Messing about in boats

I take out all sorts of teams kayaking on Llyn Padarn during an average year's instructional work. Some are keen to get stuck in; others less so. I could tell from the start that today's group were going to be up for anything and that I was going to have to give them a big effort on my part to match their expectations! Despite the sunshine, I put on my drysuit in anticipation of a full-on session. It was a good decision as they were all soon in the water and splashing about from the word go. It's a buzz to be able to give them a good day out and see them excited and enthused about kayaking and life in general - even if it involves being upside down in the water now and then. At least I was able to roll back up, rather than taking a swim! Loads of good activities, jumping in, skills, laughter and hard work. Good value Outdoor Education!

Foel Ganol - Mountain Walking

It's been great to be back up in the mountains with a group of students today. I'm leading an overseas mountaineering expedition with them next year and today was my first time meeting the group. After an introductory chat over a cup of tea, we made a quick ascent of Foel Ganol above the North Wales coastline. I'd chosen this peak due to time constraints and the incoming poor weather.

It was really windy up on the ridgeline, but the apart from a few spots, the rain held off until we were back at base. Usually, there are great views from the tops, but it was so hazy today that we could barely see across to Anglesey.

There are always wild ponies about here and plenty of sheep grazing too. There is also the craziest/most artistic sheep pen stone wall area. It seems that they were not ones for straight lines those old sheep farmers!

Lon Las Cycle Route

When I was about 14 or 15 years old, I saved up a bought myself a bike so that I could get myself to the neighbouring town under my own steam in order to work at the local Green Grocers. It's now some years on, but it's still just about going! Although a little TLC was required (along with some new inner tubes) before it was deemed ready for a mini-expedition up into the Nant Francon valley from The Cottage.

After some tinkering, head-scratching, a bit of brute force and some obligatory oily hands, we were looking ready to roll!

After a brief false start (I'd not tightened the back wheel on properly!), we set off along the Lon Las National Cycle Trail. After a nice gentle start around the base of Penrhyn Slate Quarry, there are several short steep sections which got us working hard, before eventually breaking out into the openness of the valley. We were both very glad that there had been no such uphill struggles in Denmark!

We had loosely set our sights on riding up to Ogwen Cottage and got quite close, but decided that slogging up the last uphill section wasn't really what we were looking for in our afternoon ride. On the way back we stopped off at the river, but both concluded (wisely) that it was way too cold and windy to be jumping in a river.

After getting a few kilometres closer to home, Clare noticed that the bag that I'd had strapped to my panniers was missing! Ugh! We turned around and made a second ascent of the Nant Ffrancon! Luckily, the back was located by the river, where it must have bounced free during the brief off-road section. To avoid the up and down section at the end of the quarry, we used the A5 road, before rejoining the Lon Las Cycle track at Ogwen Bank Falls.
Our final detour was to see the new cafe that has opened at nearby 'Zipworld'. The cafe was empty and just closing so we didn't stop for a drink - only to admire the view of the emerald lake and surrounding quarry.

Tour Stats - 20.5km door to door...

Sunshine & Surf - Summer arrives again!

At last! After an unseasonably damp and windy start to September, today we woke to the refreshing sight ofblues skies and sunshine! The Cottage garden was returned to it's suntrap status and by mid-morning we'd had a text from a friend telling us that there was still plenty of good surf at the beach. Once Clare was back from running a workshop and I'd finished what I was working on, it was late afternoon and wonderfully warm. We went directly to the beach and were delighted to find more glassy waves rolling in.

I had some really long, slow rides that were very enjoyable indeed. There were a few other surfers in the water and most of them we knew. In fact, we all ended up going for ice creams afterwards to keep the summer feeling alive! It felt like a real tonic, having the warmth of the sunshine on our skin as we sat on a wall eating our ice creams, chatting and just looking out to sea.

When it's good around here, it's really good! Even stopped off for a cuppa with friends on the way home, before getting back for a late dinner. Body feels tired but happy....

Solos and Surf - Filling the days

Before rejoining my expedition group, I got out early enough for a quick solo climb up Tryfan Bach, which is only a few minutes from the campsite. It was the first time I've been out on the valley rock for ages and it felt great to be enjoying familiar views and moving quickly up easy ground.

As there was work to be done, I didn't hang around on top. I was soon back down and checking in with my Bronze DofE Expedition group, who I was relieved to find, were in fine form.

Later in the day, once the expedition had been completed, the tents hung up to dry and the pots and pans scrubbed, we decided that there was still just enough light left to get out for a surf. Conditions seemed to be falling in our favour as the wind was dropping, but the swell was forecast to remain. On arrival back at The Cottage, walking gear was unloaded, wetsuits and boards added and within a few minutes, we were heading to the beach!

