Location - Snowdonia National Park
Height - Y Garn (3107ft) and Elidir Fawr (3031ft)
Time - 7hrs approx
Distance - Approx 8 miles
Conditions - Cold, bleak, misty, rainy!
Walking with - DK
It was billed as a weekend of walks to include 4 peaks, 3 of which we'd not climbed before but needed to tick off the list of our missing 3000's. The plan was to travel down on the Friday, walk up Y Garn and Elidir Fawr on the Saturday and retrace our steps up Carnedd Llewellyn to reach the previously unattainable Yr Elen on the Sunday. Being there early doors on the Friday meant we could squeeze in another and we decided to do Moel Siabod as it was reputed to have an excellent scramble and that's enough to whet anyone's appetite.
Friday 22nd June - The plan was to climb Moel Siabod or Moel Showaddywaddy as I named it as it was a mountain that we'd looked at before and although wasnt in our list of 3000's it still had a certain scrambling appeal. The drive down to Capel Curig was uneventful apart from the lashing rain and flooded roads. However by the time we'd reached the Siabod Cafe to get some breakfast the rain was practically horizontal and the winds gusty and strong even at ground level so goodness knows what it would be like at the top of a mountain we couldnt even see. Plan B was quickly put into action and an afternoon of window shopping and route planning was now on the cards.
Saturday 23rd June - Bags packed, snacks prepared, checklist ticked off, boots on and breakfast consumed we headed down to what has become a very special place indeed the Ogwen Valley. Home to my very favourite mountain, Tryfan. This was not our target for the day but instead we'd venture further down the valley and tackle Y Garn (3107ft) and Elidir Fawr (3031ft). Having only ever seen pictures of these 2 peaks we had no idea what was in store for us today apart from the knowledge that our hard work would be rewarded at some point with some spectacular views (if the cloud removed itself from the top that was). We started out on a familiar route through the valley towards the Idwal slabs and Llyn Idwal where this time we'd take the right hand path and not the left one we'd previous taken towards the Glyders.
The right hand path was clearly marked and as the cloud swirled around the mountain ahead we kept catching glimpses of the route upwards.
It was a steady slog initially until our mountain legs kicked in and after an hour of heading up we were granted a moments respite on a flatter path. This breather was short lived as before us we could see the path to the summit and it was indeed steep. Onwards and upwards I found myself counting my way to the top. One step in front of the other, stopping every now and again to take a breather and to look back down the gorgeous valley behind us.
Its said that you should find your pace and stick to it without stopping and a chap passed us using this exact technique. To me it seems quite a boring and monotonous way of walking up a mountain. Very regimented and emotionless and I much prefer the push and the stops and the burn and the breathlessness and the mental struggle I sometimes have with myself whilst tackling the steepness. Whether this is the best way or not its the way that works for me and I'm going to stick to it.
Y Garn was indeed a delight to climb. It had its tricky moments and then a lovely little scramble at the end brought us out right on the top where for the first time today the full effect of the wind could be felt. I needed a drink and to sort my boots so tucked down in behind some rocks to sort my pack out and heard the bimblemeister call out that it was like Piccadilly Station up on the top behind me. Suddenly from nowwhere there seemed to be loads of people all coming up from the path we were heading for to Elidir Fawr and making their way to the Glyders. We soon found out that this was groups of people doing ALL the 3000's that day. Some had bivvied on Snowdon the night before, been up since 4am (ish) and were now half way through their challenge and it was only mid morning. Hats off to these folks but its not something that I would relish. I like to enjoy each mountain and not be rushing round them just to tick a box.
As we made our way off the summit of Y Garn we could see a large and impressive mountain to the left of us and realised that this indeed was Elidir Fawr and our next target for the day. The top was covered almost a 3rd of the way down with cloud however the 2/3rds we could see looked magnificent and every now and again, through the cloud, we could see the ridge walk which looked very very inticing. Making our way down the left hand flank of Foel Goch the cloud still hung ominously over the peak.
There werent many people going our way but we did pass many people coming the other way on their 3000's challenge and it was lovely to stop and chat for a moment and giving some insight as to how far they still had to go to a certain point. Quite a few of the young lads we met were keen to get to Tryfan and looking forward to that highlight of their day which took me right back to the day we tackled Tryfan and thoughts of getting back there one day soon. I dont think I could ever tire of being on Tryfan. But back to our next summit for today and before long we had climbed up to the ridge. It was a steady climb only hampered by the fact that the cloud was now so low we couldnt really see what was ahead. There was a clearly marked path and every now and again you would hear voices coming towards you but the visibility meant that you had no idea how far you had to go or indeed where the summit was.
As with all mountains you just keep going, moving forwards, encountering challenges and obstacles and finally you reach the summit and this is what we did. By the time we got there the visibility was practically zero and after a foray through some very big rocks we found the shelter. A shelter for 2 soon became a shelter for 4 and then a shelter for 10 as people emerged from the mist and climbed in to the rock enclave. Snacks consumed, stories shared and boots relaced we didnt stick around long as it was cold and windy and the moisture in the air meant that the rocks were slippy and going down them would be a little tricker than coming up so off we set back down the path we'd come up both agreeing that Elidir Fawr was indeed an impressive mountain.
Once back on the path between Y Garn and Elidir Fawr we looked back and the cloud was starting to lift from the top of the mountain we'd just climbed and we could see its impressive summit. One day, on a clear day we'll go back and hopefully see the views that eluded us today.
Thoughts now turned to our descent and although we'd looked for our downward route earlier in the day we still had no clear idea which was the best path to take. We were aiming for the route down via the mushroom garden and this was clearly marked on the map but with all descents choosing the wrong route down can lead you into big trouble and today wasnt a day for big trouble. We did toy with the idea of re-ascending Y Garn and taking a quick trip over to the Glyders but stuck to our earlier plan and hopped over a few stiles to see if we could get our bearings for the desecnt.
Ever downwards we plotted our way down to the valley, passing Cwm's and large rocks marking our way.
A fence, a wall and a river was spotted....all good signs to get you where you need to go so a bit of handrailing and the emergence of a bridge to cross the gushing river meant we were soon back down on the road. Almost immediately we turned round and there before us, sitting pleasantly on the mountain side was a a section of rock and grass which ineed looked like the terraced view of a mushroom garden......there it was!
Y Garn and Elidir Fawr were brilliant and it was another excellent day. True the weather could have been better (the rain stayed away till near the end thankfully) and the views werent there for us but it didnt matter, the day was excellent.
To finish things off we decided to stop by the Mountain Rescue hut for a cuppa and meet a few of the folks there. Unfortunately they were in the middle of a rescue as someone had hurt their knee over in the Devil's Kitchen so it was a short stop and after our cuppa we thanked them and vowed to return soon.
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