The ‘Not the Cloggy Meet’ Meet

Present: Colin Maddison, Andy Stratford, Jo Stratford, Duncan Lee, Vicky Alderton, Kieran Lee, Mark Garrod, Michelle Harvey, Dave Wylie, Steve Graham, Kevin Anderson, Alice Larkin, Dave Bone, Tony Major, Jim Symon, Philippa Maye, Christine Beeston, Roger Dyke, Clay Conlon, Pablo Lonzo (20)

FRIDAY

Andy and I have started the meet early by driving down Thursday evening after Committee.

Cloggy meets usually turn out wet so this was billed as ‘Ty Powdwr’ and thus we snuck up on the Black Cliff unexpected and found it to be fairly dry… well, dry enough where it mattered for our chosen route Great/Bow Combination (HVS in modern guides, VS in mine – take your choice).

I set off across the traverse and up the groove of pitch one. Andy arrives at the first stance muttering about the weight of the sack he’d packed and insisted on bringing. On hand over it does seem to weigh more than two pairs of approach shoes should.

The guidebook gives a choice for the crux traverse on pitch three. Move right and make a hard pull up onto the break or foot traverse the break (allegedly much easier). I take the lower option and it does seem hard enough though possibly due to a combination of age and the moist holds.

Andy chooses the higher line but the monster sack soon precipitates an unscheduled close inspection of the lower route! Notice is now given of a rucksack inspection which later uncovers several unnecessary items concealed beneath the kitchen sink.

In the evening our numbers swell with the arrival of Duncan, Vicky, Kieran, Dave W, Jo Stratford, Mark, Michelle, Kevin, Alice, Steve and Clay. Michelle, bright as a bunny, leads the revelry into the early hours.

SATURDAY

Early Saturday Mark and Michelle make a pre-dawn start for the Welsh 3s Circular from the hut with Michelle up almost before she’d gone to bed. Nothing like a good night’s sleep to set you up for a walk that makes a 16 Stoner look more like a stroll in the park. In fact, nothing like a good night’s sleep at all! But at least the wind that nearly blew her off Eidir Fawr last time is absent.

A little later, Andy, Jo and Dave W drop down through the woods to Llanberis and catch an early bus to the Nant Gwynant for a traverse Snowdon. Starting up the Watkin into Cwm Llan, they ascend along the South Ridge over the summit and down the Ranger path, then turn through Bwlch Maesgwm and continue back to hut, with Dave taking in Moel Cynghorion as an extra summit along the way. A good walk and a pretty full day out.

Somewhat later still round at Ogwen, Vicky and I head up to Clogwyn Bochlwyd where we enjoy the no longer aptly named single pitch Two Pitch Route (S) and Five Pitch Route (VS) and finish off with Marble Slab (HS). Then it is time to wander over to the Llyn Idwal beach to swap over childminder/climbing partner and for mother and son to pose for an amiable gentleman taking photos for a wild swimming website – where’s Michelle when you need her?

Duncan and I then depart 2.00pm(ish) for a link-up on the Idwal Slabs & Walls and the Upper Cliff of Glyder Fawr involving six routes, eleven pitches and c1200ft of climbing – Heather Wall (VS) and the upper slabs, Original Route – Wall Variations (VS), Continuation Crack (HVS), Invisible Thread (HVS), Larva Slab Left (VS) and Central Arête (VD).

Then just in case I’ve not done enough for the day we wander back to Ty Powdwr via Y Garn and Elidir Fawr; or rather I wander and Duncan disappears into distance. A weary three hour trudge but with fantastic views of hills fading into the distance in the fading light, arriving Ty Powdwr 10.35pm (not long behind Duncan who doesn’t know his way off Elidir Fawr as well as he thought).

Down below in the Llanberis Pass Alice wheels Kevin over to Craig Ddu and Clogwyn y Grochan for Rib & Slab (VD), Rift Wall (VS) and Nea (VS).

Steve spends the day wandering over the Glyders in desperate pursuit of alpine fitness; trudging determinedly up and down as many ridges as he can find - Seniors, Y Gribin, Bristly, Heartbreak… etc.

Clay also yomps over the Glyders, but not before taking the obvious direct start up the Clogwyn y Person Arête and along Crib Goch!

