Walk 5 - Snowdon (Watkin Path)

Date: 18-03-2012

Today I decided on a jaunt to Snowdon on the Watkin path. There had been some snow the previous day and patches were still left above around 800m but it was more of a slush than anything else. Still out of 5 walks this year 3 had been in the snow :)

I left the carpark at Bathenia (SH628506). The Watkin path starts on the opposite side of the road just over the bridge and initially winds up through the forrest before running next to the waterfall. Not far after the waterfall there is a split in the path, I stayed right and headed up towards the Gladstone rock and past the standing slates which are the graves of the miners who used to work on the mountain. As you follow the path round into Cwm Tregalan you get fantastic views up towards Snowdons South Face which is somewhat reminicent of Everest.

After you climb upto Bwlch Ciliau you veer left on the path towards snowdon this is where the going gets slihtly tougher as the ground is a bit slippy underfoot and often slides. It is however fairly short lived and some good route selection will easily see you through it. Though remember this is an accident blackspot!

After you traverse across the south face you meet the main path to the summit that has come up from Bwlch Main and the Rhyd Ddu path, from here you are only around 5 minuites from the summit which today as it often is was very busy.

The Path just after the forrest with the waterfall in the centre.

Looking back downstream from the top of the falls.

The Gladstone Rock. 

the South Face of Snowdon with the summit shrouded in cloud.

Looking back toward Yr Aran.

 

Y lliwedd from the South Face.

Looking up toward the Summit which is just out of view.

The typically over-crowded summit.

All in all this was an enjoyable walk if a bit long spent wandering along a path on my lonesome. I was blessed with generally good weather even got abit of sunburn. 

Walk 4 - Pen yr Heldi du

Date: 10-03-2012

Today I had planned on a walk up from the Ogwyn vally up to Ffynnon Llugwy reservoir before going up the zig zags and making our way over Craig yr Ysfa to Carnedd Llelwyn however due to going with my younger brother who is convienently scared of hights I had to change my plan and instead headed onto Pen yr Helgi du. It was a fairly windy day with alot of cloud cover. I did not manage to get any photos for this walk but will add any which my brother took at a later date.

Walk 3 - Glyders

Date : 05-03-2012

Well after yet another month of only having views of the outdoors i managed to get out into Snowdonia again for my third walk of the year, luckily enough it happened to be the day after snow was depositted across the park. 

At about 9:15 Daz and myself set out from Ogwyn car park and headed up into Cwm Idwal, The plan for the day was to head up to the Devils Kitchen then ascend onto the Glyders for the day before descending down the miners track at the far side of Tryfan. the walk talk a total of aproximitly 6 hours.

The snow was luckily still very soft and easy to walk on without the need for crampons, its depth varied from 3-18 inches depending on how shaded it was from the wind and the drift depth. It made for a great walk it was just a shame visability was so poor and normally the next cairn along was just visible.

Looking back down on Llyn Idwal from the bottom of the Devils Kitchen

Looking Up the actual Devils kitchen the route veers off to the left.

Getting into the snow around half way up the Devils Kitchen.

Looking Back down the Devils Kitchen from the top towards a cloud shrouded Pen yr Ole Wen

Llyn y Cwn on the climb up to Glyder Fawr.

Just a nice little ice formation on some of the rocks near Glyder Fawr.

Looking up towards the top of Glyder Fawr

The Top of Glyder Fawr.

Monentary gad in the clouds looking down towards Pen-y-pass.

Castell y Gwynt (Castle of the Winds) near Glyder Fach

More rock formations near to Glyder Fach.

The Famed Cantilever near the top of Glyder Fach

Daz standing on the Cantilever.

Myself on the Cantilever.

The view down from the top of Glyder Fach.

A fleeting glance at our decent route.

Views along the Glyder ridge toward Capel Curig.

Tryfan Raising its head with The Carneddau behind.

Nearing Llyn Caseg Fraith and the miners track finally below the clouds again

Lookind Down toward Bwlch Tryfan with Tryfan and the Carneddau beyond.

Decending down the top of the miners track in these conditions was "Interesting"

Looking up at Bristly Ridge from Bwlch Tryfan.

Looking over towards Foel Goch and Mynedd Prefydd with Elidir Fawr just in View behimd with possibly the best visibility of the day from Bwlch Tryfan.

Well, this was a most enjoyable walk in slightly unexpected conditions and i hope to get out again soon. I hop you have enjoyed reading and all of the pictures were courtesy of Daz's camera after mine died.