Saturday 29 December 2012

Wintry Snowdonia

Earlier this month I drove down to The Rob Piercy gallery in Porthmadog to pick up Sharon's Christmas present, there is a story behind it which I wont repeat here, but if you are interested it is on Sharon's art blog HERE
Driving down from Buckley it was a beautiful cold and clear winters morning, blue skies and the high mountains of Snowdonia covered in snow. How I wish I didn't have to get back to work, as the mountains looked amazing and I would have loved to get up there, but Sharon was completely oblivious to where I was, and i wouldn't have gone up without her anyway! But I had the camera with me, got some great shots some of which are below, but they have stayed hidden until now as I didn't want her knowing where I had been!!

So this is not really a walking post, more a post of where I wished we had been walking that day.

The Moelwyns

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Cnicht

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Yr Aran across Llyn Gwynant

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Yr Aran

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Moel Hebog across Llyn Gwynant

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Crib Goch and Snowdon

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Snowdon

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Crib Goch

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Snowdon viewpoint

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Snowdon Horseshoe from the road to Capel Curig

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Snowdon, Crib Goch, and Garnedd Ugain

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Tryfan

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Thursday 27 December 2012

Bryn Alyn on Boxing Day

For Boxing Day we had planned to go a bit further afield into Snowdonia, but the combination of a little lie in, preparing for my family visiting later in the day and rain forecast later, we decided to stay local and do a walk that I had never done, Sharon having done bits of it, starting at the little village of Llanferres and walking  a 7 mile walk around Bryn Alyn and Moel Findeg. This was a great leisurely walk with great views of the Clwyddian range down to Moel Famau. There was hardly a soul about, the weather stayed dry until we had come down from Nercwys, but the rain started so we made a short detour back and never made Moel Findeg, thank fully we did as an hour later it was pouring down. I gave my camera a rest today, and I must admit it was quite nice without the additional weight, Sharons little Panasonic Lumix taking some great pictures....... Gary.

Sharon and Holly as we climb Bryn Alyn

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Moel Famau in the distance

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Nearing the top of Bryn Alyn

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Lots of Limestone pavement at the top of Bryn Alyn

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The Clwyddian hills down to Moel Famau

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Moel Famau

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A dodgy summit photo with the self timer, Holly never sits still!!

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lots of limestone outcrops

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this place has a real Mole problem!!

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Tough sheep in Wales, this flock stood their ground ganging up on Holly

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Lovely through the Conifer woods

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Lunch stop, note my new Christmas present off Sharon, Rab down jacket, absolutely love it!!

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Not long after the rain started and we decided to head back, we were so glad we did, as within no time it was pouring down again!!

todays route

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Saturday 1 December 2012

Snow and Sunshine on The Glyders

It was touch and go this week as to whether we were going to get out on Friday, as Sharon has been suffering with a real heavy cold all week ( which no doubt I will get 10x worse!!) but she felt better by Thursday evening, and after seeing some photos posted on Thursday evening of the snowy conditions in Snowdonia, we were off first thing Friday morning...destination the Ogwen valley.

Our route for the walk was decided last minute when we arrived, but having looked at the stunning view up from Ogwen cottage we decided to head into one of our favourite places, Cwm Idwal, from here it was up Devils Kitchen, pausing for a coffee break before heading up the scree slope, that today was a snow slope onto Glyder Fawr.

The views across to the Snowdon range were awesome, the air was so cold and clear visibilty was brilliant for photography. After a nice guy offered to take our picture on the top of Glyder Fawr, we headed across to Glyder Fach, passing Castell Y Gwynt, one of Sharons favourites, and I managed to get the photo she's always wanted with Snowdon in the background.

Our route of descent was down the steep scree slope at the side of Bristly Ridge, this was a bit ropey as it was covered with snow, and at times was quite tricky, but the crampons and ice axe made it a lot easier!!
And from the foot of the south side of Tryfan, it was the long walk back down to Ogwen Cottage in the fading afternoon light.

All our friends know that we are not blessed with good weather days that often, so for us it was an amazing day, whenever or wherever we walk we have a great time, but on days like this it is extra special, a great day in the place we both love so much.

I took 300+ photos, a small selection to follow, we hope you enjoy and welcome your comments.

Tryfan from the layby on the A5 at the start of the walk

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Amazing reflection of Cwm Idwal in llyn Idwal

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Our route up through Devils Kitchen

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The leap of faith across the waterfall

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Pen Yr Ole Wen reflected in Llyn Idwal

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Lots of snow up on the Carneddau opposite

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We couldnt get enough of this stunning view across Cwm Idwal

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Up above the snow line as we exit Devils Kitchen, time for a coffee!!

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climbing the snow slope onto Glyder Fawr

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A passing helicopter crosses Y Garn

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Stunning views across to Snowdon

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How I would have loved to have been over on Crib Goch, Sharon wasnt too keen!!

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Snowdon

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The Ice Maiden finds her Ice shelter

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It was nice in the sun, but it was very cold as the ice on the rocks shows

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the two of us on Glyder Fawr

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looking down the Nant Ffrancon valley

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nice deep snow on our walk across to Glyder Fach

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Tryfan

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Sharon guards her castle.... Castell Y Gwynt

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The shot we wanted to get, Castell Y Gwynt with Snowdon in the background

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Crib Goch with Snowdon behind

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Another shot of Crib Goch

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The Cantilever, coated in Ice, as we hadnt put our crampons on yet, posing on top was out of the question

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The sun starts to drop behind the Snowdon Horseshoe

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Looking across to Pen Y Helgu Du

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Tryfan looks freezing as some cloud comes in around it

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Sharon taking a break as we come the snow slope at the side of Bristly Ridge, she loved it!!

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The setting sun lights up Pen Yr Ole Wen

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and lights up the sky over the Glyders

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