Members:  Colin Maddison, Mary Stuart, Meirion Tanner, Jim Symon, Philippa Maye, Mark Garrod, Michelle Harvie, Robert Clark, Gareth Williams, Lucie Crouch, Sue Marsden, Craig Marsden.

Guests:  May McCloud, Ben Slater, Katharina Anner, Liam Brady.

Most of the team started to assemble Friday evening at Ty Powdwr after unremarkable journeys.  Ben and Katharina arrived for breakfast on Saturday which dawned fine and soon developed into a beautiful sunny day.

With the prospect of dry rock after a fine spell of weather Meirion and Robert made the pilgrimage to what proved to be a busy Cloggy where they climbed Pedestal Crack (VS).  Jim headed up the Pass to meet Liam at Dinas Mot where they enjoyed The Cracks (HS) and Western Slabs (VS).

Meanwhile, Mary, Philippa, Ben, Katharina and I were taken on a tortuous route to the Moelwyns by the Sat Nav lady (note to self – use your common sense instead next time) where we found several teams getting away from it all on Clogwyn yr Oen.

Mary, Philippa and I savoured the delightful Krikus’s Climb Direct (S) whilst Ben and Katharina followed on the original line of Kirkus’s Climb (VD).  The descent I was told was perilous though all seemed to make it down the gully of doom and through dead sheep gulch without incident. Thus buoyed by this success Mary and I were pretty slick on Slack (S) whilst Ben and Katharina were far from slack on Slick (VD).

Whilst all this activity was going on Mark, Michelle and May had taken themselves up Snowdon via the Miner’s track from Pen y Pass and down to Llanberis.

The evening passed merrily with good food and a frenetic game of spoons. The attempts by some to do press-ups with May wrapped around them are probably best glossed over to protect those that should have known better from any embarrassment;  but herewith my written apology to May for inadvertently copping a feel in the process!

Sunday morning dawned a little damp and Craig and Sue arrived early wondering why they had left a sunny Cheshire to drive through rain to Wales. But it soon developed into another lovely day.

Gareth and Lucy, who had arrived the previous afternoon from Dyke’s rebel tour of Cornwall, departed for the quarries.  Mark, Michelle, Mary and May discovered you can’t hire bikes in Caernarfon on a Sunday but having solved the dilemma in Llanberis enjoyed a day of cycling, ice-creams and a dip in the sea.

Much to our surprise Craig, Jim, Robert and I managed to park in the Pass and paid a visit to Clogwyn y Grochan.  As I led off up Kaisergebirge Wall (HVS), Robert and Jim headed further left along the crag to make light work of Phantom Rib (VS) and Nea (VS), two classics of the crag.

The guidebook describes Long Tree Gate (VS) as a good route but Craig was soon describing it in other terms!  The first pitch is a sandbag and the next four a botanical and geological adventure.  A must for anyone interested in the processes of erosion, mass movement and deposition and to be avoided at all costs by those interested in solid rock and protection.

As Jim and Robert decide to walk back to the hut I launch myself up and then off Wind (HVS).  Guffaws from those on their way for tea but a magnificent pitch that went with two falls but no submission.

Thanks to all who came for a good weekend.

A weekend at our fantastic hut for everyone whether you’re a climber, walker or scrambler.

What encouragement do you need to enjoy the myriad of opportunities that Snowdonia and its surrounds offers for climbing, scrambling and walking from mountain top to the coast? All that and great accommodation to; it sells itself!

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.

If you don’t want to climb, the options abound for excellent mountain walking or scrambling. The climbing ranges from crags in the mountains to alternatives such as sea cliff adventures at Gogarth, 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 it’s the perfect opportunity to warm up for the Alps.

Give me a call if you need to know more.