Storms, Smoke, Straits & Snow

Woke to find snow in the garden this morning! Unbelievable! 

I was due to be taking a group of students gorge walking, but given the unseasonably low temperatures today, (and the fact that my foot still hurts), we decided to change the plan and try to seek some shelter by the Menai Straits to do some bushcraft work. The option of spending the day huddled around a campfire in the woods, verses jumping in and out of a freezing cold river gorge was quickly welcomed by the group! Although we got some shelter from the wind chill down by the straits, there was little in the way of shelter when the heavy hail storms came passing through! The clouds were incredibly dark and turned the water a beautiful dark green before they hit.

We were based on a little island that you can access at low tide. It gave a grandstand view of the advancing squalls...

We kept ourselves both warm and entertained with a fire lighting masterclass, which was no easy task given the abundance of soaking wet wood!

However, to those with the skills, a happy camp can be created - even in winter conditions - and we all took pleasure in toasting some cheese sandwiches and getting the kelly kettle boiling. John took the camp comforts to the next level after lunch by producing some roasted coffee beans, a mini coffee grinder and an aero-press coffee maker!

Finally, in the afternoon, things started to dry up a bit and the view down the straits changed completely with the warmth of the sun. Making sure that we left no trace of our passing, we made it back to the mainland just before the tide began to cut us off...

The Bouldering Competition

A day of route setting and judging in the climbing wall. Luckily, an activity that doesn't require much walking: my foot is still looking too big, but the swelling has reduced a lot. 

The hard part was creating routes without being able to climb them myself! Luckily, Callum was able to come and lend a hand (and a foot!) as official route tester and critic! - Thanks Callum!

After a morning of route setting, the students arrived for the competition which I had to judge. With each hand hold worth a specific amount of points, the higher you climb, the more points you get. The room was filled with great determination, support and psych which was great fun to watch even if I couldn't take part!

Plas Newydd, Anglesey

There's snow back in the mountains! Unbelievable crazy 'April showers' weather, with sun one minute then heavy hail the next. My foot is still in no fit state to out in the mountains, so I took the opportunity to go and visit Plas Newydd on Anglesey; a fine establishment and home of Lord Anglesey. I particular, I've been wanting for ages to go and see a painting by a guy called Rex Whistler. If you've never been to see it, you really should. It's an optical illusion kind of a painting.

Papa Martin is in town this week, so together we hitched a ride through the gardens on the 'mobility buggy'! (A ride worth the entrance fee alone).

Once down at the house, we hobbled through to the dining room where the painting is, that I'd heard so much about. 

On our way through the grand rooms, we paused to rest (it's hard work travelling with crutches) and admire some of the family portraits. On first impressions, they looked quite 'stiff upper lip' types, but on closer examination, they seem like they've got quite a wild side when it comes to a bit of 'dressing-up':

Eventually we made it to the main event and I was certainly impressed. We were lucky enough to have someone talk through the history and story behind the painting. (Sounds dull, but, was in fact fascinating!). 

It really is an impressive work of art that needs to be seen to be fully appreciated. It's a story as much as a landscape, that is drawn in such a way that the perspectives all move and change depending on where it is viewed. It's quite remarkable. Go and see it. 

Given my limited state of mobility, I was happy to take my time viewing from different angles and noticing the details, before heading outside for a short hop along by the straits, where we picked up 'our ride' back up to the car park.

A Risky Business...?

Some think that climbing mountains, is a risky game to play;
But team games give the injuries, or so the stats would say.

The ‘risky’ pastimes I pursue, like surfing, skiing or in canoe,
Or hanging from a rocky face, seem safer than a ‘normal’ place.


And here I give a case example, where a poor chaps foot, gets a hard trample!

An evening match had been arranged - some footy just for fun;
I got signed up, told head upfield; just kick the ball and run!

Observing who you’re up against, is a tactic best to choose;
To ensure one’s safety on the pitch; avoid tackles one might lose.

I kept well clear of those in studs, or players with strange gait,
And wide berth is always prudent, from those of heavy weight.

