Play time in the snow.

At last some play time!

The sun is out and so is the snow (although quite a lot has melted already with temperatures above freezing to atleast 700 m today).

We decided to go out and blow the cobwebs away and they were definitely blown away by the winds which were blasting at 30 mph plus.

We headed up Carnedd y Filiast and onto Mynydd Perfedd for stunning views. We had intended to carry on to Elidir Fawr but decided with the strength of the winds and gusting, it would be nightmarish on the large boulders so we retraced our steps.

 There was significant drifting in places behind the walls and the beginning of cornice build up could be seen in the Carneddau in the distance (hardly surprising with those winds; snow redistribution was bound to happen).

The snow it self varied between being soft where shallow to having a hard break-through crust where deeper.

It was noticeable how much snow had melted lower down the mountain in the two and a half hours from when we set off, however with clear skies and freezing temperatures forecast overnight for the next few evenings, we can expect more icing of the top of the snow and crampons would certainly be advisable if going high.

Busy, busy Autumn

Liathach from Beinn Eighe

Sorry for the lack of recent blogging. Autumn has been extremely busy with twelve REC courses since mid September, two ML Assessments, one ML Training course, and an ML Refresher, one week's work in
Iceland for NST. (a rather interesting trip with very mixed weather and a coach crash; thankfully no one was injured)

We also managed to fit in a glorious one and a half weeks in Scotland, mostly spent backpacking in the far North West and Knoydart.

Meanwhile if you check out our Facebook page you will find a Walk of the Month series I am running where each month I try to write up either a backpacking expedition or a Day walk in the UK to give people inspiration to #GetOutside. Have a read and get inspired!

Monarch of the Glen

 One of our backpacks was into Attadale where it was sad to see the effect of the new HEP schemes which seem to be springing up all over Scotland and other upland areas. However Attadale Estate is so friendly with a bothy where walkers are welcome and there is even firewood laid on. Despite it being Stalking season, the Estate workers were very friendly and seek to work with walkers rather than against.

Beinn Eighe ridge. one of the best!

Megaidh making herself at home in Attadale Bothy

Ben Aden: the rough Bounds of Knoydart and a real jewel.

Torridon, the Far North West, Knoydart and Glen Shiel areas are definitely my favourite areas of Scotland (and Glen Affric) as I love long mountain ridges where I can stay high all day and be treated to superb views (providing the weather is playing ball, which on this occasion it most definitely was!)

Meanwhile, winter is now showing its face in the mountain regions of the UK and some of my upcoming blogs will be looking at walking in winter and giving tips.
in the mean time check out UKHillwalking website where several of my first aid and walking articles have been published with more to come.

New Addition

Since my last blog we have a new addition to the family. She is a sweet natured and lively border collie who is Steve's new dog. Megaidh is related to Cluanie (great niece, I think). She is already out and experiencing the mountains and we are attempting to teach her to swim now the weather is hot. She is not quite as keen on this idea!

Welcome back

Seems a long time since I last blogged; partly down to computer problems and trouble uploading photos and internet problems. Hopefully now that all is sorted I will manage more regular posts.

The aim is to post useful and interesting information for trainee Mountain Leaders and anyone else interested in the outdoors and the mountains.

In the mean time we have an extremely two months coming up with a Mountain Leader Training course, a Mountain Leader Assessment course, several bespoke Mountain Leader refresher courses, several overnight sunrise walks on Snowdon, five first aid courses and I'm also working for the Field Studies Council at Rhyd y Creuau on two school trips.

Meanwhile we also have dog training and Mountain Rescue team training!

Early Summer?

I think this is the driest spell we have had since April last year! Sun and snow combined; perfect combination.

We have been making the most of this glorious weather on my days off. Yesterday I climbed Parsley Fern Gully with a friend and our dogs, descending back into Cwm Glas from Bwlch Coch. The only problem with the mix of sun and snow is the faff; forever taking crampons on and off! The snow is clinging in there although the descent gully into Cwm Glas was a lot thinner than when Steve and I were there last week! The Trinity face of Snowdon is still looking good in most of the gullies.

I am off to Iceland this week to assess the Icelandic Search Dogs with a colleague from SARDA Wales. Cluanie is staying with Steve and probably will take over the bed! From 8 'C down to -19'C in the Arctic Circle; it's going to feel like I'm back on my Winter ML.

When I get back I am straight back into an ML Summer Training course; Steve is teaching on the first 4 days and I take over for the overnight camp. When that finishes we are teaching a REC Level 2 First Aid course at Bangor University for the Mountain Walking Club.

Glorious spring!

We have been keeping busy; whether working or playing.

In the past 3 weeks we have taught 2 REC Mountain First Aid courses to the Military for JSMTC (Joint Services Mountain Training Centre) on Anglesey. Steve taught an Open REC Level 2 course for 9 participants while I was busy with GCSE Geography marking.

I got out on Saturday; a beautiful walk in the Glyders although the tops were cloudy but walking back along the banks of Llyn Ogwen it felt like summer! Cluanie was revelling in it!

Yesterday we headed up into Cwm Glas where Winter conditions are hanging in there. The snow conditions were great so we played around cutting steps and climbing steep snow. Cluanie thought it was Christmas as she chased chunks of snow downhill. She also discovered how slippery sheet ice is as I saw her disappear over an edge; thankfully it wasn't steep on the other side of the spur!

Today I headed up onto the Glyder up the Miners Path. The day started beautifully but sadly clagged in. However, again the snow conditions were excellent on the top.

Apologies for lack of photos, the blog is not allowing me to download any!

Winter ML Assessment Day 5: The End!

The Final Day.

The wind built up all night and all of us had to dig ourselves out several times.

We were aiming to get away by 9 am to return to Glen Feshie by 12 noon so it was an early start in order to melt snow. By now there was no way I wanted to leave the snowhole for any reason until it was time to set off.

 The wind and weather had other ideas about our ETA. By the time we were walking along the Sgorr Gaoith ridge it was apparant that the wind was now gusting 70 + mph. Walking was extremely difficult and in the end we had to form a parallel line and link arms to stay on our feet and not get blown away. (This was becoming quite reminiscent of my WML Training on Creag Megaidh!). The snow had also arrived with large flakes mixed in with the spindrift.

We dropped to low ground as quickly as was possible also having to avoid windslab and rocky slopes. We finally made it back to the car at 3 pm. On our walk down, Steve debriefed each of us in turn. We were all delighted to find that all of us had passed the Assessment.



 

What an epic week. A big thanks to Sam Learey and Steve Spalding, our Assessors who not only assessed us but also used the time to add to our experience with coaching and tips, and to the other candidates, Neil, Danny and Emma. They were a great bunch, really supportive of each other and unlike some assessments I have seen we worked as a team with no one trying to play 'one upmanship' or putting others down. Thanks guys for an amazing week. Not sure I would want to repeat it, but I sure am glad I have had the experience and that after all these years I did go for the assessment.