Meet Report: 28-30 January 2022.

Ten members and prospective members assembled at Beudy Mawr on Friday evening. After three weeks of dry, calm and often sunny weather, the various forecasts accessed by the IT literate encompassed rain all day to sunshine all day but they all warned of very strong winds. By midnight Harvey, in his van, was being rocked to sleep by the violent gusts tearing up the valley.

Saturday dawned dry but very windy. Everyone set off west down the valley with the intention of returning downwind at a higher level. Harvey walked to Llanberis then up to Clogwyn d’ur Arddu on Snowdon. The Smiths traversed the quarries to Deiniolen then up to Llyn Marchlyn Mawr where, on the utterly incorrect advice of the local member they struggled round the wrong side of the Llyn to reach the wall leading up to Mynydd Perfedd.

The remaining six whiled away the brief hour of light rain late morning by diverting to inspect the impressive start to the Snakes and Ladders route in the quarry hole of California. They then climbed to the top of the Quarries onto Elidir Fach where a Welsh flag planted there was being slowly shredded by the wind. The last few yards onto the summit of Elidir Fawr over boulders was rather tricky in the gusts.

Both parties separately continued along the crest of the Glyderau to Y Garn, very gusty again at the top, then down to Llyn y Cwn and back to the hut via Cwm Cneifio, circuits of around 20km.

The President, John Brown, arrived about midday and walked up Cwm Cneifio to the top of the Devil’s Kitchen, returning by the same route.

Two wood burners soon warmed the hut for the usual convivial Saturday evening dinner and conversation. The fresh air of the day soon told and no one stayed up late.

On Sunday some had to leave but the Smiths parked behind Joe Brown’s shop in Capel Curig, walked down the river to Pont Cyfing then up the Daer Ddu Ridge of Moel Siabod, sweeping up a couple of clueless Liverpool lads and conducting them to the top. John and Tim walked a similar route separately but no one encountered any of the others.

The lack of heavy rain was a bonus but the wind and non existent snow conditions seem to be regular features of this meet nowadays. Maybe next year!

Thanks to the Rucksack Club for the use of Beudy Mawr.

Attending:

John Brown, Harvey Lomas, Chris Hilton, Tim Josephy, Michael Smith, Conrad Tetley, Beverley Eastwood (PM), Fiona Booker-Smith, Dave Booker-Smith, Paul Magson (PM), Tamsin Spain (PM)