Milestone Approach Gully - Tryfan

A late start from base meant that 'Plan A' - an ascent of Tryfan's east face had to be changed. As the time ticked on waiting for students to get ready, we moved through Plans B,C,D and E. On arrival in the valley, we changed plans again and finally opted for a team ascent of the dark and foreboding Milestone Approach Gully, hoping that it would tick all our requirements of an adventurous exploration within a dwindling timeframe of daylight hours. 

It had been quite a few years since I'd last passed through the deep rock cleft that marks the edge of the Milestone Buttress on the side of Tryfan. This is probably because it's almost always wet! However, the rock is sound, the handholds big and the sense of exposure and drama plentiful. 

It required good teamwork and steady nerves (from both me and the students!) as we used the rope to protect our ascent. Technically it's not too difficult, but a fall would have had major consequences! By the time we had all made it through to the easier ground above, the clouds had lowered and we were enveloped in a thick mist.

We navigated across the hillside to where I knew an easier path would lead to our salvation. It was all very atmospheric. 

And then, all of  a sudden, the clouds parted and the views of the valley were revealed..

As we descended, the sky continued to brighten up and by the time we were back at the minibus, there was a beautiful light hitting the mountainside. It was a wonderful finish to an exciting adventure.

Then later, once it was dark, we took to a different kind of climbing, which was much drier! (and harder!).

Tryfan Bach Arete

Wonderful to be out multi-pitch climbing with students again! Seems like ages since I've been using this skill set. It was a bit nippy and overcast, but I was surprised to find that we pretty much had the whole cliff and valley to ourselves. 

I had three keen students with me, so neat rope work was essential to prevent some major tangles on the belay ledges. It was lovely to be facilitating an adventurous afternoon for some keen students and be imparting a bit of advanced knowledge, compared to your average rock climbing introduction!

After climbing three pitches, we scrambled along the summit ridge and then made the easy walk back to the bags. We even fitted in a brief stop for 'safety hot chocolates' outside the cafe, to ensure that we warmed up properly!

Tryfan Bach:

- The Arete, Diff**

Nocturnal Canoeing by Moonlight

After a day spent orienteering with some students, conditions were looking too good to pass up the chance of a moonlight canoe trip. It didn't take too long to sort some kit out and head over to the lake. We had initially hoped to travel through the Menai Strait, but tides and times made that a bit more complex. As it turned out, the lake gave us everything that we were looking for.  

With flat calm water below us and a bright moon above, we set out into the inky blackness with out the need for our headtorches. The temperature was only three degrees by the time we set out, so we made sure we were well wrapped up.

Soon after setting out a faint breeze picked up. Nothing to worry about, but just enough to put the slightest ripples on the surface. We paddled into the wind, up the far side of the lake, where it was darkest.

When we decided that we'd had enough, we put the paddles in the boat, turned to face each other before silently and slowly drifting back through the centre of the lake. With the silhouettes of the peaks around us and lights of Llanberis on the far shore, we navigated back to the car, while catching up with each others news from the day. Without much in the way of sight, other senses are heightened, causing each ripple on the side of the boat or faint gust of breeze to be noticed. It was a magical night out.

Reflections on the Lake

Utterly stunning conditions on the lake today. Not a breath of wind and barely a ripple. I got my students onto the water as quickly as possible in case a breeze picked up, but we need not have rushed. We had the place to ourselves and enjoyed a long, dreamy journey watching the ripples crease the surface and marveling at the views. Here are a few of my favorites photos from the day...

Sandstorm Surfing

Incredible strength winds at the coast necessitated a walk with our backs to the breeze. We headed over to Anglesey as the weather was looking brighter and there was the chance of a sneaky surf if we could only find a sheltered enough spot. 

We took a nice walk along another empty beach. The winds whipped around us and the seas looked wild, but the sand at the water's edge was smooth and firm.

Further inland, the sand was blowing up into the air and shifting into new dunes. Just as blown snow carves out patterns around rocks or obstacles, the same was happening with the sand around shells on the beach. It was interesting to watch it move around, being picked up and deposited in predictable places. I could have made an avalanche forecast had it not been so flat!

It was mesmerizing to watch it swirl around us and across the firmer bed of sand.