It was the first surf since at least June and we loved it - it was a beautiful night to be by the sea. Perfect little waves that were peeling off nicely for long rides. There were only a few other surfers out and half of them were friends of ours. The sun even came out for a blast of light and the water felt warmer than the lakes we've been swimming in recently. The days are just packed...

Tryfan Bach:
- Little Tryfan Arete, Mod.

Duke of Edinburgh's Award Assessing

The birthday table tennis set has been seeing a bit of action recently! A nice way to catch up on the days events, while sharpening some reaction speeds!

This weekend I've been out, assessing two groups of students for their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh's Award. There's not really been much in the way of sunshine, but the clouds have stayed high and we've all stayed dry for most of the day.

I can still remember taking part in my Bronze DofE expedition, so try my best to give them the same feeling of excitement, independence and adventure that my assessors did. It's a tricky job to get the right balance of safety (knowing where the group are), while not interfering, letting them make mistakes and enjoy being out on their own.

One group were dead on time to every checkpoint and made me very confident that they knew where they were going; the other one, less so. While one group were setting up camp, I cooked up some pasta for myself and enjoyed the views of Snowdon before walking out in the fading light to find the second team. Good job everyone had head torches!

The day ended under the familiar skyline of Tryfan...

Canoes across Padarn

Moody skies after a torrential start to the morning. Things eased off during the day and actually gave some calm conditions for paddling, while I escorted a team across Llyn Padarn today. Finished up with good sunsets by the end of play.... 

Lowe Alpine - Rucksack Review

Very excited to have received the latest of Lowe Alpine's new rucksack range in the post today! It's called the 'Alpine Ascent' and is an upgraded version of the 'Alpine Attack' which I've been testing/using for the past twelve months as part of the Association of Mountaineering Instructors 'Test Team'.

So here's a run through, in brief, showing just how versatile a pack it's been!

From Arctic ski touring to Mediterranean Sport Climbing, I think it's fair to say that I've put it through its paces! I've been using the Lowe Alpine 'Alpine Attack' rucksack now for a full year and it's had some varied and intensive use. It's a versatile pack that has served me while working as a Mountaineering Instructor in the UK; as an International Mountain Leader overseas; as a teacher of Outdoor Education in North Wales and of course on plenty of personal adventures. One of the best things about this rucksack is it's simple yet well thought out design. As well as general day to day work in the mountains of the UK, I've used it specifically for activities and expeditions such as Ski Touring, Sport Climbing, Trekking, Ice Climbing - the pack has been put through its paces. As you know, I keep an almost daily blog of my Mountain Lifestyle travel and activities at www.mountain-lifestyle.blogspot.com, but here's a brief summary of where in the world it's been as well as what it's done:

A year in the life of the Lowe Alpine 'Alpine Attack' Rucksack
September - November  
North Wales - Climbing and Mountaineering,Outdoor Education Sessions
December
North Wales - Winter climbing Sport Malta and Gozo - Sport Climbing
January
Chamonix & Cormayer - Ski Touring
Snowdonia- Winter mountaineering and hill walking
February
Spain - Sport Climbing in Costa Blanca
March
Snowdonia Rock Climbing, Mountain Walking and Outdoor Education Sessions
April
Iceland - Ski Touring
May
Spain - Trekking in the Sierra Nevada.
June
Isle of Man - Duke of Edinburgh's Award - Gold Assessing
July
French Pyrenees - Rock climbing and mountaineering
August
Spanish Pyrenees - Rock climbing, mountaineering and trekking


Best features:
Floating/removable lid
Durable material
Versatile size
Fastening hook - Easy in all conditions and weather
Side compression straps good size and can be un-clipped for attaching skis
Small enough for 'carry-on' size limit on airlines
The new pack looks lighter, sleeker and with a different material. I'm looking forward seeing how it performs!

Ice Climbing in North Wales - January

French Pyrenees Trekking - July

Duke of Edinburgh's Award Assessing - June

Sport Climbing in Spain - February

'The Tour' Continues!...

It's now been nearly three weeks since we were peddling our way across Denmark and we've been missing out on some time in the saddle. We didn't have time to go back to Denmark today, but we did have time to explore a little of our local area at home here in Wales by bike. After a bit of planning and research, we found a place where we could hire bikes at nearby Caernarfon Castle.

Although the bikes we borrowed were fine for the day, it really showed up just how good the ones that we had hired in Denmark were. The ride was much smoother and the ergonomics and features of the Danish design were in a different league! Still, the sun was out and we had bikes, so we weren't complaining!

As neither of us has any desire to get involved with road riding and the inevitable traffic hazards, we had been pleasantly surprised to find that there are actually some cycle track networks around here. Setting off from the Castle, we followed the 'Number 8' Trail south, along an old railway track and then into the village of Talysarn, where we stopped for a cup of tea and a chat at a friends house.

