Wild swim and 30th Anniversary meet 

Present: Michelle Harvie, Mark Garrod, Cathy Devine ,Jeremy Engineer, Midge Castick, John Castick, Christine Beeston, Neil Boynton, Kirsten Mundt, Sabina Cosulich, Colin Maddison, Mary Stuart, Trish Cranston, Al Metelko,Dave Shotton, Steve Graham, Margaret Baldock, JoeDugdale, & Bodrun

There was some uncharacteristic but very welcome August sunshine for the weekend. Not wall to wall but enough to tempt out hordes of Snowdon day trippers. We caught the bus ( except Joe & a hobbling Bodrun) to Pen y Pass. The driverseemed to have a range of different fares with us all paying different rates including the offer of an OAP fare for me!

It was standing room only in the Pen y Pass car park, but after crossing the road & heading up the Glyders side we saw 3 fellrunners when we hit the path and pretty much no-one elseafter that. We quickly arrived at our first swim in Cwmffynnon (14 degrees 11 swimmers). Followed by a walkfull of tussocks over to the Pen-Y-Gwryd Hotel. We headed off for swim 2 across the high ground south of Moel Siabodand a very steep descent down to Llynau Diwaunydd (we did not have a thermometer but estimated 14 degrees). Sevenswimmers now, as some of the team had headed back. Wepicked up the pace to catch the 4.00 pm bus back to Llanberis.Jeremy, Cathy and Trish managed an extra Padarn swim on the way back up to the hut. 

Meanwhile on Saturday Colin & Steve headed for drier ground climbing on Cwm Silyn; The Great Slab of Crag Yr Ogof, Kirkus’s Direct (HVS) and Kirkus’s Route (VS) ,although the gully of doom between the climbs was pretty wet.

Once back at the hut there was a quick ready steady cook anda lovely, shared celebration meal, great food (thanks Jeremyand chefs) and DIY disco with old style CDs . A good chance for the oldies to have a dance 

Sunday was still dry with some intermittent sun. We walked toLlyn Dwythwch under Moel Elio (6 swimmers Michelle, Jeremy , Christine, Kirsten, Dave, Midge . 14 degrees) a dip under the bridge on the way back to Llanberis ( Michelle, Kirsten, Jeremy) before a final team swim in Padarn 15 degrees. A great fun weekend & a great way for Mark & I to celebrate 30 years together with our fabulous KMC friends.

Wild Swim weekend & Michelle & Mark’s 30thAnniversary Ty Powdwr 17th / 18th August 2024

Midge Castick, Michelle Harvie, Mark Garrod 

It’s time for a sunny Welsh walk swim August meet. This is also a party weekend to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Mark & Michelle meeting on a KMC meet @ Stanage. Please let Michelle or Mark know if you are coming for catering and if you want to volunteer to bring a dessert. (michelle.harvie@manchester.ac.uk/mark.garrod@btconnect.com. Home phone 0161 438 3898. 

All climbers / walkers are welcome to the hut / party this weekend – you don’t need to swim!

Mark & Michelle are aiming to provide a communal vegetarian meal for Saturday night & hopefully there will be music / dancing Saturday night.

Swim / Walk Saturday 17th August

Plans for the walk / swim will be confirmed nearer the time once we see the weather forecast.

Saturday will be the main walk. If weather is good we plan to walk to and swim in the scenic cwm directly to the west of Snowdon, which includes Llyn Nadroedd (lake of serpents),Llyn Glas (blue lake) and, lower down, Llyn Ffynnon–y –gwas. The shorter walk there can start at the Snowdon Rangerstation, keener walkers can walk from the hut, up from Llanberis to Bwlch Maesgwm, then round the back of Moel Cynghorion.

Kit list for swim / walkers 

In addition to normal walking kit & waterproofs, mermaids/ mermen will need footwear to swim in plus cossie/ budgie smugglers and any extra rubberwear you might require depending on the temperature & a towel or personal changing cubicle for drying. Don’t forget a warm jacket, woolly hat, gloves and a hot drink afterwards. Midge will have her thermometer so we know how warm the lakes are. Non swimmers are, of course, very welcome on the walk.