Later on there is a rare sighting of Dave Bone and Tony Major who’ve ticked off Meshach (HVS), The Brothers (VS), One Step in the Clouds (VS) and Oakover (VS) in a good day at Tremadog.

In the evening Jim, Philippa and Christine make up the late arrivals at the President’s Ball.

Mark and Michelle arrive back from success on the Welsh 3s at around 1.45am after 22 hours, many miles and much ascent and decent. A great effort, but all so exhausting that Mark has tried to throw himself off Crib Goch and Michelle has been walking in her sleep/sleeping in her walk – probably trying to catch up on what she’d missed Friday night!

SUNDAY

Sunday dawns another fine day and folk head for various parts.

Andy, Jo, Dave W, Jim and Philippa meet an ever eager Roger raring to go at Tyfan Bach for a variety of routes on the fine sweep of slabs with Jo getting a first taste of multi-pitch. Over in the Llanberis Pass, Kevin and Alice nip up Crackstone Rib (S) and Steve and Clay, like true Englishmen, join the queue for Main Wall (HS) but find it well worth the wait. Dave B and Tony pay a visit to Cloggy, perhaps encouraged by Andy and me, and tick off Longland’s (VS) but find it not as dry as it could be. Perhaps we misled them on the conditions!

Elsewhere, Christine cruises over Crib Goch and Snowdon and Mark and Michelle even manage the short stagger down to Llanberis and back.

Whilst all that energetic stuff’s going on Duncan, Vicky, Kieran and I manage the short walk into the quarries for three routes in Never Never Land and Serengeti where everyone (well not Kieran) leads Hawkeye (F5+), Duncan leads the aptly named Peter Pan at a tasty F6A+ and I finish things off with Quelle Surprise (F5), the surprise being that it is still standing.

On the way back Kieran thinks a good game will be to stop me opening the gate by running ahead and holding it closed from the other side. Mean Uncle Colin hops over the fence. The child cries. Oh dear, second time today I’ve done that! Home for D, V and K and off to Llanberis for me for an omelette, ice-cream and shopping.

As always, thank you to all who came and made the meet a success.

Footnote: The Stanage Incident

Saturday 10^th July 2010 and a crime is in progress – The Stanage Incident. On the official ‘Cloggy’ meet bold KMC members scale the mighty ramparts of Clogwyn Du’r Arddu. Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Sheffield a breakaway group of disreputable individuals slink off to an obscure gritstone outcrop. The ringleader of the ‘Stanage Six’, a certain Mr R Dyke, subsequently attempts to make light of the matter as this recently rediscovered email exchange reveals:

From Roger – 5^th September 2011

A news item for you Colin:-

As part of their campaign to increase the popularity of Clogwyn Du'r Arddu with English climbers, the Snowdonia National Park have decided to rename it in honour of the well-known but vertically challenged Manchester climber, Mr Stanley Age.

Climbers will no doubt develop their own shortened form of the name, as they did of the original Welsh name.

Roger

In reply – 5^th September 2011

Dear Roger,

I wonder that a man of your vast experience can exhibit such a poor grasp of climbing lore. The figure you allude to was, in fact, the diminutive Miss Tanya Age and a crag has already been named in her honour. You are well informed on one point; that climbers have long since abbreviated her name. The naming after her is of course apt, the crag like its namesake being popular, perfectly formed, but ultimately lacking in stature and virtue.

Best wishes,

Colin

What do I need to say about a weekend at our fantastic hut?

There’s no real excuse for missing this one. You get great accommodation and a myriad of opportunities that Snowdonia and its surrounds provide for climbing, scrambling and walking from mountain top to the coast. Yes, all that and good craic with your mates.

If the weather’s favourable I’ll probably be heading to Cloggy one day and another mountain crag on the other.

But this is a meet to do whatever you want. The options abound for excellent mountain walking or scrambling. The climbing ranges from crags in the mountains to alternatives such sea cliff adventures at Gogarth, to classic routes at Tremadog if the weather is better away from the hills or to slate practically on the doorstep. Or you could bring your bike if that’s what you’re into. I’ll be happy to offer suggestions.

Come along for a great weekend. Whatever the weather there is something to do and we’ll have some fun. Give me a call on 0161 707 3307 if you need to know more.