A preservation tactic, was my de-fence in the game;
But didn’t quite pay off this time, which is really quite a shame.

A speeding player, with foot outstretched, could not be dodged in time;
The studded foot came crashing down directly right on mine.

Limping, hopping, staggering; I hoped I would be fine,
A rude word did escape my lips en-route to the side line.

A direct hit upon one’s foot is a hard thing to protect;
I could only hope that my scoring foot, wasn’t well and truly wrecked!

I sat and held my foot quite firm as the swelling did begin; 
The match continued and come full-time, we didn’t even win.

As time moved on, the foot did grow, to an alarming size;
If there were awards for odd sized feet, I’d probably win a prize.

With great concern for my poor foot, to hospital I went, 
X-ray examination showed, it’s not broken; only bent. 

With great relief, I left the place where the doctors news did please;
And got foot up by the fireside, with a bag of frozen peas.

The bruise is going black to blue, with a yucky shade of yellow too, 
I guess that means it’s healing well, and surely with some time we’ll tell,

This fat old foot must un-swell soon, then I’ll be back to moving fast,
But until then, I’ll use the sticks - at least I’ve got no cast

Looking for a positive, the crutches do provide, 
An upper body workout, while hobbling outside

I can go quite fast with practice, but not with much of finesse
The Cottage now is my confine; but it’s a comfy convalesce...

All Along the Menai Straits...

My foot is still not looking like a normal foot, which is not good. Especially as I was due to be leading a team in the mountains today. In order to stay off my feet as much as possible, I've managed to borrow a set of crutches and have changed my plans to a less arduous hike of the Menai Straits instead.

When I say a 'hike' along the Menai Straits, I actually mean a bus tour, while my group hikes the trail! I have been meeting them at checkpoints to give navigational tuition while they walk with an assistant. In between check points, I've had the ice pack on to try and aid my healing! Sooo frustrating!!

Hiking or riding, it's still been a nice day to be out and about. The skies have been clear, but the wind is bitterly cold.

Blue Sky and Bruises

With sunlight steaming through the skylights again this morning, it was easy to get up early. I was in such a good mood, I decided to give myself a treat and enjoy some fine coffee before heading out into the day.

I've been out on the lake today with some students. And what a great day for it! The views were spectacular!

We did a bit of a journey along the lake and did some canoe paddle skills in the sheltered lagoons before stopping for lunch in a real sun trap of a hidden bay. Absolutely glorious!

I'd planned to make the most of the weather by going for a moonlight ascent of Idwal Slabs in Ogwen with a friend this evening, but these plan had to be put on ice (literally!) after being asked to play in a football match this evening. Unfortunately, having survived most of the game, in the last five minutes my foot got trodden on by a player wearing studs! Ouch!!! On arrival back at The Cottage it started to swell at an alarming rate!! Fingers crossed it will be looking better in the morning!?

Climbing at Penmaenbach Quarry

We found some afternoon peace today in Penmaenbach Quarry where the temperature on the van thermometer was reading 19 degrees. In the afternoon, basking in April sun, it was sheltered from the wind, gave incredible views, well-bolted climbs and a generally splendid feeling of wellbeing. Having left the guidebook in the car by mistake, we just climbed the lines that we either knew, or that looked good. The rock was warm to touch.

Even though we were enjoying the rock climbing, it was the kind of ambience that just made you want to sit and look. Apart from the faint buzz of the road far below, at sea level, all was quiet...

Rather than climb right through until darkness, we decided to make a move once the sun started to get close to the horizon, but stopped briefly on the walk out to revel in the views and remind ourselves of what a great place we live in.

Once down by the sea, the sun was setting and we made it home before dark... What a place to live...

Penmaenbach Quary:

- Y Clip Aur (5+)

- A55 Crack (6b+) TR

- Kiss my A55 (6c) TR

- Jack the Jeffer (6a+)

On the Sunny Slates

It's been perfect conditions for a bit of slate climbing today. The air is still cool thanks to a light northerly breeze, but the sun had warmed the rock splendidly and in the sheltered region of 'Never Never Land' in the Llanberis slate quarries, it was t-shirt weather.

