Snowboner 2023
Details
Date: 16th -19th March 2023
Location: Eryri
Hostel: YHA Snowdon Ranger
Hikes
Day 1
The first day we hiked Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) the tallest mountain in all of Wales, we did two groups who did the same route. We started in Pen-y-Pas and followed the Pyg Track to the summit. Conditions were cloudy with some patches of snow on top for a few snowball fights. The faster group made the ascent and descent in very fast time and so made a detour in the form of a race and a quick dip in a small lake on the way.
Both group followed the Llwybr Llanberis Path down to Llanberis with a quick stop for a tour of Pentre-Castell. An attempt was made to enter the power station to try get to the climbers (they couldn't read the map (map was wrong - Jack) but their attempts were quickly quashed so they resorted to the pub.
Day 2
For our second escapade, we set our eyes on the Glyder Fach & Fawn Ridge. After Alex dropped us at an impressive Joe Browne's at Capel Curig, the clouds broke and we made tracks. We passed some locals who wished us well on our time crunch to get to Llanberis in time for the Irish match. Both groups made it to Glyder Fach (994m) and Glyder Fawr (1001m or 998m) to take the iconic photo. The spur from the beginning of Capel Curig was a very gentle ascent towards Glyder Fach, with similar terrain to that of Connemara. Despite Brendan on the short hike emanating a strong cheese smell, the short hike progressed quickly over this spur.
The final ascent for Glyder Fach involves a number of scrambles up large rocks, this was at a level achievable by the short group with constant attention to the safest route. The peak of Glyder Fach provided a series of mounds of large rocks. Which provided an excellent opportunity for some most enjoyable scrambling but with care taken as the group was less experienced than the longer. The shorter group spent some time traversing these rocks, which was successful in the end (all phones that fell into the cracks were recovered).
The long group went onwards to Glyder Fawr. (The Glyder Fawr is named such as it's fricken far, and the Glyder Fach is facken steep, some local knowledge for you.) The long group went onwards, up to Glyder Fawr, down through Devil's Kitchen and up to Y Garn and over towards Elidir Fawr, descending to follow the Afon Dudodyn out to the road, all in time to make it to the local arms, hearing Amhrán na bhFiann just as we got in, saturated. A perfect mountain day. 19.5km, 7 hours.
The short group made their way down to Pen-y-Pas via a trail from Glyder Fawr. Rain resumed at the top of the Glyder Fawr and for the entire descent. This trail could be identified by two large mounds of rock to the South side of the Gylder Fawr peak. This trail was very steep on the decline with boggy and unstable footing, this along with the fog removing all visibility meant that careful navigation and a slow pace had to be taken. Though some wild mountain goats were a welcome sight. The group then got a lift into Llanberis also in time to catch the game. Overall a most enjoyable day with a time of approx. 7 hours and a distance of 14km.
We won btw, and the Welsh confetti cannoned us to celebrate.
Climbs
Day 1
Serengeti.
Well, where else to experience a heatwave? Following the hike up, a kilo of soup in hand, we quickly found our groove, well I'm told they're crags but, you know... There were some hot hot climbs completed by our intrepid members. Even a multi-pitch was completed. We didn't quite get to the fairytale that is Peter Pan but Graze Anatomy was very much reached, and without any hospitalisations. Between the climbing, some sunbathed while others scoped out their next victim, sorry, route. An exquisite day on the slab, so good in fact the kilo of positive morale anti-misery soup was not required.
Day 2
Australia.
