Meet report 1-3rd March 2024 at Tan y Garth, Capel Curig.

Standing a little east of Capel Curig, by the start of the path up Moel Siabod, the comfortable Gwydyr Mountain Club’s Tan-y-Garth hut made a good base for days out on that mountain, the Glyders and the Carneddau.  The hut’s sleeping area and kitchen were spacious and the place was well organised, though our party of a dozen used all the available dining and parking space.

After a wet mild February, the whole area was waterlogged with the upper reaches of the mountains plastered in fresh snow.  A chilling wind swept across Snowdonia.

The Richards arrived early and went up the north ridge of 872m Moel Siabod (Shapely Hill) leaving the crest above the snowline for the less bouldery slope on the west.  Intrigued by an online description of the much more modest 345m Moelwyn tump, Mynydd Cribau (Mountain of Crests), as one of the least visited tops in Snowdonia, only 3km as the crow flies from the hut,  Michael and Helen headed off to investigate. Their advice is not to bother though as it made a physically demanding outing with tussocks, bogs, unmapped fences, and an overgrown path through forestry. On their return, descending a shallow gully, they came across a ewe stuck in a fir tree, its fleece entangled in the branches’ spiney twigs which had matted into a tether several centimetres thick. With Helen holding the branch and the ewe trying to flee, Michael’s penknife sawed through the tangle.

Saturday:

The Richards and elder Smiths caught the bus to Idwal Cottage and shot straight up Pen Yr Ole Wen for a snowy round of the southern Carneddau including an  entertaining scramble to Pen yr Helgi Du (Hill of the Black Hound), returning to the hut along the old road

Mick had planned a circuit of Lyn Cowlyd starting from the hut and set off along the riverside track to Cobden’s Falls accompanied by Conrad, Andrew, Helen B, Fi and Tim. The ridge from Crimpiau (fine, high ridges) to Creigau Gleision (grey-green rocks) was traversed before dropping down to the northeastern shore of the lake, where lunch was taken in the welcome shelter of the dam wall. Tim elected to return along the path along the north side of Lyn Cowlyd, while the rest of the party zig-zagged up an old quarry track then up pathless ground to reach the snow-dusted ridge up to Pen Lithrig y Wrach (slippery peak of the witch), the route’s high point at the eastern end of the Carneddau. The long descent crossed boggy ground to reach the A5 and a return was made via Plas Y Brenin where they stopped to treat suspected dehydration.

Sunday:

Parking in Betwys-y-Coed Helen and Michael followed the Jubilee Path steeply up through woodland south to Llyn Elsi returning down to the church.  Fiona started running the same route but headed much further west along the Sarn Helen Roman Road (flanking Mynydd Cribau) and back also passing Llyn Elsi.

Mick, Helen B, Conrad and Andrew decided on an ascent of Moel Siabod from the hut by the voie normale but skirting the soft snow-covered summit boulder field on its northern flank. For a change, the Plas y Brenin path was taken on the descent and the Afon Llugwy followed uneventfully back to Tan-y-Garth.

Steve and Wendy parked by Llyn Ogwen then took an easy route to Llyn Idwal before taking the Fisherman’s Path up the NE ridge of Y Garn.There was soft snow cover from about 600m which needed spikes near the top due to compressed footsteps and lower temperatures. Spectacular vistas with sufficient gaps in cloud cover to appreciate the expanse of Snowdonia, to include views across the Glyders, Carneddau and over Snowdon. A biting wind on top pushed them on so after a traverse around Foel-goch they followed the spectacular E ridge of Elidir Fawr, dispensing with spikes on the rocky crest as the snow turned increasingly mushy as the temperature climbed. After lunch on top they retraced their  steps then took in Carnedd y Filiast and Mynydd Perfedd before a quick descent and ascent onto the summit of Foel-goch. Armed with Tim’s inside knowledge they found the delightful descent path along Y Llymllwyd to then swing S, past ‘The Mushroom Garden’  and back to Llyn Idwal & Idwal Cottage. Great day out.

Tim drove to the West end of Llyn Padarn to join some friends for a mountain bike circuit around the quarries then across the Llanberis valley to circle Moel Eilio via Telegraph Valley.

Steve and Wendy stayed on for a couple of days. After a wet day around Barmouth on Monday they tackled Cadair Idris. With cold winds and clouds on the tops they took a clockwise route via the Minffordd Path to reach Penygadair in cloud and intermittent rain/hail and only a few remnants of snow above 750m. Pressing on, the day began to clear with sunshine and reasonable views. Finished on Mynydd Moel before a descent south to rejoin the Minffordd Path above the Falls near the car park. 

This was yet another winter meet with poor snow conditions but at least the gales and heavy rain were absent this year. The hut was warm and comfortable and as always the company was stimulating.

Attendees:  Mick Borroff, Helen Brewitt, Alan Clare, Andrew Jarman (PM), Tim Josephy, Harvey Lomas, Steve Richards, Wendy Richards, Fiona Smith, Helen Smith, Michael Smith, Conrad Tetley