Climbing at The Boardroom

Indoor climbing today! At 'The Boardroom' - a relatively new indoor climbing wall near Queensferry and totally brilliant. I was working with a group of students, and we had a pretty full on day teaching knots and rope work, climbing multiple routes, doing fitness training and getting a good bit of bouldering in as well.

It's a well laid out wall, with a nice laid back vibe. Totally recommend it. Thanks guys...

The indoor climbing arena

Let's climb...

Ropes & Ladders & Rafts

It all felt a bit dark to be getting up early this morning, but it was well worth it! Firstly, there was a major light show going on up in the sky above the mountains. Secondly, I stopped to take the photo below, as there was a huge buzzard just sitting on the fence post by the side of the road. You'll have to take my word for it as it was too dark to pick it out. Then thirdly, as I drove a little further down the road, an Owl swooped past! By the time I got to Llandudno, there was also a heart warming sunrise in progress. A quality start, which built into a sunny day, with mist in the valleys and mountain tops above the clouds.

Ogwen Morning - there's a huge buzzard in the shadows!

First Up!

Cloud Inversions

Unfortunately, instead of roaming the hill tops in the sunshine, I was working at a high ropes course called Ropes and Ladders today. No complaints though - it was great fun and has been ages since I'd been there.

Don't look down!

Wobbly Steps!

Clare, on the other hand had spent the day rafting with friends on the River Dee in Llangollen, which looked like a real hoot! - I still managed to with driving over to meet them all for dinner though...

Holding on tight at Horseshoe Falls on the River Dee

Clouds & Evening Slate Climbing

There's been an amazing blanket of cloud across the Carneddau mountains today. I took a walk this morning along the track from The Cottage to get a better view before breakfast. There's an easterly wind blowing and it felt super fresh - especially having come straight of of bed!

Early morning duvet over the mountains

Carneddau Cloud Layer

Afternoon and the cloud layer remains!

Clare and I took an afternoon trip to the Llanberis Slate Quarries with the intention of doing a few routes. Our original plan had been to climb near Colwyn Bay, but the coast was enveloped in thick mist all day. By the time we'd actually got to the quarry, the sun was all but gone and although the sunset was spectacular an arctic gale had begun blowing! We retreated to a lower level which was a bit more sheltered and got a route in as the darkness descended (although Clare finished off climbing by headtorch!)... 

Sunset from Skyline - Llanberis Slate Quarry

Headtorch climbing when bad light stops play!

Home time...

Climbing on Craig Aderyn - Jacob's Media HS (4a)

Another beautiful day in the National Park here in Snowdonia, although the temperatures have certainly started to drop. Took a walk up the Miners Track on the flanks of Snowdon this morning to climb on a little crag called Craig Aderyn. Despite being so close to such a well frequented footpath, it's really tucked away and I imagine that it rarely sees many ascents. To get there you have to leave the main path, duck under the big pipeline that comes down from the higher lake, traverse around a bit of boggy ground and then soon enough you'll find yourself to find in a secluded little valley; which is home to a nice little slab of rock.

Rays of morning sunlight over Lliwedd

Llyn Teyrn Reflections

Good Morning Wales!

The Trans-Snowdonia Oil Pipeline...?...

As the morning wore on, the cloud broke up and it's been a lovely day, without a breath of wind. The climb (called Jacob's Ladder/Via Media HS 4a) was really nice. It's a slab climb, with plenty of gear to protect it. The rock has plenty of friction and there's no sign of any polish or wear. After climbing the 50m pitch, we should have just abseiled back down the slab (take some tat - there's a good spike at the top). Instead we chose to follow the guidebook description which involved a long boggy traverse down the far side of the hummock of rock with loads of slimy rock steps to negotiate and some alarmingly steep grass! Thankfully, Lou had carried up our boots! Just to round things off, we stopped of for a cuppa at 'Mallory's Bar" the Pen y Pass Youth Hostel and a bit of chat with Mr Webb!

Super slab climbing

View from the Miners Track on Snowdon

Night Paddle on the Menai Straits

A fabulous night for a night paddle down the Menai Straits in open canoes! Not a breath of wind and low clouds meant that the phosphorescence show was brighter than I've ever seen! A magical light display on water. If you don't know what phosphorescence is, then google it to find out more, but it's a kind of natural phenomena that needs to be see to be believed. You can't really take photos of it (we tried!) and describing it is no way as cool, realistic or believable as actually seeing it!

Dusk at Plas Newydd

Basically, it's some kind of plankton in the water that emits a greenish light when it is disturbed. What that means in canoe terms, is that any splashes that your paddle makes on the water glows a spooky green colour! As does the ripple from the bow of the boat! - You can even splash it up against a wall or trail your hand in the water and it glows green in the dark! Totally mind bending! Like I say - seeing is believing, so you'll have to go there to see for yourself. Go on! Do it! It is truly amazing!!!!

Night time on the straits

We timed our evening to drift up with the tide to Y Felinheli, where we got out and found some food while the water went slack; then got back on to drift back from where we'd started!

