Ty Powdwr - Wild Swim meet

Present: Michelle Harvie, Mark Garrod , Midge Castick, Dave Wylie, Rob Allen , Christine Beeston, Neil Boynton, Dave Shotton, Ding, Lester Payne, Sabina Cosulich, Emma ?, Sheena Hendrie, Kate Harvey, Jim Symon, Cathy Gordon. *Gareth gets half a tick by soaking his ankle a bowl of water in the hut.

The 9.00 am departure was delayed slightly on account of, a very heavy rain shower, four wild swimmers turning up after 9.00 am, and the meet leader finishing her breakfast by having another cup of coffee.

The team of 16 set off at 9.30 ish. I am not used to such a great turn out and managed to lose half of the party by the time we got to the first bend of the track , as the advance party headed off down through the woods towards Llanberis. Thank fully we were reunited in Llanberis and set off up to Llyn Ffynnon y gwas (440 m) which translates into English as “the lake of the servant’s spring”. We arrived slightly wet and cold having being hit by three heavy down pours. Mark decided it was time to add some layers to keep warm whilst 10 swimmers stripped off and dived in ; Sheena, Midge, Michelle, Dave Wylie, Dave Shotton, Rob, Christine, Neil , Ding and Kate. This was the warmest dip of the day a balmy 15 ⁰C. Our Italian contingent ate some chocolate and watched in bemusement wondering how people could wilfully get in water which was less than 30 ⁰C.

We continued upwards to a rarely visited  Cwm Clogwyn. Mark was so enthusiastic he headed up to the highest Llyn,  Llyn Nadroedd whilst the main party headed towards the beautiful Llyn Glas ( blue lake) ( 670 m) which was certainly blue and a bracing 12 ⁰C. Even the combined body heat of 8 wild swimmers (Sheena, Midge, Michelle, Dave Shotton, Christine, Neil , Cathy , Ding and Kate did little to warm this up. The team headed back over the col and up to Llyn Du Arddu under Clogwyn (725 m, 13⁰C) . The sun had now come out which lured Mark in for a dip; in fact he was in and out before most of us arrived . Mark was followed in by 9 other swimmers ; Sheena, Midge, Michelle,  Dave Shotton, Rob, Christine, Neil , Ding and Cathy.

Sheena got her third tick of the day which was very impressive for her first wild swim. However, she was brought up spending summer holidays on the west coast of Scotland. Great to see Neil enjoying the remote areas of Snowdonia, on his first trip to the area.  We certainly got away from the crowds which is quite an achievement on an August bank holiday. Glad to so many enjoying the water and to see Dave Wylie having his annual dip. Mark Ashley was sadly missed as he was working. Somehow Jim and Lester also resisted swimming, but it was great to have their company for the day.

We finally joined the crowds on the Snowdown path and had tea and cake at the half way house. Then made our way back to the hut having saved some energy for Colin’s fantastic surprise 60th birthday party and disco.

Thank s for all for your company and sense of adventure.  Hopefully we will get more sunshine next year, but I think we always say that.

 

Michelle Harvie