From there, we headed west, out to the coast at Dinas Dinlle, where we stopped for a delicious picnic in the sunshine. Holiday style - yet so close to home!

There were a few discrepancies on the map, regarding the best way to get back to Caernarfon, so we gambled by taking a route which seemed to be a shortcut. All was going well until a seven-foot iron gate blocked the path! Reluctant to retrace our steps for some three or four kilometres, we decided to put our climbing skills to use and scaled the fence and lifted the bikes up and over!

The last section of our 'tour' was on country lanes and we saw very little traffic. The route took us along the banks of the Menai Straits, where we stopped to pick blackberries, as we had recently been given some apples. The ingredients of a fine desert were coming together!

At around 15:30, we arrived back into the town and after a few errands to the bank and watchmaker, we returned the bikes.

It was such a lovely afternoon, rather than return to The Cottage straight away, we decided to finish the tour, with a celebratory drink outside the pub right by the straits. After a respectable 43.5km, we felt suitably pleased with ourselves and were buzzing from the ride. Must find a way to get Denmark style bikes for ourselves!
Apple and blackberry pie was served in the evening! Delicious!

The Snowdon Circus - Form an orderly queue!

I've been up Snowdon more times than I can remember, in all seasons and by all the main routes. Today, however, was a new experience for me....

What I soon came to realise, was that I'd never been up Snowdon on a summers weekend! It was literally like being on some sort of pilgrimage and from Llanberis to the summit, my group and I virtually followed a line of people!

It was the most bizarre mountain experience that I've ever had! As we neared the summit in the mist, we came upon a queue of nearly a hundred people. At first I thought there had been some sort of incident, but it turned out that they were just patiently waiting for their turn to ascend the final steps up to the summit cairn! I'd never seen anything like it! Mountain madness!

We didn't bother waiting the twenty minutes or so that it took to reach the actual 'summit' and declared our ascent to be complete, a few metres lower. After a bite to eat at the equally busy summit cafe, we were pleased to be rewarded with some views as we began our descent.

We followed, overtook, got overtaken, dodged dogs, avoided bikes, chatted to sponsored events and eventually made it down to Llanberis. It's the first time I've been up in the Welsh mountains for a few months and the whole experience was a bit of a shock!

Ah, the solitude of the mountaineer!....next time maybe....

Kayaking Calmness

April showers type weather has continued all this week. We set off on today's kayaking day in torrential rain, then finished with more of the same. Amazingly, when it came to getting on the water though, the sun came out! Suddenly, out of a gloomy morning, we found a tranquil and calm place to paddle!





Back at base the skies blackened and for a brief two minutes or so we had lightening and a heavy hail shower.



After leaving across the sudden white layer of hail, I drove home in full sunshine. Bonkers weather...

Birthday in a Boat

I think it's always great to see your birthday date written down and this year was no exception. It gave me a smile when I checked my phone in the morning to see what time it was...

I've been very much looked after today, while enjoying a host of Lakeland activities and fine foods. That is, of course after a few cards and pressies in bed.

I was presented with a 'Birthday Menu' which started off with fresh blueberry smoothies.

Just the 'freshener' one needed before trying out one of my presents - coffee table table-tennis!

From a choice of banana pancakes with maple syrup or wild Alaskan Salmon scrambled eggs on English muffins, we opted for the eggs - served with fresh coffee from a local Lakeland roastery.



As the house we were staying in had private launch and usage of Esthwaite Water, we worked off the meal by walking down the long drive and heading out for a tour of the lake.

Clare was the chief gondolier, to begin with, and ferried us down the east coast to the southern tip as the sun came out. Greebs, Swans and Cormorants all came up close to us as we glided past.

From the middle of the lake we had great views down to the Langdales, where we could see some rain showers passing by and a low but bright rainbow.

I took over the oars for the return journey, which had the advantage of going with the wind after a nice calm section in the shelter of the far banks.

Just before we made it back to the house and despite rowing as fast as I could, the rains caught up with us! The passengers all huddled down under golf brollies, but the birthday oarsman had to take it on, out in the open.

It soon passed over and we were able to walk back up to the house while I drip dried.

We warmed up with some tea and birthday cake!

We then said our goodbyes to the Broomriggs residents and began our journey back home. But only after having stopped for an official birthday swim. Getting into the wet wetsuit was bracing, but once we got swimming it felt fine. We got in just north of the west side ferry near Sawrey and swam around a small island.

Then went directly to the Swan Hotel for 'Birthday Drinks'!

Even finding out that the M6 south was closed didn't dampen our spirits, but we did arrive home later than expected. There was still just enough time and energy for fireside food and a few extra cards and pressies! Brilliant day!