Being back in the van felt like another world! So quiet to be out of the wind. Further down the coast, as I'd predicted there were some sheltered waves. Not ace, but work a quick dip. The water certainly felt much warmer than yesterday, but I did have a wetsuit on and a warm van to get changed in!

Wild Swimming on a Wild Day

I had a really interesting start to the day with my first 1:1 coaching session to help develop the Outdoor Education program that I run. It was a great experience to have someone listen to ideas and ask challenging questions. I finished feeling super motivated. So motivated in fact that we decided to head around to the south side of Snowdon for a walk, even though the weather was appalling.

Togged up in fleece and waterproofs, we set off into the rain, with the wind at our backs, driving us upwards at least.

The views were limited...

But the rivers and waterfalls plentiful...

And crystal clear. For some reason, the colour of the water was so alluring and at some point, while we stood looking at the deep pools the idea of a swim was mentioned. The rain was lashing down all around us and the wind buffeting us. I was not even remotely tempted to remove the several layers of insulation that I was wearing. But the seed had been planted. A short while later, we came across a pool that we couldn't resist. The water was surprisingly ok, but maybe it was just adrenaline keeping up was as we dunked in, did a few strokes and dived out almost as fast. 

It was certainly refreshing and made us laugh all the way back to the car. There's nothing quite like a spontaneous swim on a damp and windy day, halfway up a mountain in November....

Indy Wall - Indoor Climbing

Having been to the climbing wall last week and found that you can basically have the place to yourself, we decided to go again - and meet a friend there so we could be social as well as stay fit! As we're not allowed in other people's houses, it makes meeting in the evenings tricky now that it's cold and dark! We had a great session and climbed until my hands and arms could take no more.

I was particularly pleased to climb this problem (only using the five red blobs). It seemed way too hard last week, yet totally fine this time. Nice to be on the 6c grades.

We literally stayed until they turned the lights off and locked up behind us.

Creatures in the Sea

 I got to enjoy an amazing sunrise and sunset today. Having left home under blustery and damp air, I arrived in Llandudno just as the sun turned up. 

After a morning of training behind a screen, I was back out at the beach for the best part of the afternoon with some students.

I decided against wading into fully clothed, un half of my group. Still, they seemed to be enjoying it and didn't complain of being cold!

There were loads of Portuguese Man O'War washed up in the high tide debris, which caused a lot of excitement - especially among those who'd recently been in the sea with them! They were a beautiful blue colour.

The beach was completely deserted and we walked the entire length, without seeing a soul. The light on the water and the reflecting ripples were magic.

Having had to do a bit of persuasion to get the group off their computers and to the beach in the first place, when it came to head back, nobody wanted to leave! 

The magic of the great outdoors was working it's wonders.

Canoe Safety Training

I've been brushing up on safety and rescue techniques and generally, all things canoe based today. I was well wrapped up in fleece and in a (semi)drysuit, so even though it was mid-November, it was fine to be falling in! However, there were plenty of folk turning up and going for swims just in swimming costumes while we were there!

We started out in an absolute downpour, but once changed into our kit, it didn't really matter! We covered all sorts of disaster scenarios and practiced different techniques for rescuing, emptying and towing boats and students. It was great to re-visit, remember and learn some new methods and brilliant to be sharing best practices among other instructors.

Although there was a lot of serious stuff to cover, we still managed to have a good time of things and add in a little bit of risky fun!

When it came to packing away, we seemed to have got through a lot of kit for six instructors! We all agreed that we felt more knowledgeable than this morning, so I think that's the sign of a good course! I'm looking forward to the next training day!

Snow on the tops

 There's not a lot, but a thin dusting of snow has fallen on the higher summits today. 

I was rock climbing with a group of students, so while it was still pouring down outside, we made use of the indoor wall. We had a great fun and energetic morning until the sun began to put in an apperance.

We hiked up to the slabs ob Conwy Mountain for some roped climbs. The rock had dried quickly and we were nicely sheltered from the cold northerly.

The sun seemed to be setting really early, as we walked away around 15:30.

It's a lovely walk and worth going up for the views even if you're not rock climbing. It's well marked as it's also part of the North Wales Coastal Path.

On the path, there were an astonishing amount of acorns. At times it was like walking on marbles. Tree Surgeon Matt, later told me that this year is a 'Mast Year' for Oaks and that they produce a bumper crop every so many years. Apparently, they produce a few hundred acorns per square meter on the ground!