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By Peter Krug - June 2005
A late arrival at the Dolgam campsite near Capel Curig (tent up 12.55) meant a slightly tardy departure but nonetheless on the hill by about 10.45 to climb 'er Henry or "Yr Elen" as it is known in these parts which I think was possibly the only Welsh 3000r which I definitely have not done. Actually 10.45 was an early start for me and Louise after the long drive the previous evening.
Headed off the Bethesda and headed off into the hills. We must have been particularly unlucky because it was a cloudy morning in Snowdonia as we headed up the valley. We spent a bit of time trying to get across a river because Lou made several refusals owing to lack of a (walking) pole and previous dunking experiences until we eventually we found a suitable spot! Crossed the river and made our way up the shoulder and onto the ridge that approached Yr Elen from the North West and were soon immersed in the mist as we found the summit with unerring navigation.
We carried on along the tops noting steep drops to our left as we headed in the mist to Carnedd Llewelyn and onto the next summit Foel Grach and then descended to a col and headed left (North-west) for some time. After this good navigation we lost the plot somewhat on the descent and ended up on the wrong side of the hill and descending into the wrong valley. Doh! Lou made the correction and soon we were back on track and reached the car as dusk set in! Lesson of the day being that it is always good to keep concentrating even when you think that the hard work has been done and never assume that the cloud level was going to remain at the same level (even in North Wales). We could see our route off the hill when we were walking up the valley during the morning but by the time we were on our way down visibility had dropped a hundred or so metres. Evening meal in campsite and then the call of the pub was answered!
Shockingly, Saturday morning in North Wales came up rather damp and dreary. Another tardy start - "why bother" we thought. Nevertheless we kept to the plan to climb Snowdon from the sarf! By the time we found our parking place not far from Beddgelert, we realised we were too late to go for the summit. It was also drizzling heavily as we left the car but we thought we might as well take a stroll. We were glad we did because it was, in spite of the unusual wet weather, a beautiful area (much nicer than Pen-y-Pass). The Autumnal colours of the forests on the lower slopes were glorious. The rivers were in spate and the waterfalls were mighty impressive as we made of way up the well maintained track.
We stepped off the Watkin Path and carried on up the right hand side of the Afon Cwm Llan. This area was dominated by the mass of Y Lliwedd to the north-east which occasionally showed its summit through the cloud. It would also have been dominated by Yr Wyddfa to the north-west except that that was completely shrouded in the mist! How could that be - Yr Wyddfa in the cloud - there must be some mistake! At least we couldn't see the restaurant!
We made it up to a col (Bwlch Cwm Llan) and decided to head back down because whilst we were enjoying ourselves you can have too much of a good thing (rain!). Incidentally, there is much in the way of quarrying in this neck of the woods and there were many derelict buildings and a particularly impressive incline where the quarried rock was carted down off the mountain.
Next up was some mild gear-fondling in Llanberis where the weather was much worse and a pint (of tea/coffee) in Pete's Eats and went to Plas-y-Brenin and then back to camp - cooked dinner and then the pub beckoned (again) and naturally we relented especially as there were clothes to dry! The smell of my socks melting on the heater was particularly noxious but we won't go there! I was shocked when the barlady advised me that Capel Curig was the wettest place in England and Wales and needed several pints to recover.
Sunday morning was nicer so we could eat "al fresco" on the patio of my tent and then we decamped and went to Llyn Ogwen. Here weather was again shockingly, shite and cloud level was low (just above the Lake). We must have been really unlucky with the weather. Nonetheless we went for a short walk up to Llyn Bochlwyd and across to Llyn Idwal. Mindful of our navigational cock up two days previously we used the rare opportunity of navigating in poor visibility in North Wales to good effect! Having arrived safely at Llyn Idwal I introduced Louise to the "Slabs" where believe it or not there was a group being taught to climb on Ordinary Route. If they weren't being put off by the, albeit unlikely, inclement weather in Wales (in early November) then they must be keen!
We then headed off back to the car and home. Despite the surprisingly wet weather we both enjoyed ourselves and I have just managed to dry my boots out.