Moel Siabod - first mountain in seven months

[smirnie71]

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So, having worked up an appetite for the hills, I could no longer ignore my urge to be on something pointy and rocky. It was time to head to Snowdonia. The first mountain in seven months was on the cards and as the week progressed the weather was looking very promising indeed.
The alarm went off at 5.30am, as per usual we both had a broken night's sleep and felt like death warmed up. The lure of the mountain was enough though so porridge was consumed, packs were checked and we piled in the car. Grey and overcast in Shropshire. Bummer. The closer to Capel Curig we got the clearer it got and by the time we parked up just by Plas y Brenin the mountains were bathed in glorious early spring sunshine.

Our target for the day - Moel Siabod in early morning sun light

Llynnau Mymbyr with Snowdon Horseshoe in the distance

Out of the woods, starting to gain height

Panorama of the Glyders and Carneddau

Tryfan cheekily peaking out behind the Gyder Ridge

Stunning view of the Carneddau and Llynnau Mymbyr

Moel Siabod ridge

Feels a bit like the Glyders up hear, lots of boulders

Happy Smurf!

Moel Siabod in all her rocky glory

Views into eastern Snowdonia and Shropshire

Daear Ddu - one day I may dare....

Llyn y Foel and Daear Ddu

Moel Siabod summit view

Yes we are clinging on for dear life.. bit of a drop on one side

Glyders from Moel Siabod summit

Snowdon Horseshoe from Moel Siabod Summit

Clouds starting to come in as we descend

Moss balls, not Moth balls

No balls?

Llynnau Mymbyr in late afternoon sun, rain is starting to creep in.

There's sadly no track for this walk, however if you go to Viewranger you'll find it listed as a route.

We were privileged to have such a great, life affirming day out on this beautiful mountain. Taking time out to focus just on the hill, take in natures bounty and become one with it, even for the briefest of moments is everything I need to help me cope with life’s everyday stresses.
I haven’t smiled this much in ages, inside or out and it’ll be a day to remember for years to come. We may have made a mockery of old Naismith , again, and I may have fallen over in an unceremonious heap twice but what a day!

[clivegrif]

Welcome back to the Hills - glad you enjoyed it!

[smirnie71]

Thank you Clive, it's been a long time. Arguably far too long but worth the wait. Can't believe we were so lucky. Happy to be back

[Rekrab]

well done! if you liked siabod from, plas y brenin do the scramble from pont cyfng.
it's very fun and easy i carried my daughter up on my back.
i hope that helps guage how fun and easy the scramble side of this mountain is.

MacKenzie.

[smirnie71]

Thanks Mackenzie!
Did look at the Pont Cyfng route but decided otherwise cos of scramble bits. Would like to give it a go tho.
Just shown your comment to my dearly beloved. Her response? "Hmmmmmmm. .............. That doesn't really give us a gauge of how difficult the scramble is because he could be like a monkey"
Think was probably a back handed compliment!
All the encouragement I need though. Did you go up Daear Ddu?

[Rekrab]

the name escapes me but look at my walk reports and you'll se out pics, route and description.

ttyl!!

[Rekrab]

the name escapes me at the moment, check out my trip report section our route along w map will be in there.

[ChrisW]

Great stuff Smirnie, welcome back to the hills - you seem to have picked an absolute stunner of a day for your return, you certainly got some lovely photos too. Don't worry too much about Neasmith (I used to think the bloke had a motorbike ) then after a few months I started making the times (or thereabouts) The enjoyment of the day is far more important than any time, in fact the longer you are out there the better I reckon

[malky_c]

Great weather, and looks like you had a good time! Moel Siabod is a favourite of mine, as it was my first proper big hill. I've been back many times since.

Looks like it was worth getting up early for the weather. I was out with my dad a little west of you, but not until the afternoon. We were actually pretty lucky with the weather, but it wasn't bright and sunny like this

Did you go up Daear Ddu?

I can't remember the details of Rekrab's report, but Daear Ddu is definitely the popular scrambly route. As he says, it is pretty straightforward, but if you get there and lose your bottle, you can avoid the actual scramble. Foggieclimber did just that on the Walkhighlands meet, as the winds were pretty strong. Report here.

[smirnie71]

Great stuff Smirnie, welcome back to the hills - you seem to have picked an absolute stunner of a day for your return, you certainly got some lovely photos too. Don't worry too much about Neasmith (I used to think the bloke had a motorbike ) then after a few months I started making the times (or thereabouts) The enjoyment of the day is far more important than any time, in fact the longer you are out there the better I reckon

Hehe, thanks Stretch! Good to be in communicado again!
It was a brilliant day out and I've long given up worrying about Naismith, it did however make me splutter over my keyboard when I saw the suggested trip time! and then I just

[ChrisW]

Hehe, thanks Stretch!

Stretch........