A windy day on the hills

On Thursday the forecast showed cloud, heavy rain and snow for Saturday12th January. But come the day and none of that proved true - instead we had the wind!

Thirteen walkers, including two new faces from Llanwrst, got off the bus at Snowdon Ranger. Snowdon and the surrounding mountains were clear as we headed up the Ranger path towards Snowdon before turning to Bwlch Maes Gwm and a coffee stop. Then is was the steep climb up to Foel Goch, walking west of the fence line rather than further deepening the gash/path which now disfigures the hillside below the summit.

Well battered by the wind, care was needed on the little 'cliff' edge on Foel Gron. The clear weather meant that it did not matter if we were a little spread out, and walking at the rear with Ifor and John it was comical to see the others in the same position as us - weaving from one side to the other as gusts of wind pushed us about. Just like a Friday night on the Maes in Caernarfon - so they tell me. Fortunately it did not matter on the broad grass slopes leading to Moel Eilio. The other entertainment before lunch was the sight of Lew doing a commando roll after coming off a stile wrong footed - awarded ten out of ten for coming up smiling.

Lunch in the great five foot high shelter on Moel Eilio was rather spoilt by the freezing easterly wind blowing through the entrance, so we did not stop long before taking the long ridge leading down to Bwlch y Groes, on the old Llanberis - Waunfawr road.

Here we had an interesting situation. Having seen the tracks of off-road motor bikes up on the hill, three of them suddenly appeared from the edge of the quarry on the bwlch. One of our members, who has had lots of dealings with off-roaders, shot off to intercept them, only to find a police car already at the scene. The three lads and their vehicle with trailer are now on the police records. But there was quite a little discussion in our group, with some seeing no harm in the bikers being in the quarry area. However, the surrounding land is common land, and as on Moel Eilio, not for off-roaders.

Then it was the nice easy descent to Waunfawr and the Snowdonia Brewpub, where some of us tested Carmen's brewed in house beer, and found it excellent. A nice half hour to round off a good walk in clear weather. As for the wind, would I have been up there if there had been no walk - definitely not - but I'm glad we did it!

Dave