Last weekend the Avon Mountaineering Club descended on Capel Curig for its annual trip to Snowdonia. “Glan Dwr” (the name of the lodge in which we stay) has been on the Club’s Itinerary now for eight years. It is not so much a lodge as a house which sits conveniently next door to the Pinnacle Café and gear shop, a raging waterfall and a choice of roads leading to some of the best places to go in Snowdonia.
This year club members took full advantage of the location and good weather, taking their fill of the local climbing, walking and scrambling on offer. Consequently much was achieved, so apologies if I miss anything or anyone out:
Neil C and Andy H did the classic Sub-Cniefion Rib followed by the Cniefion Arete.
Sharon B and Omar S ascended Snowdon on the Snowdon Ranger and descended on Rhyd Ddu.
Andy T and Belinda W climbed some sport at Castle Inn Quarry on the way up and the Trad mega classics, Phantom Rib and Shadow Wall on Carreg Wastad and Clogwyn y Grochan. Andrew achieved his goal of not walking any further than necessary from the car, by ascending from its sun-roof. (Just kidding – but some reversing apparently did take place to get nice and close to the crag!)
New members David B and Khalida S clipped some bolts at Castle Inn Quarry.
Peter F, Kev J (on his first AMC trip) and Kevin VC climbed the classic Pinnacle Rib Route on the East face of Tryfan.
Sam C and Emma B did Shadow Wall and Yellow Crack at Carreg Wasteg, and the first pitch of Extraction and the second pitch of The Fang and The Plum on the coast at Tremadog.
Dave L, Rob H, Dave B and Rob D climbed the long 10 pitch classic Slanting Buttress Ridge Route on the atmospheric, big n’ bad but steeped in history Lliwedd.
Neil McE and Marketa J, who flew in especially from Prague to come on the trip (okay so maybe it was Neil that was the main attraction), went up Tryfan via the classic North Ridge scramble.
Neil C, Dave B and Rob H managed a route or two on the Atlantic Slabs near Carnedd y Filiast.
Peter F, Kev J and Sharon B went up Moel Siabod, hopefully skirting the killer bog successfully – I assume they all made it out okay!
Rob D got 9 hours solid sleep – a remarkable result for a father of two small boys.
And me? What did I get up to? Well, I was full of cold so I went for a snotty walk in the woods around Plastic Breadbin. Then I tucked into a splendid meal of roast chicken. By Sunday I was feeling much better and went with Dave for a walk in Fairy Glen near Betwys y Coed. I was disappointed by the lack of fairies, but it was very beautiful.
So, all things said and done, a really enjoyable weekend. Thanks to everyone who came along, new and old members, for filling the lodge with plans for adventures, tales of derring-do and much merriment and laughter. It was great to see you all and I hope to see some of you next year!
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