Climbing at Castle Inn Quarry

Took a group of students up to Castle Inn quarry today. Worth remembering to check the fixed gear and where possible use your own karabiners rather than adding to the wear and tear. So of the lower-off krabs, are wearing very thin! Amazing what a bit of friction can do to metal! 

It was a bit of a gamble heading there, due to a very wet start to the day, but it paid off!

Warm enough for t-shirts at times! Bonus!

And back home in time for a nice sunset too...

Castle Inn Quarry Climbs:

- Taid, 5

- Wilderness Wall, 5*

- Butterfly Blue, 4

Rucsack Testing

Back in Wales again and arrived home to find a new rucsack had arrived from the designers from 'Equip' ready for a test. After all the travel that we'd both done over the last week, Monday was a slow and sleepy day at The Cottage, but on Tuesday, we ventured out into Ogwen to take the new pack for a hike.

Lot's of cool new features - time will tell, which ones are best, but first impressions are looking good and I'm excited to be part of the testing process of new and innovative technologies and designs.

Between some very heavy downpours, there have also been a couple of bright evenings, where the sun has suddenly put in a late evening appearance.

On Pillar (892m) - Lake District

There really were some well placed check points today! I think that the last time I walked through this valley was with Paul on my Gold DofE expedition! I was pleased to find it’s still just as challenging. Stationed with my binoculars, I had a good giggle watching one team deal with a navigational error and subsequent river crossing!



Eventually, everyone made it over Black Sail Pass and down to the YHA, where John was waiting, having driven around to Buttermere earlier in the day. 



After hiking up to Blacksail (and halfway back down to check on a team) and back up again, I thought I might just walk down the same way or nip up nearby Kirk Fell. However, it was such a glorious day and I wasn’t sure if I’d ever been up the mountain called Pillar. I was pretty close and decided that if I was fast I could bag the summit. 



I’m still not sure if it was my first time up there, but the views were fabulous and only vaguely familiar. 





This is the summit cairn, where I got enough reception to be able to speak to Clare (who had just ridden a motorcycle up a mountain in the Philippines after a morning’s snorkelling!).





Up the coast, I could see Scotland and the Isle of Mann was also clear to see out west.



All that remained was to get back down! You can see the minibus and car park if you zoom in below!



After racing down the screws from Windy Gap (not particularly recommended), I was a sweaty mass on reaching the valley. The idea of a swim in the lake seemed the perfect finish.

And so it was! It actually felt pretty warm and I got in with minimal procrastination. 



All freshened up, to took on the nearly two hour drive around the national park to Buttermere where the group was now camped up. I was delighted to find that John had cooked dinner and had left overs for me! I wolfed it down as the light faded. Brilliant!

Lakeland Weather

I’ve been in the Lake District now for four days and have experienced almost all kinds of weather! I’m assessing some groups who are on a Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expedition. After a travel and acclimatisation the hike got off to a very wet start in torrential rain. We tried to delay departure, but with it not easing up until the evening, there was nothing to do but just go for it! Thankfully, our arrival in Ravenglass on Wednesday was dry and we were able to cook and sort kit out with ease. 

Thursday was simply grim…

And somewhat problematic at times!



A few summers ago, Clare and I relaxed on a single beach by this trickle of a river!…



While sheltering at a checkpoint in Eskdale, I saw the train go past.



The paths became rivers!



Happily, the group chose to find a better way across the ‘path’.



It was quite incredible to see how much rain had fallen in a single day! Everyone (including me!) had wet clothes and kit to deal with. Luckily the campsite in Eskdale had a drying room and a tumble drier, which got plenty of use.



The drama of ‘the wet day’ was all but forgotten next morning and it felt like a different world completely, waking up to blue skies.

The route took them over to Wasdale and I drive around to meet them. 

It’s always good up here, but especially when the weather is good. Once all the groups had arrived, one of my friends from University, who lives nearby turned up for a cup of tea and a catch up. (I’d told him I’d be in the area). We felt a bit bad leaving the group to fend for themselves, while walking over to the pub for a brew - but not too bad! After all, we’d got our Gold Award already!



By the time we came out to see what the groups had made for dinner, the weather had changed again! 



So we retreated back inside for ours!



After the rain had cleared the sky of any dust, the stars shone as brightly as the alps. I spent ages picking out constellations and watched the space station drift overhead. 

Tryfan North Ridge

It’s been a busy week, but for various reasons, one that has been pretty much devoid of photos. I did managed to get a sunset pic down by the river though on one evening.

I’ve been paddleboarding at Llyn Mymbr in fantastic conditions - after waving off Clare at the station earlier in the day. While I’m off camping in the Lake District this week, she be living in a 5 Star Hotel, as she has been invited to do some positive psychology and well being work in the Philippines!



A day of gorge walk safety training was completed on Sunday, before heading down for some climbing at Fort Martin - climbing onto the roof that is to check on a chimney!



While I was there, after witnessing a bit of British History and watching the Queen’s funeral, I did manage a bit of time on the lathe, but with no finished product from this bit of yew just yet.



After an early start, today I’ve been white water kayaking on the Afon Treweryn, back in Wales. First time on a river in ages. Really great fun, even though I did happen to find myself upside down in the final rapid of the day, just 20m from the car! Oops! Gotta keep concentrating!



I arrived back at The Cottage from my mini road trip at about 5:30pm. Just in time for Dave to call and convince me to spent the evening on a quick dash up Tryfan’s North Ridge! 



The sun was just on the top of Y Garn as we set off. 



We set a fast but not too fast pace and kept to the crest of the ridge as much as possible as the evening sunlight was both warm and beautiful. 



The final summit slopes were glorious! Bathed in a wonderful light.



I jumped the summit stones of Adam and Eve as the sun dipped below the horizon and just over an hour later, we were in the pub for a belated birthday drink, having chased down at a steady pace.

All that was left to do, was to get home for dinner! Then finish packed to the next expedition, which departs tomorrow!.. 

Scrambling on Y Garn's East Ridge

A much improved situation with the weather today meant that I could get out into the local mountains for the first time since arriving back from the Alps. 

Llyn Idwal was looking glassy and the clouds were lifting as we hiked past at lunchtime.

As we climbed, the blue sky won over and the clouds thinned out giving some great views.

I first did this scramble as a pupil on a school trip and still remember encountering the weird shapes in the rock...

On the far side of the valley, Pen yr ole Wen summit was jsut above the clouds for a while. 

After soloing some easier introductory scrambling, we put a rope on for the final steeper section.

And weaved our way up and along the ridge.

From the summit of the climb, instead of continuing up to the summit of Y Garn, we turned left and descended down through the Devil's Kitchen and into Cwm Idwal, below the famous slabs.

Back at The Cottage in time for coffee and the last of the birthday cake in the garden!