Trip Report: Corn Du and Pen y Fan

pdr_20090108_5852
Originally uploaded by Pete Roberts (rhayader_wanderer)

Having taken a break, had lunch in the car met up with a friend we repositioned our vehicles at Pont ar Daf in the toilet car park half a mile south of storey arms.

From here there is what only can be described as a motorway to the summit. A dead easy walk for even the most remote happy couch potato in summer the intermittent layers of ice and slippery rock means a degree of respect is required at this time of year.

The only decision to be made is which first Cord Du or the Pen. We opted for the former as we had no plans to descend via Tommy Jones Memorial today and a good choice it was too. The cloud stayed with us for the first top but as we toasted my 40th birthday with a glass of chilled pinot noir (grabbed a red not a white by mistake) a few breaks began to appear to both north and east and we were treated to the imposing vista of the photographs.

After a careful retrace to the first col the descent was down on the motorway to round off a thoroughly enjoyable day





All photos from 8th January

Trip report : Cerrig Gleisiad/Fan Frynach

Black Mountain ridge
Originally uploaded by Pete Roberts (rhayader_wanderer)

I don't often make a habit of repeating walks within 6 months but I made an exception here all be it in reverse.

With 3 hours spare before meeting up for an afternoon walk I decided to spend the first half of my 40th birthday in the hills around the Cerrig Gleisiad reserve and what a choice it was too.

First up the frost and snow made for steady going up the ridge but it soon became apparent that not only was the cloud laying with a small temperature inversion and the sun was breaking though.

sure enough on the ridge sun and cloud interacted and nature gave me a moderate quality Brocken Spectre as a birthday present. The route itself was as easy as ever and remembering to take the left of the two diagonals off Frynach itself cut the corner down into the reserve. A lovely start to a great day out


Other photos from this walk


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Trip Report: Y Gryn

Frynach and Gleisian from Y Gryn
Originally uploaded by Pete Roberts (rhayader_wanderer)

Originally planned today as a stop on descent from the higher Beacons and instead opted for the quick out and back so as to avoid any ice on the rocks off the summit of Corn Du.

I've blogged about the route before so all that is left are the photos.



All todays photos on Flickr

Trip Report: Cader Idris

Llyn Cau
Originally uploaded by Pete Roberts (rhayader_wanderer)

If you asked most people to name two Welsh Mountains most would say Snowdon and then be stumped but a few would add Cader Idris as an immediate second choice.

Cader is an old friend for me I first climbed in in 1988 as a student leading a group of local scouts and its now almost reached the list of summits I have visited in every month of the year.

Today it had a few surprises for me, the first a whacking great £4 parking fee at Minfordd. Exit straight away and park in the layby halfway up the pass.

The next was how much fun it is to walk with a dog having been joined by a fried with a gorgeous pointer. The walk itself was classic Cader. Its a while since I climbed Gau Graig first and and this and Mynydd Moel were the aim for the day I left the layby and cut across hillside to the fence leaving two well wrapped up plane spotters on the ridge. From here its a straight climb up to the summit along the fence for the most part but occassionaly veering off to the right most notably at the obvious talus pile as you find a track thought the rocks.

The track finally bring you out on the much underrated Gau Graig, a little pimple walked the other way but a great viewpoint and sense of achievement after an hour.

The walk now unfolds before you heading West along the northern Cader scarp. This is a walk not to be rushed but neither one that overstresses the body despite appearances.

Passing the cairns of Mynydd Moel the trigpoint finally bursts into view against a foreground of white powder snow.

The other benefit of walking this way is that you are almost always facing the sun and at -9degress C on the way to the start that was more than welcome today. However sooner or later you have to drop into Cwm Cau and its shadow and sheets of ice on the hanging valley part of the path.

The final descent is via the woodland on the hillside wooden steps were added several years ago but they are starting to show signs of wear. For some the wood is broken and for many the gravel and soil has been washed out leaving an inch or more to trip the unwary descentant.

All told it was nice to revisit an old friend and nicer still to take a direction that I have tended to ignore in the past


More images from today


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Trip Report : Radnor Forest

New Years Day 2009
Originally uploaded by Pete Roberts (rhayader_wanderer)

I've blogged before about the delights of the hills above New Radnor. They are close to home for me and with a 3 and a bit hour walk time are an afternoon walk even in the depths of Winter.

And winter it was on new years day. The bright sunny sky of the day before was replaced with a blanket of freezing fog. Grey and atmospheric to the core.

Also freezing to the core as I found to my cost when the tube on my water pack froze solid after first use.

Route wise the only thing to add is that the path onto Great Rhos that appears to disappear on the map is now very distinct and goes to thing a couple of hundred metres of the trigpoint so there is no need to bash through the heather for a direct approach.


Other photos from this walk


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