Just walking into the quarries on a day like today was beautiful. It's the first time this year that we've been into this area of the quarry and today the sky was completely cloudless. It felt good to be back.

We've probably climbed the route 'Fresh Air' (6a) more times than any other route in the quarries, but we still keep coming back to it. The moves all flow, the rock is solid, the views are great and it's very well protected - all factors that lead to a very enjoyable climbing experience.

Next door is the harder line, known as 'Swiss Air' (6c). The bottom half of this route is often wet from seapage, so therefore climbed much less often. While lowering off from the top of our first route, I couldn't help noticing that today it was 'mostly' dry. Feeling somewhat buoyant in the fine weather, I decided to give it a go.

A critical handhold at the start was very wet and did little to bolster confidence initially, but once past the first few dynamic moves, I slowly but surely inched my way upwards...

Judging by the lichen near the top of the route, it was probably one of the first ascents of the year, but it is a good route and certainly absorbing. 

Then to finish off with a holiday vibe, we stopped in on the welcoming sofas of 'Dinorwic Lodge' for a celebratory brew and even a slice of very nice cake!

Never Neverland - Llanberis Slate:

- Fresh Air (6a)

- Swiss Air (6c)

Local Strolling

I took advantage of a quiet afternoon today to take a solo stroll from The Cottage. There are still some patches of snow in the hills, but down by the river, it feels like spring is in the air!

After a nice circuit along the Ogwen river, I finished off a very chilled vibe, with a drink in the garden soaking up some fresh air...

Spring Snow in Snowdonia

Woke up to a bit of a surprise this morning - a fresh covering of snow had fallen down to about 500m overnight!

Winters last gasp?....

Underground...

Having largely retired from the underground pursuit of cave and mine exploration, I had the chance to assist with a group in a big mine called Cwmorthin today. While re-affirming to me that the underworld is not my natural habitat, we still enjoyed an interesting day. It's hard to not to be impressed by the size and scale of the mine - it's enormous. Even the Victorian engineering, as mad as it all was, has to be admired. Journeying through the different levels, we passed various artifacts, bridges and even used a zip-wire to cross above a big cavern. Not your ordinary Friday....

Llyn Gerionydd Gorge Walk

Spent the day with a group of students exploring our way up the small gorge of Gerionydd. Nice group, nice place and nice enough weather. All in all, a pretty nice day that was only almost marred by having to search for a lost welly in a very deep plunge pool! Just as the top of my waterproof 'dry trousers' were about to get breached, I was saved from having to venture in deeper by a student who found it! Phew!

The old woodland at the base of the gorge has some really old trees, which are home to a lot of funky jungle like lichens and mosses... 

We finished up by the lake and beat a retreat back to base to warm up before it rained.

Castle Inn Climbing

It's always a good start to you day when you're woken by the sunlight that's just rising over the mountains and shining in throught the skylight. Double figure temperatures and settled weather meant that an afternoon spent climbing with students at Castle Inn Quarry was an afternoon well spent.

Castle Inn Quarry - N.Wales Limestone:

- Finale 5+

- End Route 4c

Back on the Sunny Slate

Blue skies and sun heated slate made for some good climbing conditions today! Felt good to be back in North Wales, enjoying the views and a bit of rock climbing.

Went up the the top of the slate quarries above Llanberis for maximum sunshine and view appreciation. There was a bit of snow on top of Snowdon and the ocean was gleaming the distance beyond Anglesey. When it's good here, it really is great!

The route felt really nice, with fun interesting climbing on positive holds; a combination of trad and bolt protection. I'd recommend it as a great pitch, but make sure you have two ropes as there'll be loads of drag otherwise. 

Amazing to be able to go here yet be so close to home...

Llanberis Slate - Skyline Buttress

- Ruby Marlee meets Dr Holingsworth F6a (40m)**