Snowdon

ANother bad drive up on Friday night -- left at 6, got to Bangor travelodge after 11, with the worst of the traffic around Coventry and Birmingham.

Saturday morning cloudy and raining but forecast was better for later in day, so off to a late start. Park-and-ride around 9:30, eventually left Pen-y-pass car park around 10:30. Totally in mist, but at least not cold nor raining.

40 minutes up crowded PYG track to the split off on right for Crib Goch. A few large groups but not too bad after that. Made good progress, although completely in cloud all the way. Some queuing to go along the ridge. Still always a bit surprised at how scary it really is.

Down the other side and then made an effort to stick to the central ridge heading up to Garnedd Ugain. Made the top this time (although Michael thinks we did manage it before but only by back-tracking). Still in cloud but feeling better.

Short hop down the other side and then onto the main path and more crowds. Cafe open at the top now ... quite a nice building with massive panorame windows (when there's a view) but rather messy inside due to mass of people snacking and littering. Queues too long to get a hot drink.

At the top around 4pm and it suddenly cleared, quite spectacularly with views all around and lumps of cloud below.

Started back down usual way but then stayed high on PYG track, as we left a couple of large school parties to the Miners track.

Back to car park by 6:15, straight onto a bus and back to park-and-ride.

Camp site in Capel Curing rather crowded although still managed a pitch on the fence which somehow seems preferable. £10 for the night for car, one tent and the two of us. Burnt sausages and beans for tea. Sunday we drove to Llyn Ogwen and walked up to the higher lake, round and back again ...a nice 2 - 3 hour trip in lovelly weather - got a little sunburnt in fact. Then to Mark's new house for a quick visit, as they've finally moved in, or at least are sleeping int he house. Back home by 10 ...quite a trip.

Brecons

Park at car park toward end of dead end left turn of Talybont road (many drive further up the road and park on the side).

Left around 10am. Long walk up the roman road to the col below Fan Y Big, about 1 hour.

Straight up Cribyn (795), down and up to Pen Y Fan (886), and down and up again to Corn Du (873). As ever, misty on top with no view at all!



Finally along the ridge heading south, and down at the cairn to cross over the old resevoirs dam and back to the car park.

About 4.5 hours round trip, maybe 12km.

---

Next day we parked further along Talybont road (having got the wrong car park to start with). From there straight up to the plateau and keeping to the ridge heading north east. Then back round to Fan Y Big, and now down the roman road and back round a bit of the Taff Trail to the car pack. A bit less than 4 hours round trip -- about 11km again but only one steep climb.

This picture (taken Sunday), shows ridge leading to Fan Y Big in foreground, Cribyn behind on the right, Pen Y Fan centre, and then Corn Du and the ridge going off to the right.

The Glyder's

Left from Ogwen car park around 11am. Up easy path to lake and then up "Devil's Kitchen" to the high plateau. Plenty of snow patches still around and the small lake was frozen over. Stiff climb from there to summit of Glyder Fawr (999m), by 1pm.

Top of Glyder Fawr, with view to Glyder Fach to the right and Tryfan behind that to the left.




About another hour to Glyder Fach (994m) and the balancing stone. Down to the col between it and Tryfan tough going - very steep over loose rocks. Then from there back to car park by about 5pm.