Left
at Betws-y-Coed and soon we are in the main car park at Blaenau Ffestiniog (pictured above).
Got going
leisurely, and Dave failed to buy a water container, having failed to find his
old one in a recent extensive search of his possessions. He later realises that
this failure is probably due to the fact that he threw away the said item in
either Zermatt or Zurich.
Tea
in a noisy cafe, then we set out past a puffing billy down a pleasant path in
the wrong direction (by Afon Bowydd). Past a sewage works we turn right towards
Blaenau again.
Left at Pencefn Road and
along the side of a very low (drought comes to Wales) Tanygrisiau Reservoir.
Stop for brew by
disused quarry and Dave's new Epigas Propane mix rocket fuel works magically. He
even used some hot water to clean his teeth. (There is no record of who acted as porter for
Dave's water, given his lack of water bottle.)
A bumblebee tried
to drink my tea and died.
Tested self-timer
on camera and had second cups of tea.
Off to cross the
railway and John is nearly mown down as 'Blanche' chuffs out of the tunnel. I
failed to get a spectacular photo as I'd left the self-timer on!
We all admired Dave
Scruby's Pentax (DSP) and its fancy complicated zoom lens. He got it out for
the first time in public but missed a shot of the train.
Two hours took us
to the summit of Moelwyn Bach (2334') after some interesting crags and mild scrambling.
John objected to the grass.
The weather
throughout is hot and sunny. Rather humid.
Shaley (slatey)
descent to the col at Bwlch Stwlan and John goes to look for water. See the
first people of the day. These hills are very quiet.
Virtually windless,
but there is cloud on the higher peaks, so we admire today's choice of route.
On the way so far, the
very pretty yellow and red of Gorse and Bell Heather. Also lots of Ling and Tormentil,
plus Saxifrage (a small white one) and Milkwort. Carrion crows and Skylarks.
John arrives back
exhausted from fetching the water. We'd better use it before we find some more.
I wonder whether Dave needs to clean his teeth again.
The 600' climb up Moelwyn
Mawr (2527') was straightforward - path up
the crag then grassy slope to the trig point. Met some people on the top. Brewed
up but mine was destroyed by the vast number of small flies. Having also scalded
myself, I was still thirsty and John's supplies had been abortively used.
Cloud level now
almost down to us, so we hastened down before the anticipated rain.
Descended the
northern ridge and followed a path to the ruins of a quarry at Bwlch Cwmorthin.
Continued north
until an idyllic campsite presented itself at the waterfalls below Clogwyn
Brith - 1700 ft.
The clouds had
cleared and it was warm and still and sunny, with no flies. Magnificent
conditions. Relaxed around the site, at which we arrived around 5:30. Brewed and
cooked.
The sun went down. Meanwhile
about 20 people descended from Cnicht and proceeded to camp/bivvi down at the
ruined quarry.
Most clouds
disappeared and condensation started (mapcase, camera, etc). Still quite warm.
My tea fell over but I caught it! Time to
stop writing and concentrate on cooking - the crispy noodles need close
attention. Meanwhile some very tasty crispy croutons, delight of Phileas Fogg
and made in Consett*, were handed around. I finished my tea in the
tent and didn't witness the delicacies consumed by the others, as they didn't
enter the tent until around 7:30#. I suspect Dave had a sausage*²,
whilst John had soup and a Vesta*³ curry.
Just a brief note on how to get off Moelwyn
Bach in the mist. (The path is vaguely cairned.) Head SE from the pile of
stones for about 100 yards, then go down a slatey path on the gentle slope
between the two sets of crags marked to the east of the pile of stones.
All in bed by 8:30, probably also asleep by
then. Can still see the glow of the bivviers' camp fire in the ruined quarry below.
Lots of ladybirds in the campsite area.
Sunday
(diary started by John)
Insomnia strikes at 7:25. Banfield brews for
all (Ѷ as we mathematicians write - I can't find the correct symbol here!). Second
brew (coffee) at 8:45.
The mist is clearing nicely. The bivviers
below are milling around nicely. Scruby does not feel like a sausage (more like
a beef burger). Ascent of Cnicht is planned.
Start
for Cnicht at 9:45.
Above and below are views to Llyn Cwm-y-foel and the coast, from the ascent of Cnicht.
Reach top at 10:45. Pause for photos (Scruby and
Banfield), second breakfast (Mansell) etc.
On the way down, we reach something which would
be interesting when wet (a descent).
We reach the first pasture land (walls,
grass, wire, sheep, etc) at 11:45. At Croesor 12:15. Brew stop at 12:20. There
is not much wind today, but plenty of cloud around the ridge of Cnicht. Snowdon was visible from time to time, with the summit
above a stratum of cloud.
(continued
by Martin)
On
down pleasant lane with no traffic, to Tan-y-bwlch Station. Waited to
photograph Blanche again (successfully this time) then strolled through
pleasant woods etc past Dduallt to Dduallt Station.
Waited for Blanche's return from Porthmadog and
encountered first rain of the weekend. Brewed up in the rain. A delicious nectarious
cup before the return to civilization.
Got on crowded train and peered through
windows which were surprisingly free of steam. Our route across Tanygrisiau Reservoir
was now completely under water, the level having risen by 1 to 2 feet overnight
despite no rain!
Heavy traffic back to Manchester but John caught his 7 o'clock
train despite not managing to finish his diary entry.
* Phileas Fogg was set up by some friends of our walking pal Paul
Brunn (RIP), using grants available for new businesses in places where coal
mines had closed. It was a very successful venture. They eventually sold out to
United Biscuits.
# This was in the days before we all had individual one man tents (I
did have a Karrimor Marathon tent), and my Vango Mk4 got lots of use. It was
eventually replaced by a North Face VE25, another superb tent.
*² Campbells meat balls
*³ Vesta products were a staple backpacking main course in those days.
I favoured the chow mein with crispy noodles that needed a bit extra butter or
oil for cooking.
Here's our route - 25 km with 1400 metres ascent.
