KMC / FRCC Joint meet - Welsh 3’s - July 2016

Walkers: Andy Stratford, Jim Symon, Bob Kelly, Ash Kelly, Stuart Hurworth, James Meakin, James Hall, Brian Davies, Joanne Davies.

Support team: Philippa Maye

This was an attempt on the KMC version of the Welsh 3’s which follows a Ty Powdwr – Ty Powdwr circular route rather than the traditional end-to-end – it involves an extra ten miles or so plus having to ascend and descend into both Ogwen and Llanberis valleys twice….

More folk had booked on this – at one stage there were fourteen, but the forecast for the weekend was poor. Ok, it was bad. Actually, revise that – it was utterly appalling. One particular phrase from the MWIS forecast would come back to haunt us: ‘’the wind will make any mobility tortuous’’.

Saturday

The nine left at 06.40am in light drizzle and relatively light winds, steadily increasing as we climbed to summit 1: Elidir Fawr (924m). Poor visibility led us up early to the minor summit of Foel Goch before a short drop to the col and the climb up Y Garn (947m). The nine were all together, pace evenly matched as we descended the NW shoulder on steep scree and then path direct to Ogwen Cottage. Coffee was bought, the facilities visited, pies were consumed, loins were girded ahead of the big ascent of the day: the NW nose of Pen-yr Ole Wen (978m). As the spread out party reached the summit, most of the party headed off the wrong way down the SE ridge. Expert presidential navigation soon righted the situation and we all re-united on the minor summit of Carnedd Fach. Unusually and unexpectedly Kelly senior was not leading from the front – Bob announced that he was feeling quite unwell and decided to head down with Ash after summit No4 - Carnedd Dafydd (1044m). The remainder of the party made good progress in strengthening wind along Bwlch Cyfryw-Drum as the cloud gradually cleared. Our hopes of improving weather briefly lifted as we contoured along the traversing path below the SE slopes of Carnedd Llewelyn towards Yr Elen. Not far along this path, the wind seemed to dramatically strengthen. By the time we reached the Yr Elen col, James Hall has his rucsac cover blown off and two members of the party were knocked over by the wind – the rest of us struggled to stay upright. At Yr Elen summit No 5 (962m) the wind was so strong that standing was barely tenable. We backtracked quickly to the col and fought our way up the easterly edge to the Carnedd Llewelyn lower plateau, at one point at least four of us were on hands and knees against the wind! We were intending to head out North to Foel Grach, Garnedd Gewalian and Foel Fras. When I had recced this alone a few weeks earlier, my return time from Foel Fras to Glan Dena was about 3.5 hrs in poor visibility but little wind. It was now 2.45 pm. Although we would have the wind at our back all the way out to Foel Fras (1 ½ hrs maybe if we really legged it), fighting the wind coming back would be seriously difficult – especially if the cloud came back and the rain re-started. We reluctantly decided to call it a day.

On Carnedd Llewelyn, summit no 6 (1044m), unsurprisingly we were blown around like bobbins in the wind so didn’t stop long, heading back down and joining the outward track along Bwlch Cryfrw Drum. As we descended the easy grass slopes of Rhos Bodesi towards Bryn Mawr the wind increased again and driving rain returned. Arriving back at Glan Dena we expected to find Philippa, Bob and Ash but the hut was devoid of life save signs of cooking – there was none of the Kelly pairs gear. We filled the drying room and took stock. Stuart was also poorly, a cold having been made worse by the conditions. James Hall had two raw blisters and terrible knee pain and Brian had chafing in a particular part of the anatomy which was clearly going to make walking anywhere very unpleasant!

Philippa returned having dropped Bob and Ash at Ty Powdwr so Bob could return to recuperate. Dinner was a massive, delicious veggie chilli, baked spuds and one of Philppa’s specialities; homemade treacle sponge and custard.

I picked up the MWIS forecast for the next day and it was poor but marginally better than the day we had just experienced. We unanimously decided on a shorter day two!

Sunday

From nine to seven to five, Only Jim, Andy, Joanne, James M and Stuart left Glan Dena at 9am for the walk back to Ty Powdwr. As we started the scramble up Tryfan, Stuart decided he was feeling to rough so turned back for Glan Dena. However he missed the others and with no mobile (wet and shorted out from yesterdays soaking) and no cash, ended up walking all the way back on his own via Y Garn and Elidir Fawr!! The rest of us made good progress on Tryfan N Ridge with Jim forging ahead, eventually we all met at Adam and Eve. The wind had eased a little so we decided on the Bristly ridge option to Glyder Fawr. Joanne did brilliantly following the three climbers who, despite the wet, didn’t always choose the easiest lines. We made swift progress across the top collecting  a party of youngsters near Castell-y-Gwynt – they were about to descend mistakenly to Pen-y-pass instead of Ogwen! (Sadly – no map, no compass and very inadequate clothing). We soon made Llyn –y-Cwm then down the lovely Afon las path to Gwastadnant, Nant Peris and an easy climb up the zig zags, the quarries and the very welcome sight of Ty Powdwr.

Once again we were well fed by Philippa at Ty Powdwr. It was a tough but very enjoyable couple of days with brilliant company and great craic. From a personal point of view this was my second failed attempt – there WILL be a return match!!

Stats for the two days:

Day One Six summits, 32km (20 miles) 2000m ascent and descent

Day Two Three summits 21 km (13 miles) 1200m ascent and descent.

**** STOP PRESS: THIS MEET IS NOW FULL PENDING CONFIRMATION AND PAYMENT FROM THOSE WHO HAVE DECLARED AN INTEREST. I AM TAKING NAMES FOR A RESERVE LIST****

Some KMC members have done this as a fell run in a single (long) day – the current club record is 17 ½ hours which included stopping at the Royal Vic on the way back to Ty Powdwr for a cheeky pint!

The last time the two day version was attempted as a group was in 2012, we carried all food and bivvy gear and stayed at the reservoir overnight. This version should be marginally easier as catering will be provided by the meet leader at Glan Dena (MAM) hut at the foot of Tryfan for both dinner on Saturday night and breakfast on Sunday morning.

Total distance over both days on the recommended route below is approximately 37 miles with just less than 5000 metres of ascent/descent. Perfect Alpine training.

Day 1

An early start at Ty Powdwr GR 5856809 then through the slate quarries and up to Elidir Fawr  and round the ridge to Y Garn - descent via the NE Spur of Y garn to Llyn Idwal & Ogwen Cottage. Straight up the nose of Pen yr Ole Wen then along the ridge to  Carnedd Dafydd out on the spur to Yr Elen – Carnedd Llywelyn - Foel Grach -Carnedd Uchaf – Foel Fras and retracing outward route via Bwlch Cyfryw-drum heading SW down easy slopes towards Ffynon Lloer then down the well engineered path direct to the back of the MAM hut.

Day 2

Along Heather Terrace to Tryfan South Col and ascend Tryfan via the south ridge OR alternately straight up the North Ridge. After this following Bristly Ridge (or the easier path) to Glyder Fach then passing Castell Y Gwynt to  Glyder Fawr and picking a path to Pen-Y-Pass. Briefly along the Pyg track to Bwlch Y Moch then onto Crib Goch then up onto Crig Y Dysgol and Carnedd Ugain summit and easily to Snowdon summit. With all 3000’s now done it’s a long descent to Llanberis then a steep finish up through Padarn country park to Ty Powdwr.

Initially places are only available to KMC or FRCC  - members/associate members.