would that stop me getting the lid off my
flask?) or if I need better gloves.
The aim was now to walk to Carnedd Llewelyn but the weather was
showing no sign of abating and we could only reasonably expect two
hours of good daylight, so we decided to head back down the slope
towards Ffynnon Lloer and retrace our steps back to the car which we
reached at about 4:15pm. The light was definitely poor and I would
not have liked to be in cloud/mist and having to scramble, so I think
we made the right decision.
Only one thing left to do - find somewhere that served coffee. We
tried the Bryn Tyrch and found that they were serving food as well as
drink. I like pubs that have Vegetarian *and Vegan* choices. Mmmmm,
grilled halloumi bruschetta.
I'm glad I made the effort to do some walking this weekend. It's so
easy to get dragged along with the "sit in front of the telly for a
fortnight" mentality. I could do with some new gloves and I think a
cold-weather stove might be handy as the MSR Pocket Rocket suffered a
bit until I wrapped my hands round the canister. So, a nice couple of
days and a shopping list ..... what more could a girl want?!
Judith
A small group of URW-ers (Me, Phil C, Fran, Thomas (Fran's son)) met
up at Bryn Tyrch campsite on Boxing Day. I believe that the usual URW
Expedition campsite is Dol Gam and I wouldn't recommend that we moved
to Bryn Tyrch unless we decided to use the bunkhouses. The camping
field was tiny and uneven but plenty big enough for the 4 of us.
On Monday (Boxing Day) I did a two hour walk up to Llyn Crafnant and
back. It was beautiful weather for walking. It was a bit breezy but
very pleasant. There seemed to be several largish groups out and I
couldn't be sure if they were "organised" or just families burning off
the Christmas excess.
I had already bumped into Fran and Thomas in B-y-C but, on the walk
back to the campsite, I could see there was another car and tent so
presumed that Phil had arrived but there was no sign of anyone when I
got back to the site. I wondered if I could guess where they had
walked to and try and catch up with them.... but then I decided that
sitting in the car eating cake was a better idea. After a while I
decided to walk along the road towards B-y-C and see if any pubs were
open. I'd already checked the Bryn Tyrch and it was shut, so my
dreams of beer and pub grub were in danger of being dashed. Just
then, Phil, Fran and Thomas turned up and assured me that Cobdens
looked like it was open. Phew!
We then had the typical winter camping dilemma of what to do when it
goes dark, so we thought for a couple of minutes......... and went to
the pub. Lots of food, a reasonable amount of beer (as nobody wanted
to be up in the night) and we were all tucked up in bed by 9pm.
I woke up a few times in the night but I don't suppose that's
surprising considering how early I went to bed. I was using my new
down sleeping bag for the first time and was generally pleased with
it. I did wake once with a cold spot on my back, but I think that was
because I had rolled off my mat. Just before dawn, I awoke again and
was a bit chilly but I tightened the neck baffle and was warm again.
I was genuinely surprised when I unzipped the tent door (at 8 ish?)
and saw that everything was covered in frost. Usually when camping in
snow/frost I need to put my coat over my bag or put on more clothes,
so I reckon the new sleeping bag was a success.
In true URW Expedition style, we took forever to get ready in the
morning. I was treating the weekend as a holiday rather than an
"expedition", so was in no hurry to get going.
Fran and Thomas decided not to walk with Phil and me and, with
hindsight, I think they made the right decision! Phil had told me
what route he was considering but I had obviously not bothered to look
at the contour lines. We parked the cars along the A5 and set off for
Ffynnon Lloer. The path was generally obvious apart from one bit when
we found ourselves on the wrong side of a stream..... well, "torrent"
would be a better word for it. I think this was my fault as I
remember commenting on where the stream and path crossed but I didn't
bother to pay attention to which side we should have been on now. I
decided to head higher and higher in the hope of finding an easy bit
to cross (all the time hoping that I wouldn't have to drop down
again). Eventually we both got across without getting wet or slipping
on the rocks which were either green and slimey or icy.
I found the climb alongside the Afon Lloer manageable but was hoping
for some flatter land soon. It then dawned on me that this was
probably going to be the easiest bit of the day and that Phil was
fully intending to climb up that big rocky thing to the left (Pen yr
Ole Wen). Er.... right..... time to think of an excuse. No, can't
think of one apart from "See you later, I'm *NOT* going up that!" We
arranged to meet up on the ridge and I left Phil to do the scrambling
thing while I trudged up the shallowest part of the hill to the NE of
Ffynnon Lloer. I occasionally checked to see if I could see Phil on
Pen yr Ole Wen and, eventually [What kept you, Phil?] saw him
approaching the summit....... the cloud descended and I saw nothing
more for the next hour. I had been quite happily walking on a compass
bearing and occasionally refering to the map, but now I couldn't see
any land features at all. I could blindly walk on the bearing but was
conscious that there was no way we could hope to find each other by
sight and the parting words of "I'll see you somewhere up there" were
not going to be adequate. I got to where I thought the ridge was but
couldn't be absolutely certain so I knew it was now time to get the
GPS gadget out. I was about 20 metres short of where I thought I had
been so used the GPS to get onto the "path" (such as it was) and edge
back along it to the point that I reckoned Phil was most likely to
pass. I still couldn't see much but had heard some voices and hoped
that they had been the two people who were just ahead of Phil when I
last saw him.
I was now wondering what decisions I might have to make. Could he
have passed by already? In which case there was no point me staying
where I was? How long should I wait? Thankfully I could just make
out a Big Grey Man about 30 feet away ..... and it answered to the
name of Phil!
We carried on to the summit of Carnedd Dafydd and took shelter from
the wind while we had something to eat. My hands were frozen; I
usually wear thin Meraklon gloves as I hate bulky gloves and find the
Meraklons fine as long as I keep moving. As soon as we stopped, my
hands turned to ice. I'll have to investigate whether over-mitts
would help during a stop (or would that stop me getting the lid off my
flask?) or if I need better gloves.
The aim was now to walk to Carnedd Llewelyn but the weather was
showing no sign of abating and we could only reasonably expect two
hours of good daylight, so we decided to head back down the slope
towards Ffynnon Lloer and retrace our steps back to the car which we
reached at about 4:15pm. The light was definitely poor and I would
not have liked to be in cloud/mist and having to scramble, so I think
we made the right decision.
Only one thing left to do - find somewhere that served coffee. We
tried the Bryn Tyrch and found that they were serving food as well as
drink. I like pubs that have Vegetarian *and Vegan* choices. Mmmmm,
grilled halloumi bruschetta.
I'm glad I made the effort to do some walking this weekend. It's so
easy to get dragged along with the "sit in front of the telly for a
fortnight" mentality. I could do with some new gloves and I think a
cold-weather stove might be handy as the MSR Pocket Rocket suffered a
bit until I wrapped my hands round the canister. So, a nice couple of
days and a shopping list ..... what more could a girl want?!
Judith
