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Spring 1994 - Snowdonia (Capel Curig, Capel Curig, Llanberis, Llanberis)
This year's spring walk was based at Capel Curig and LLanberis youth hostels, those participating were as follows Andy Capp, Paul Keech, Dick Grundy, Roland Carr, Jack Relph, Norman Hart, Pat Jennings, Colin Wood, Graham Busch and John Stopani. We all met at Dicks house around 08:30 with the exception of Paul and John, who worked the morning and met us there, to arrive for lunch at Cobdens Hotel Capel Curig about 12:30. The journey up was quite uneventful but a stop had to be made for Jack and Jill (Norman) to have a brew and Roland to buy another knee support, ask Roland about the fitting service.
Thursday 19th May
A gentle stroll was planned over lunch to leave from opposite the hotel along a river then off to a Quarry (disused) and on up to MOEL SIABOD 872 meters then back down to the hotel. We soon had our usual splitting of groups Jack and Jill stayed on the path to the quarry, the rest of us took a path up to the Moel Siabod. Andy and Graham surged on ahead, Colin slightly behind them Dick, Pat, Roland bringing up the rear.
At around 650 meters Dick declined to carry on up as his lunch was fighting his tonsils, at this point Pat and Roland decided (it did not take a lot) to accompany Dick traversing the hill ! To join the path back to the cars. Colin continued up after Andy and Graham. As Pat, Roland and Dick got back to the hotel they met Jack and Jill who then went of to find a tea shop, as it was only up the road they came back to tell us. Leaving a note on Andy's car for the others we strolled of for a cuppa before the hostel opened.After settling in at the hostel evening refreshments were taken at the TAN Y BWLCH hotel both the beer and food were fine, but the food prices were hotter than the food!
It had been a fine sunny day excellent all round so nice in fact that Colin fell asleep despite all our chatting and the noise in the hotel after only 3 pints.
This morning when all were assembling Bill Tyler (an ex walker) was seen sleepwalking to Leagrave station on his way to work, he was woken up by several blasts of the horn and a chorus of "we're going walking we're going walking you're not you're not!". Bill was not impressed he grudgingly gave us a wave.
Y Braich, near Llyn Ogwen.
Friday 20th May
As usual there were two groups Andy, Paul and Graham in one the rest in the other.
Group 1 route was as follows: - along the A5 approx. 1 mile, turn off on to footpath up to Pen Llithrig Y Wrach (799 meters), along Bwlch Y Tri Marchog to Pen Yr Helgi Du (833 meters). Then via Craig yr Ysfa to Carnedd Llewelyn (1064 meters) -Carnedd Dafydd (1044 meters) Pen yr Ole Wen (978 meters) from there it was all down hill to Phaeadr Ogwen (TEA SHOP) then around Llyn Ogwen and along the valley floor back to the hostel at Capel Curig.
Group 2 route was as follows: - along valley floor path to Helyg then across A5 and up to Pen yr Helgi Du as far as the summit then back down to the valley path via an aqueduct to Llyn Ogwen - A5 to Phaeadr Ogwen for Tea-break - then around the other side of Llyn Ogwen back to the valley path and on to the hostel.
Group 2 had intended to take the same route as group 1 from Pen yr Helgi Du to Ogwen but as the cloud level was down to below 600 meters and the visibility only 20 meters also the path was only fit for goats they returned down to a level they could see in.
As the weather goes it did not rain but with the cloud so low it was crap. In the cloud it was very cold, coats-hats-gloves and RADAR was needed (Roland can still map read!), also the wind was up 60 mph you could lay on it. The other group had walked for 3hrs in the clouds trusting to luck and compass. The descent from Pen yr Ole Wen was a 2
In 1 only for mountain goats, therefore group 1 is now known as the goats (they smell as well).
Colin again this time he has a cold coming too tired to shower after the easy walk. As the food is not cheap we all knocked up quick snacks then down to the pub, during the night we thought a goat was among us but it was Colin he was also coughing in his trousers.
Llanberis Youth Hostel.
