Meet Report: 24-26 February 2017.

The Welsh winter meet has a reputation for foul weather and this weekend based at the Oread MC’s Tan-y-Wyddfa hut in Rhyd-Ddu did nothing to break with tradition. Friday had started promisingly and some members managed to get a short afternoon walk before the inevitable deterioration began. Luckily the pub is close by and so people could get there for an evening meal (London prices but apparently not matching standards) without getting too wet.

Saturday dawned with low grey clouds, gale force winds and rain. One member who had camped in the garden reported rainfall of Biblical proportions during the night and the ground was sodden. No one even considered going onto the fells; indeed for the first time in the writers’ recollection the Snowdon car park was empty on a Saturday morning. Most people, in several groups, took the newly constructed bridleway to Beddgelert as a starter. The second contingent soon met the first coming back. They had been confused by the broad track, new signposts and lilac topped markers and preferred to use the GPS on which the mapping of course wasn’t up to date. Having been put right, better progress was made and in due course a sodden party arrived in Beddgelert. They then went down the Aberglaslyn Gorge, having to scramble round one bluff where the path was flooded. The river was in spectacular spate and the truth of the axiom that there is always someone sillier than yourself was proved by the sight of a kayaker carrying his boat back up the road to have another ride down. Looking at the river it was difficult to see how anyone could live in there.

The return to Beddgelert was made via Cwm Bychan where the path was a considerable stream all the way. Even within a few yards of the col the stream still flowed strongly and on the descent it was more akin to becking.

The lure of a pub showing the Wales/Scotland rugby match ensured a swift pace along the valley and they were in time to see Wales soundly beaten.

One other party turned back at the flooded section of the Gorge and returned to the hut through Beddgelert Forest. What should have been an easy route turned into something of an epic with detours to avoid impassable torrents and they ended up being the last back.

Saturday evening was the usual convivial gathering and few felt the need to stir from the cosy lounge at Tan y Wyddfa. Mick Borroff circulated a proposal for a trip to the Western Atlas mountains of Morocco, an area the Club visited some years ago.

When Sunday dawned not much better than the previous day, those with a long way to go soon departed. There were some stalwarts; two got a lift to Beddgelert and walked back, they too seemed confused by the excellent signage and ended up halfway up Moel Hebog. Another pair set off to go up Cwm Llan to the Gladstone Rock to view the waterfalls. A final pair made it to the summit of Mynydd Mawr where they spent an estimated 30 seconds before running for shelter.

You could say the meet was a washout but members took it all in good spirits and everyone enjoyed the company and chat. To add insult to injury one local member can confirm that Monday was a lovely spring day, thus bookending the meet.

Attending:

Mick Borroff (President), Richard Taylor, Roger Horn, Arthur Salmon, Frank Wilkinson, Richard Josephy, Nick Welch, Tim Josephy, Harvey Lomas, Paul Dover, Richard Dover, Richard Gowing, John Schofield. John Brown, Iain Gilmour, Alan Clare and David Hick.