A really wild camp
Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2018 8:45 pmNOTE: THIS REPORT WAS INTENDED FOR MY PERSONAL FOLDER ONLY, BUT I FORGOT TO TICK THE NECESSARY BOX TO PREVENT ITS BEING PUBLISHED, AND IT SEEMS THERE'S NO WAY OF CORRECTING THIS OMISSION.
Ever since "discovering" Llyn Glas, with its beautiful verdant little island, while heading to Person y Clogwyn ...
IMG_0558
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=43152
... I've wanted to do a wild camp on that island with one or both of my grandsons.
We'd already done a bit of walking and wild camping in Snowdonia, so I thought they'd be up for it. But in the event only Spencer, the older of the two (10) was available on the day I'd set for going, so just the two of us went. As it happens, I'm sure that this was very fortunate - I'd forgotten that it's quite a tough climb, and the younger one is less keen on scrambling.
20170421_155606. We set off from Pont y Gromlech at around 4pm on a Friday afternoon.
The only fixed plan was to camp on the Islet in Llyn Glas: we'd discuss what else we might do once we were up there. However, thinking we might do a bit of scrambling, I had the climbing gear, as well as most of the heavy stuff (not wanting to discourage Spence), so the sac was straining on my shoulders rather.
20170421_161929. On our way, the view looking back towards Pen-y-pass.
20170421_162047. The route up to the north ridge below Dinas Mot is quite steep and rough, and Spence found it quite hard going, necessitating a good few rests.
20170421_162059. ...which gave us the opportunity to take a few pics, this one looking down Llanberis Pass.
20170421_173116. An hour or so later, as we neared the top of the climb, the view hadn't changed much.
20170421_173135 Nearly the end of the big climb. There was a fair bit of non-trivial scrambling, which Spence did very well to negotiate, and which augered well for options on the morrow.
20170421_174037.
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20170421_174103. Looking back towards Pen-y-pass again, with Moel Siabod in the background.
20170421_174943. Pano looking ahead towards the Crib Goch Ridge, with Crib Goch itself on the LHS.
20170421_180451 Nearly at the campsite.
20170421_181332 our campsite - the islet. Every bit as impressive as I remembered it.
20170421_181835. It looked like we were going to be sharing the islet with others - a pair of Canada Geese, and a flock of gulls - making quite a bit of noise!
20170421_181959.
20170421_182028. Another brief pause to gather breath before tackling the stepping stones across to the islet,
20170421_183310. It turned out that the pair of Canada Geese were nesting on the islet... And they seemed quite unperturbed when we pitched our tent!
20170421_190350 Waiting for supper.
20170421_190426. Our pitch, and the view up to Grib Goch ridge. Wonderful!
Once we'd had our meal we went for a bit of a stroll around the area - there were superb views down towards the lower reaches of Pen-y-pass. But it was quite chilly, so after a while we retreated to the tent and bedded down for the night. By now we were quite used to the gulls screeching, and both of us dropped off fairly promptly.
Only to be awoken well after midnight by some very loud shouting and talking. I heard the people point out our tent on the island, so they knew we were there, but they kept up the high volume talking and calling to each other for the following three quarters of an hour, as they pitched their tents just at the north end of Llyn Glas. I must say, I was surprised at their total lack of consideration.
20170422_075007. When we arose around 07.00, the nocturnal arrivals were still asleep. Their tent is visible on the RHS of the pic. I was only just able to resist the urge to shout around and bang our billies as we got our breakfast.
We discussed what we might do, and since Spence said he would like to do Snowdon and Crib Goch, and the tops looked to be clear, that's what we decided on.
20170422_075049 We headed first for the saddle on the ridge.
20170422_081307. It was a fairly straightforward walk up to the saddle, with some great views looking back across to the Llanberis Pass, and Elidir Fawr (LHS) and Y Garn (centre).
20170422_082255. En route to Snowdon via Garnedd Ugain. There's a clear path, and the terrain is easy, but there was a strong and chilly wind.
20170422_083202. Pano looking across towards Snowdon, Y Lliwedd on the LHS, and Garnedd Ugain on the RHS.
20170422_084541. On the way we get good views of our camp spot way below.
Spence on Garnedd Ugain.
Shortly after this we passed some guys coming from Snowdon, who warned us that it was utterly freezing in the wind on the summit.
20170422_09332. Spence on Snowdon. Yes, it certainly was freezing - Spence told me he'd never experienced such cold!
20170422_093939. Great views from the summit, though with the speed that the cloud was moving, it was difficult to get a clear image. Y Lliwedd is centre pic.
Unfortunately it was too early for the cafe on the summit to be open, so having taken a few pics, we headed back towards Garnedd Ugain as fast as our legs would carry us.
20170422_100804. Great views again, this looking approximately north east....
20170422_100804 labelled with some of the Welsh 3000ers.
20170422_102525. Our islet again.
Once we got on to the Crib Goch ridge proper, Spence was really in his element, and passed numerous very surprised adults. He's a skillful climber, with no fear of heights, and he loved it.
20170422_105311. Again our islet, as we approached Crib Goch summit
20170422_105548 Crib Goch.
20170422_105545. Looking south towards the dramatic cliffs of Y Lliwedd - apparently the highest cliffs in the UK outside Scotland - around 300m.
20170422_110208 Spence on Crib Goch.
We descended by the north ridge, a decent path, with a few bits of easy scrambling.
20170422_113046. This is looking back at the ridge, about half-way down it.
Then we cut across west, and were soon ...
20170422_115049 ...back at our campsite. Fortunately the noise merchants had gone!
We descended into Cwm Glas Mor via a large path (which for some strange reason isn't shown on the map) ...
20170422_132051. ...meeting some feral goats on the way.