Saturday 21st May
Again the weather was crap low cloud but fine. It was planned to go over the Glyders to Llanberis but this was cancelled. Paul and Graham walked up to Gelli on to Cefn y Capel then on to Y Foel Goch then down to Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel then along the road to Llan beris.
Andy, Pat and John took the cars to Llanberis and got the bus back to the Pen-y-Gwryd hotel. The rest walked by road from Capel Curig to Llanberis. Dick, Roland and Colin arrived at the Hotel at 11:00 Jack and Jill stopped for a brew and got there around 11:30. The hotel was opened for elevenses at 11:00 so we had to try one! Jack and Jill stopped for lunch Paul and Graham arrived after the rest had left. The rest pushed on to Nant Peris the Tanyol Arms for lunch. Pat, Andy and John stayed in the pub as their glasses had holes in them, Dick, Colin and Roland went on to Llanberis to get food for breakfast and find another pub (there are no pubs in Wales only hotels). After the pub Roland almost made it past the chippy but they were good!
A cheap nights food tonight fish and chips followed by beer.
Todays magic moment Dick had one fart to many on the way to the hostel resulting in some washing.
Tea up near Snowdon summit.
Sunday 22nd May
Again low cloud around 700 meters but still fine.
Group 1 (the Goats) Andy, Graham and Paul left the hostel at 09:42 and walked via Foel Goch to Rhyd-Ddu for lunch 12:00. The pub had 5 beers, coalfire and good food. They left pub at 13:10 went up the Rhyd-Ddu path to the summit of Snowdon 14:50 and then down the Llan-beris path to base (cafe at station 16:30).
Group 2 Pat, Dick, Norman, Jack, John, Colin and Roland all went for an easy start up in Pat and Johns car to the Pen-y-Pass car park. We all left the car park (10:10) taking the PYG track up to the summit of Snowdon (12:42). After hanging around for half an hour waiting in vain for the cloud to clear we went down via the Llanberis Path. Norman and Jack stopped for a brew shortly after leaving the summit the rest of us stood and watched, they were going to use a railways hut but it smelt more like a toilet. Roland helped to lighten Jacks pack by eating all his goodies. We continued on down the path upon reaching the PYG John left us to go back to his car as he was going home. The rest of us continued on down the path Colin and Dick walked all the way the others went for a train ride, having arranged to meet in the station cafe.
Dick and Colin got down about 15:40 and walked to the waterfall a sign said 250 yds but they had not realized it meant straight up nice view though, then back to the cafe for cake and tea. Roland and the rest did not make the cafe for tea they nearly didn't get a ride on the train as it only stopped to change the points at Hebron station. After a discussion on the economics of running a railway line (you take money and you make a profit) they were let on.
Footnotes for the day Jack went slightly astray on the zigzag section of the PYG track what with all the low cloud and an "old ones" loss of sight it was only to be expected. He tried to join another party but they were fully booked.
HEADLINE we now have a new Biggsy and it's NORMAN, the secret of his staying power was a FLASK but it not contain tea or coffee. As long as he doesn't forget his flask he can pass on the pub. Although Norman has the flask it has been noticed that Jack is the one with the shakes. Is there some strange relationship that has not been revealed?
As we were getting ready to go out the cloud cleared from the top of Snowdon raising hopes for Monday.
Capel Curig Youth Hostel.
Monday 23rd May
All hopes from Sunday were dashed the cloud had returned and rain came as the day wore on.We drove up to Pen-y-Pass anyway; Paul came with us, as he would take half the day to get to the station and even longer to get home. We walked along the Miners trail Colin, Jack and Norman stopping at the old mine workings and going back, Dick and Pat stopped at the point where the miners track goes up sharply to the Pyg track (reached cloud base) and returned back along the miners trail. The others continued up to the Pyg track then down to the car park via the Pyg track. After we were all rejoined we went on to the Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel for lunch probably the best value meal of the weekend. After we were all fed and watered in the cars and on to home a quick stop was made on the motorway to drain off excess fluids and top up from leaking cups with tea and coffee.
Climbers bar, Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel.
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