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| LEADING HF GUESTS THROUGH ENTRANCE TO NANNAU ESTATE |
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| NATASHA AND HELEN SUMMIT CADER IDRIS |
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| JELLYFISH ON BEACH NEAR HARLECH |
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| HARLECH CENTRE |
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| RUBI WITH SNOWDON IN BACKGROUND |
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| OUR BUNKHOUSE AT BRYN TYRCH |
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| COMFORTABLE INSIDE |
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| HIMPSHIRE HIKERS MEMBER OUTSIDE CAFE SIABOD |
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| RESTING ON CLIMB OF MOEL SIABOD |
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| BY ADAM & EVE ON TRYFAN |
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| ON THE CANTELEVER BY GLYDER FACH |
The HF programme of walks continued with me leading a trek up to Rhobell Fawr on Wednesday, which Rubi joined. Thursday's weather was very wet and windy, and probably close to the limit of safety for taking guests on my allocated walk, which was to the summit of Cader Idris via the Minfordd path, and back down via the Pony track. Another leader was expected to continue further across the wind and rain-swept mountain, but opted to curtail his walk and join me for the quicker route down. Conditions were much improved at the lower altitude. Not far from our coach pick-up point, a couple of casually dressed ladies pushing children in push chairs enquired how long it would take them to get to the summit. We explained the realities to them. Some folk have no idea.
Rubi was undoubtedly pleased that she had opted for a lower level walk that day, but she made up for it the next day by by ascending Rhinog Fawr whilst I led a low level but picturesque walk from Llanbedr to Harlech.
Although the weather had been poor at times, we enjoyed our week and said farewell to the guests on Saturday morning with a degree of sadness.
Car loaded, we next headed for Capel Curig in northern Snowdonia, from where we would spend a further week leading walks, this time for members of the Hampshire Hikers meetup group. I had entitled the week SUMMER IN SNOWDONIA, and the improving weather certainly looked like it would justify the description for the eleven walkers who would be joining us.
We had booked a bunkhouse on Bryn Tyrch Farm in Capel Curig for the week, but before we got there we checked the parking situation for walks to Snowdon and Tryfan, two of our target summits for the week.
Actually getting into our bunkhouse turned out to be problematic as the farmer wasn't at home, but after some phone calls from Rubi, we ended up in room 5, which was probably the best room on the site. Whilst all the rooms were a bit basic, grubby and cobwebby, we did get a double bed, a sink, 13A sockets and electric lights. At £98 for the week we weren't complaining.
Richard, Lesley Ann, Vic, Dana, Oliya, Sean, Linda, Bob and Graham arrived on the same day, so we took them on a local walk and explained plans for the following day's walk, which would be to Moel Siabod.
Sunday's weather was glorious as we started our climb to the summit of Siabod. The heat of the sun was probably a little too much, since a couple of hours later Vic started to flag as we commenced a particulaly steep section of the walk. He had not brought sufficient water and was dehydrated. Concluding that it was better to continue to the top for the easy descent rather than turn back, Sean gallantly ran up the slope to refill Vic's water bottles from streams. By the time Vic got to the top he had largely recovered and the rest of the day went smoothly.
Supper was enjoyed in the Cafe Siabod close to our bunkhouse. Their excellently priced goulash with large chunks of bread was both tasty and abundant.
Tuesday's walk took us up to Tryfan and the Glyders. Lesley Ann looked after our rucksacks as the rest of us made our way to the summit of Tryfan. The scramble was easier than anticipated, and soon we were taking photographs by 'Adam and Eve', the two distinctive rocks on the top.
Many more photographs were taken when, a while later, we arrived at 'the cantilever' atop Glyder Fach. Posing on the, apparently, precariously balanced slab of rock looked extremely daring, but it was easy enough for everyone to have a go. Afterwards, we had a long and tough walk back to Capel Curig along the eastern ridge. We were out for 9 hours altogether, and had covered ten miles in that time.
Chris and Martin joined us in the evening in readiness for Tuesday's walk. In fact there were three walks available on that day. Richard and Lesley Ann offered a low level walk in the shadow of Crimpiau which was joined by Vic, Bob and Graham. Sean took Oliya, Dana, Rubi and Linda up to the summit of Snowdon from Pen y Pass. Finally, I took Chris and Martin to Snowdon summit via the Watkin path.
Everyone expressed satisfaction with their day as we met for supper at the Tyn y Coed hotel just along the road from Capel Curig.
Wednesday was a 'free' day for everyone. Rubi and I took to the road, initially towards Bangor, but then turning right along the coast road to Conwy. There, we spent the afternoon viewing Plas Mawr (a restored Tudor house) and Conwy Castle. We ate at the Stable Bar in Betws y Coed on the way back to the bunkhouse.
Thursday and Friday's weather was drizzly compared to our first three days of walking. On Thursday we enjoyed a river walk from Capel Curig to Betws y Coed via Swallow Falls, returning along the other side of the river. Friday involved a very windy six mile circuit up to Llyn Cowlyd and back, joined by Vic, Bob and Rubi, everyone else having gone home by now.
Our SUMMER IN SNOWDONIA TRIP had been a success and, after a final meal with Vic in the Cafe Siabod, we readied ourselves to leave the bunkhouse in the morning.