Stopping for a re-fuel at Y Felinheli

Passing like ships in the night

National Trust Work

I've been grafting for the National Trust today at Bodnant Gardens in the Conwy Valley. I was with a group of students who are working towards getting their 'John Muir Conservation Award'. We were tasked today with clearing brambles and trimming bushes to make the entrance to the gardens look a bit more appealing. It was pretty physical work, but the sun was out and although it was only about six degrees we were all kept pretty warm from our efforts! Was certainly good to be working with a team who just got stuck in. They were keen for a giggle as well as working hard. A productive mix in my opinion...

On the beech......nuts...

Yes please!

Just as the sun was setting, a wierd wispy cloud turned up out of nowhere. It caught my eye, so I stopped for a few moments to appreciate it.

Wispy clouds at sunset

First frost of winter!

There was just the tiniest amount of frost on the windscreen this morning and the air felt much colder than it has in a long while. I've been out orienteering today - or rather observing an orienteering lesson. It's really interesting watching someone else teach - you get to see different ways of doing things, ideas to copy and get to see in more detail how students reach to various commands and suggestions. It can also be pretty frustrating if things start to go wrong! Luckily today, there was none of the latter! It was cold day just to be standing around in the woods, but I managed to pick up a few ideas and top tips during the day.

Orienteering - Mad about maps!- note 'Snowdon Hill'!

Looning the Tube

After finishing with my group, Clare and I managed to race up into the quarries to get a few climbs in before the sun set. We'd not been up to the 'Australia' level for ages. The walk was beautiful in the autumnal sunshine and although the temperature were dropping fast, it was refreshing to be out and about.

Sundown on 'Australia'

We climbed a classic route called 'Looning the Tube' E1 (5b). It's totally brilliant, but remember it is 'slate bolted' (i.e. there are only 2 bolts on the whole route) and a couple of gear placements. There are good positive holds, but concentration is certainly required as well as a certain amount of commitment at the crux! Up at the next level, we climbed 'Steps of Glory' (F5) which is a bolted route with a few nice moves at the top. Then with darkness descending, we headed back to The Cottage as the temperatures dipped dangerously close to freezing for the first time this winter!

Looning the Tube E1 (5b)

Topping out just in time!

Castles & Kites

A slightly different kind of Saturday this week. I've been away on a residential course with an international bunch of students and we spent the day experiencing a few local sights. We started off at Caernarfon Castle, which was actually pretty good fun! We had a good nose around the battlements and towers before having a good giggle trying on various uniforms of differing battle in the museum. It's a properly impressive castle though, and well worth a look around. (and the views from the top tower are ace).

Beware! There's danger everywhere!

Impressive stuff

Getting into character for the tour of the battlements

Having survived re-enactments of various battles of the ages, we crossed the water over to Anglesey, where conditions were perfect for learning how to fly a kite! Low tide, strong onshore winds and fabulous views! Couldn't really ask for more. 

Afternoon Kite Flying

No comments needed. Soak it up.

The Gambler... In the clouds or above them?..

Clouds coming and going above Llyn Idwal

Some times the gamble pays off; sometimes it doesn't - but it's usually always worth a try. I set off into Cwm Idwal this afternoon with the vague inclination that the thick clouds that were capping the mountains, might be inclined to break up a bit later in the day and give some good sunset views. Leaving the sunshine of The Cottage garden and driving up into the dark and shadowy Ogwen Valley seemed a bit of a gamble, but I was feeling lucky!

Y Garn making an appearance as the clouds descend

I'd packed a small back with helmet and rock boots, but with no fixed plans. On reaching Llyn Idwal, I noticed that Cneifion Arete was beginning to appear out of the mist, so decided to head up to climb it. By the time I'd reached the base, it was back in the mist, but as I started to climb, the mist kindly began to drop down into the cwm, leaving me climbing up into blue skies above a layer of cloud! Fantastic! From the top of the arete, I raced up the remainder of the Gribin ridge, where I was rewarded with a brokenspectre! The rainbow was only faint as, by now the sun was low in the sky, but with Tryfan sticking up out of the clouds, it really was a special moment.

Brokenspectre in front of Tryfan

A happy guy

Tryfan and Glyder Fach

Snowdon and Ogwen

And if that wasn't enough, I then carried on to summit Glyder Fawr where the views over towards Snowdon and the setting sun were mind bending. There was a huge mass of cloud over to the south, but the summits were all clear. Carrying onwards, I descended a bit, but then in order to stay in the evening light a little longer, carried on up to Y Garn, where I stayed until the sunset faded away. From there it was straight down the ridge. I got my head torch out for the last part and to help navigate through Tin Can Alley and was soon back to the van. Unbelievable views, with the mountains to myself - I saw only two other people once I left the Idwal path!

Sunset behind Snowdon

Tryfan Brokenspectre

In rolls the clouds

Y Garn, with the Nant Ffrancon full of cloud

Descending Glyder Fawr

Y Garn

Last light....where's my headtorch!?

A misty waterfall

All in all a fantastic day! A total of 975m of ascent and descent. A 135m rock climb. Two major summits. A brokenspectre (a rarely seen mountain phenomena). All in 2 hours and 46 minutes car to car! - Oh, and did I mention that I went surfing first thing this morning!

A good place to wash the sleep from your eyes