20170422_132557. Then we headed just north of east to pass below the cliffs of Dinas Mot
20170422_134112.
... and back to the car.
A superb wild camp, in a wild wild location. And Spence acquitted himself very well indeed.
3D of route.
Ever since "discovering" Llyn Glas, with its beautiful verdant little island, while heading to Person y Clogwyn ...
IMG_0558https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=43152
... I've wanted to do a wild camp on that island with one or both of my grandsons.
We'd already done a bit of walking and wild camping in Snowdonia, so I thought they'd be up for it. But in the event only Spencer, the older of the two (10) was available on the day I'd set for going, so just the two of us went. As it happens, I'm sure that this was very fortunate - I'd forgotten that it's quite a tough climb, and the younger one is less keen on scrambling.
20170421_155606. We set off from Pont y Gromlech at around 4pm on a Friday afternoon.The only fixed plan was to camp on the Islet in Llyn Glas: we'd discuss what else we might do once we were up there. However, thinking we might do a bit of scrambling, I had the climbing gear, as well as most of the heavy stuff (not wanting to discourage Spence), so the sac was straining on my shoulders rather.
20170421_161929. On our way, the view looking back towards Pen-y-pass. 20170421_162047. The route up to the north ridge below Dinas Mot is quite steep and rough, and Spence found it quite hard going, necessitating a good few rests.20170421_162059. ...which gave us the opportunity to take a few pics, this one looking down Llanberis Pass.20170421_173116. An hour or so later, as we neared the top of the climb, the view hadn't changed much.20170421_173135 Nearly the end of the big climb. There was a fair bit of non-trivial scrambling, which Spence did very well to negotiate, and which augered well for options on the morrow.20170421_174037. [
20170421_174103. Looking back towards Pen-y-pass again, with Moel Siabod in the background.20170421_174943. Pano looking ahead towards the Crib Goch Ridge, with Crib Goch itself on the LHS.20170421_180451 Nearly at the campsite. 20170421_181332 our campsite - the islet. Every bit as impressive as I remembered it.20170421_181835. It looked like we were going to be sharing the islet with others - a pair of Canada Geese, and a flock of gulls - making quite a bit of noise!20170421_181959.20170421_182028. Another brief pause to gather breath before tackling the stepping stones across to the islet,20170421_183310. It turned out that the pair of Canada Geese were nesting on the islet... And they seemed quite unperturbed when we pitched our tent!20170421_190350 Waiting for supper.20170421_190426. Our pitch, and the view up to Grib Goch ridge. Wonderful!Once we'd had our meal we went for a bit of a stroll around the area - there were superb views down towards the lower reaches of Pen-y-pass. But it was quite chilly, so after a while we retreated to the tent and bedded down for the night. By now we were quite used to the gulls screeching, and both of us dropped off fairly promptly.
Only to be awoken well after midnight by some very loud shouting and talking. I heard the people point out our tent on the island, so they knew we were there, but they kept up the high volume talking and calling to each other for the following three quarters of an hour, as they pitched their tents just at the north end of Llyn Glas. I must say, I was surprised at their total lack of consideration.
20170422_075007. When we arose around 07.00, the nocturnal arrivals were still asleep. Their tent is visible on the RHS of the pic. I was only just able to resist the urge to shout around and bang our billies as we got our breakfast.We discussed what we might do, and since Spence said he would like to do Snowdon and Crib Goch, and the tops looked to be clear, that's what we decided on.
20170422_075049 We headed first for the saddle on the ridge.20170422_081307. It was a fairly straightforward walk up to the saddle, with some great views looking back across to the Llanberis Pass, and Elidir Fawr (LHS) and Y Garn (centre).20170422_082255. En route to Snowdon via Garnedd Ugain. There's a clear path, and the terrain is easy, but there was a strong and chilly wind.20170422_083202. Pano looking across towards Snowdon, Y Lliwedd on the LHS, and Garnedd Ugain on the RHS.20170422_084541. On the way we get good views of our camp spot way below.Spence on Garnedd Ugain.Shortly after this we passed some guys coming from Snowdon, who warned us that it was utterly freezing in the wind on the summit.
20170422_09332. Spence on Snowdon. Yes, it certainly was freezing - Spence told me he'd never experienced such cold! 20170422_093939. Great views from the summit, though with the speed that the cloud was moving, it was difficult to get a clear image. Y Lliwedd is centre pic.Unfortunately it was too early for the cafe on the summit to be open, so having taken a few pics, we headed back towards Garnedd Ugain as fast as our legs would carry us.
20170422_100804. Great views again, this looking approximately north east....20170422_100804 labelled with some of the Welsh 3000ers.20170422_102525. Our islet again.Once we got on to the Crib Goch ridge proper, Spence was really in his element, and passed numerous very surprised adults. He's a skillful climber, with no fear of heights, and he loved it.
20170422_105311. Again our islet, as we approached Crib Goch summit20170422_105548 Crib Goch.20170422_105545. Looking south towards the dramatic cliffs of Y Lliwedd - apparently the highest cliffs in the UK outside Scotland - around 300m.20170422_110208 Spence on Crib Goch.We descended by the north ridge, a decent path, with a few bits of easy scrambling.
20170422_113046. This is looking back at the ridge, about half-way down it.Then we cut across west, and were soon ...
20170422_115049 ...back at our campsite. Fortunately the noise merchants had gone!We descended into Cwm Glas Mor via a large path (which for some strange reason isn't shown on the map) ...
20170422_132051. ...meeting some feral goats on the way.20170422_132557. Then we headed just north of east to pass below the cliffs of Dinas Mot
20170422_134112.... and back to the car.
A superb wild camp, in a wild wild location. And Spence acquitted himself very well indeed.
3D of route.
