home A DAY ON YR WYDDFA
It was my first time out since the Club Dinner way back in November. On Friday it had been a gloriously cloudless day and was promising the same until at least Monday, so my mind was made up – I would go out for a walk. I picked John up at 8.45am an we drove down to the high street, they were already there and raring to go. The chosen route was on Yr Wyddfa so we sorted the transport and drove over to Nant Gwynant. We started walking at 9.45am and had some new faces amongst us, namely Guy – Tegwen’s boyfriend, Martin and Rob, all of them good people and experienced mountaineers. We steamed up the Watkin path and then branched off towards Yr Aran and it was here that we enjoyed a leisurely lunch. This is one of Wyddfa’s satellite summits at 747m but commands some excellent views because of its pyramid profile. On the way down Moriarty found a cap and was well pleased, a couple of minutes later I also found a cap and gloated about it to Moriarty only to realise it had been planted there by the others, what a fool I felt! At the foot of Yr Aran someone had painted the words ‘DIM WHR’, Chris Mitchell had told us about it but did not know what it meant but we soon realised it stood for ‘No Welsh Highland Railway’ which is in fact now up and running as far as from Caernarfon to Waenfawr. It was chilly down here in the Bwlch so we started the ridge climb of Allt Maenderyn. Half way up Eurwyn realised he had left his camera on some rocks during the last drinks stop so that added a good 20 minutes to our walk. On arrival at the Monolith below the summit a few decided to carry on to the summit, and some just sat down and waited, anyhow – we all made the descent to Bwlch y Saethau together. Ian, Rob and myself decided to give Lliwedd a miss and headed down the Watkin Path. It was a pleasant amble down and we occasionally glanced upwards hoping for a glimpse of the others, it was also cold once we got out of the sun. After reaching our car we decided to wait for half an hour for the others, but thinking they would be late we drove off but spotted them walking down the bottom part of the Watkin and turned back acting as if we had been there for ages!! Guess what? The reason they were late was that Eurwyn had left his camera at the bottom of Lliwedd and had reached the summit before realising, and had to go all the way back down where unbelievably the camera was still there. We will have to think of a name for this man – any suggestions? Just to recap – cloudless blue sky, cold hands in the shadows, long lunch on Yr Aran, overcrowded summit, too many cameras going AWOL, blue sky and a full moon at the same time, beer and reminiscing. See you all again sometime
From the Back Left: Dafydd Alan Ian Sneddon, Eurwyn, Martin, Guy. Front: Jane, Hilary, Tegwen, John Moriarty, Rob.
The Nantlle Ridge from Yr Aran
Myself on Yr Aran, Moriarty behind.
The Summit cafe
Jane on Allt Maenderyn
Heading for Lliwedd
Yr Wyddfa
A Full moon in Nant Gwynant