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...

Winter Winding Roads

We set off to discover some more deserted back roads today. A 'short explore' turned into a pretty major day with some sweat-producing climbs, but at least with the reward of some long gratifying downhills.

Passed through some incredible woodland with big firs and pines.

As we descended one hill, we disappeared into a bank of freezing fog, but thankfully passed through it before we froze as well. The sunlight was pushing through in beams of light, which I was hoping to catch in this photo, but doesn't really do it justice.

There was also plenty of forsty work going on and an over powering smell of 'pine fresh'!

Stopped for a drink to admire the confluence of the Conwy and Lledr.

The continued on into another reote valley - one that neither of us had ever even been up which was a realChristmas bonus.

To be honest, it felt like not many people have visited this valley since the late 1800s! There was just about enough tarmac road left to navigate and we had to pass through three or four gates and an unbelievely steep section (that luckily, we had to descent not climb!).

We saw plenty of buzzards during the day, but these Peacocks have to be the best spot of the trip!

Solo in the Snow

It's been a full whiteout on the mountain tops for the past couple of days and plenty of snow has been put down in amongst the low cloud. Up on the summits, I needed my map and compass to be able to navigate safely from the summit. It's been a while since I had to do this for real - trusting the compass and my ability to pace a set distance, when all around is white. Having no definition between land and sky with no features to gauge any perspective, distance or slope angle is sensory deprivation that you don't get every day. Without even a footprint to follow or a rock sticking out of the snow to confirm which way was up, I had to stay alert - it was all rather exciting and it felt good to be using my skills. And a warm sense of satisfaction rose as the plateau cairn eventually came into view, only 10 meters away from me. Now I knew exactly where I was and had somewhere to take shelter from the ever-increasing wind. 

The needle on the barometer at The Cottage had dropped completely off the scale at somewhere around 965mb - Something it's only done a few times since we lived here. Although the storm had put down enough snow for it potentially being worthwhile exploring by ski, the low visibility put me off for now as I suspected that (as is often the case when skiing in Wales), there would be a lot more carrying than skiing.

So with my new Lowe Alpine bag (Uprise 30 and very much recommended!), packed up, I set off in search of adventure in 'the white room'.

The snow had made some beautiful drifts, which were accentuated along the banks of the mountain streams.

There were even snow arches! While crossing this stream, I stopped for a close up look.

I had several objectives in mind for the day, so that I could go for the one that suited the conditions best. Ideally, once I got into the higher cwm, I'd had had some snowshoes as at times I sank up to my thighs in drifts, if I misjudged my route choice. The gullies were filling up with really soft snow, so I had to stick to rockier ribs and ridges to be able to climb upward. 'Having a look' into one of my favorite routes, was like saying hello to an old friend that I'd not seen for a while. Each year it takes on a slightly different form, with the snow and ice creating different shapes and flutings. I decided to climb up - partly because I didn't fancy going back the same way and partly, for the adventure.

Halfway up, I was over the trickiest section, and to continue upwards was now the best course of action. I was in my element - until a gust of wind covered me in spindrift. 

Having topped out onto easier ground, the map, compass assisted me in locating the summit and then the shelter cairn. I've been using mapping software on my phone a lot over this last year, but the traditional map and compass win hands down when it comes to winter navigation as the last thing I wanted to do while stood bracing against the horizontal snow was unzip my coat, then take off my gloves to try and get my phone unlocked! About fifteen minutes into my descent, I broke through the base of the clouds and suddenly the valley and all it's familiar features revealed themselves.

Just before dusk, the skies cleared and we enjoyed a great sunset together.

Cottage Cozyness

 Got woken up by hail and sleet stacking up on the skylight after a hibernation length sleep.

The barometer has dropped off the scale and the storm had passed while we were sleeping. After a morning run along the river, I also joined Nick & Rich on a dog walk in the woods, but other than that, we've enjoyed the warmth and coziness of a winter's day at The Cottage. On days like this, with a well stocked fridge and fire, the Cottage really comes into it's own...

Boxing Day Clouds

 

Spent Boxing Day relaxing at The Cottage. The snow on the tops has started to melt a little and the day remained damp and overcast.

Thanks to Jenny, we could keep in the festive spirit over lunch.

During the afternoon, as the next storm made it's way across North Wales we had a superb display of Mammatus Clouds forming in the sky above us - usually a good indicator of some extreme weather approaching! We stoked the fire, battened down the hatches and settled in for a night of reading and games by the fireside...

A Cottage Christmas

Our first ever Christmas at home at The Cottage has been just as memorable as some of our 'traditional' travels, thanks to the gift of a window in the weather. A few hours of tranquility and calm across Snowdonia brought us some of the most idyllic conditions.

Christmas Day on the Water

It did require an alarm to ensure that we were in the right place at the right time when the conditions would be perfect for paddleboarding. We got straight up and into a pre-packed van, after a brief breakfast of coffee and crumpets. A fifteen-minute drive and two-minute walk later and we were pumping up the boards and marveling at the views.

The lake was like a mirror. 

We were soon afloat and Clare set off ahead of me breaking the tension of the water and putting gin the first ripples of the day.

Up ahead the snow capped summit of Snowdon was just hidden by the clouds, but we could see the top of Llewedd and the Snowdon Horseshoe route.

It felt like we were the only people in the entire National Park.

As we continued through the narrows (aka the Beatrice Gap) and into the far end of the lake, the sun came over the mountain and lit up the hillside.

We sat on the boards and had a drink at the far end of the lake, explored up the mouth of the river to the rapids and then began floating back the way we had come while singing Christmas Carols.

Just before we reached the end of our 3km journey, as forecast, the lightest of winds picked up. Nothing serious, but just enough to chill my fingers and put a ripple on the previously flawless surface of the water.

Delighted with our morning, we packed up the boards and headed back to The Cottage for a Christmas Brunch.

Warm croissants with fresh coffee were served as soon as we got back through the door, then after a hot shower, we tucked into egg butties, before making it out to our other Christmas tradition of being by the sea. 

Freshly showered and warm, there was a unanimous decision to not go for a swim this year!

But it was beautiful to walk along the water's edge and watch the light from the low sun on the horizon.

We were back home at dark, just in time to get the fire lit and join the first of several online family gatherings. Pre-dinner drinks had been saved from our summer cycling expedition to France and fine foods were grazed on into the night, in between unwrapping the stack of presents that had been gradually stacking up under the tree over the last few weeks. A Happy Christmas!