It had been almost 10 months since I last put on my mountain boots and swung the backpack over my shoulder, it's fair to say that was too long. Since September I've been watching the weather report waiting to hear the panic and alarm that comes with the first snow of the season. I'm sure motorists were sat in their cars enjoying the mild autumn but for me it was massively frustrating. Where was the snow?
Since last March I had decided that if I really want to take mountaineering to greater adventures abroad I needed to be much much fitter. After 10 months I am getting there but still have a way to go. I've been looking forward to testing out the new body in the hills.
After tales of last season Sam and I managed to recruit some more members ready to gear up and join our mountaineering adventures, so as the snow began to finally fall Sam, Jonny, Jim, Rob and I booked up some accommodation and headed over to Snowdonia.
Left to Right: Jonny, Jim, Paul, Rob (Sam taking photo!)
Still concerned there wouldn't be enough snow to make this a true winter expedition, I drove Jonny and Sam down to Snowdonia thinking at least it would be an opportunity to get away from it all. As we got closer we were excited to see snow covered mountain tops which gave us all a boost after the long car journey.
On Saturday morning we set out a 8.30am planning to take a 13km custom route up Snowdon taking on part of the Snowdon Horseshoe, the Miners Path and the Pyg Track. The route had us walking towards what consistently looked like a vertical ascent up on to the Y Lliwedd ridge. When we got there it was pretty much that, but as usual by breaking it down into small manageable sections, we soon made our own way up onto the ridge.
The ridge was much harder going than we had anticipated. There were no paths and the ground was rocky and the weather quickly deteriorated into a hail storm. A baptism of icey fire for our new recruits although none seemed phased at all. With ski goggles on and hoods up we pushed on through.
After some long and hard terrain we ate a load of what was now completely frozen food and made our final ascent to the summit. Jim remarked there had been times when what kept him going was the fact that turning round and going back the way we came was pretty unthinkable. He was right, the ridge was spectacular but the cloud cover made it a lonely and desolate place, not somewhere you want to be trying to descend.
We lasted about 20 minutes on the summit before the cold began to drive us down.
Paul and Sam
Jim & Jonny
Rob
The way down required the use of our crampons to get down the zig-zag of the pyg track but then a relatively easy stroll back to civilisation via the Miners Path. When we looked over at the face we had ascended and the ridge we had walked it was somewhat hard to comprehend.
So another winter adventure under our belts and preparing for the Cairngorms trip in January. I'm pleased to be steadily building the skills and experience which will ultimately enable more epic adventures in other places round the world. The lure of the worlds most serious mountains rarely leaves the back of my mind. Here's to working towards that dream!
Snowdonia 2011 Video
