Thursday 31 December 2020

Multiple Mountains on New Years Eve

Snow has fallen right down to the valley, which added some extra challenges to my anticipated start to the day; Ski touring using the ebike as my uplift!


I set out from The Cottage under cover of darkness on the bike which is very definitely not designed for travel through snow and ice. At the top of the main hill, the road was completely covered white and I swerved and slid like a drunk, trying to make my way across the moors road by headtoch and moonlight. Despite all the odds, I made it unscathed to near the base of the mountainside, where the terrain demanded that I change into my ski boots by the light of the moon and switched my mode of transport.


Shuffling silently upwards on skis felt great and although the dawn didn't break with any great light show, the new day did reveal a lot more snow than I had expected!


We ascended mostly in the mist and arrived at the heavily rimed flagpole on Elidir Fach, with the odd glimpse of a view.


With skins off and skis set to downhill mode, we had a long gentle descent, which was only hampered by the lack of visibility. Then, suddenly, the views revealed themselves.


Having set off early, we were the only people on the hill and fresh tracks were ours to be had. Not bad for my first (and last) ski of the year. I felt like we'd earned the turns!


A lovely run down the mountain had us back at the bikes by eleven. Out over Anglesey, there were some huge clouds dropping more snow. This one had a cool little rainbow below it. Or should that be a snowbow?...


Then it was back on the bike for what should have been an easy coast home. However, by now what little traffic had passed by had only turned the snow to compacted ice and the bike ride was far more gripping than any of the skiing! I was very relieved to get home in one piece!


After a shower and a spot of lunch, we hiked up the hillside on the otherside of the valley to The Cottage. Which got enveloped in a mega snow storm for about half an hour, with big goose feather flakes softly falling in the absence of any wind. Beautiful.


Walking through the whiteout, we bumped into a couple of friends who appeared out of the mist. As we stood chatted, the clouds cleared slowly away, revealing the winter wonderland around us.


We carried on upwards towards the setting sun, making fresh footprints in the snow.



On the summit, we had fabulous views all around and what felt like, the whole place to ourselves.


The clouds kept lifting and the colours of the sunset kept changing. 


It was a fine finish to the final day of 2020.



Just before the sun hit the horizon, as the snow glowed pink in the light, we set off back to The Cottage so to arrive home before darkness fell. It's not been our usual end of year location or temperature, but it all came good for us in the end...



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