˙uᴉʍ puɐlǝɹI ɥɔʇɐʍ oʇ qnd ǝɥʇ uo sʇɥƃᴉs ɹno ʇǝs puɐ ɹɐǝƃ ƃuᴉuᴉɐɯǝɹ ʎuɐ pǝʌoɯǝɹ ʎlʞɔᴉnb ǝʍ 'ʎɹɹɐnb ǝɥʇ oʇuᴉ pǝʍolɟ uᴉɐɹ ǝɥʇ s∀ ˙ʎɹolƃ oʇ sdǝʇs ǝɥʇ pǝpuǝɔsɐ ǝʍ puɐ ƃuɐɥɹǝʌo uɐ pᴉp ʇspᴉɯ ɹno uᴉ suɐʇnƃuɐɹo oʍ┴ ˙ɹoɥɔuɐ ǝɥʇ ʇɐ sƃuᴉɹ pǝpuᴉɯ-ʞɐǝʍ ʎlsɐǝɯ ǝɯos ƃuᴉddᴉlɔ sᴉ ǝsᴉɹdɹns ǝsᴉɹdɹns ǝɥʇ 'ʇno suɹnʇ ʇᴉ 'slᴉɐɹ ǝɥʇ ǝʌoq∀ ˙dn ƃuᴉllǝʌǝl ǝɹoɟǝq ǝqnʇ ǝɥʇ ʎq sqɯᴉlɔ ǝɹoɯ ʍǝɟ ɐ pᴉp ǝM ˙ǝɹǝɥʇ ǝɹǝʍ ʇɐɥʇ sʇloq oʍʇ ǝɥʇ uo pɐɹʇ ǝq oʇ ʇuɐǝɯ ǝɹɐ ʇɐɥʇ sǝʇnoɹ oʍʇ pᴉp ǝʍ pɐǝʇsuI ˙ʎlǝʇɐunʇɹoɟun ǝqnʇ ǝɥʇ ǝɯnɥxǝ ɹo ǝunɹd 'ɯoozzz 'uool ʇ,upᴉp ǝʍ ɥƃnoɥʇlɐ uoᴉʇɔǝs ǝqnʇ ǝɥʇ ƃuᴉuool ǝɥʇ uᴉ uɐƃǝq ǝM ˙(snuᴉɯɹǝ┴ snq ƃᴉʍɹouᴉp ɐᴉʌ) ɹǝpun uʍop ʎǝuɹnoɾ ǝɥʇ ǝpɐɯ ǝʍ 'ǝʇɐɯ ʎɐp,פ
Pubs
Three public houses were sampled during the trip
Padarn
Our Hike Leader Joe Mee has a certain knack for accurate bearings, and an intuition to locate pubs. Whilst the rest of the hikers were exploring a nearby castle, Dr Mee safely navigated his thirsty hikers to this fine establishment. With a crowd of builders, their girlfriends and a number of dogs, the staff were very friendly and had no issue with us all coming on in. The building itself was fairly small, but with a few sitting outside, everyone fit comfortably. Snowdon Lager and Snowdon Amber, two local beers were served there, along with cheap(ish) Guinness (£4.60). There was food offered, with their burger advertised by the bar staff as "The best burger you'll ever have", though it didn't look that great and was politely declined. The patrons of this bar were treated to only the finest of British entertainment, the hit game show, "The Chase". Allowing our weary hikers (mostly Johnny) to rejuvinate their minds with random trvia, and some good ol British cheer. Overall not a bad choice of spot.
Vaynol Arms
We happened upon the mighty Vaynol Arms in search of a glimpse of the hallowed turf of the Aviva, and boy did they deliver. This mountaineering-themed pub had more gear on the walls than the Club has in the locker. From ice axes on the taps, and crampons on the ceiling to hexes on the last call bell, it truly was a pub for us. The food was great, and after they saw us fall through the door drowned wet, the open fire was promptly lit. The local Welsh were keen to join the celebrations as Ireland performed mightily against a mutual, let's say, competitor. A bit of tea into the systems brought the damp hikers' & climber's spirits back to life and everyone, even those who had never watched a game of rugby or weren't even from Ireland were getting involved. We quickly realised if the other groups joined us in the Arms, it would be 100% UGMC members, and as marvellous as that would've been, it was decided to split the group, sending half onwards to new heights, in The Heights. Pun intended :)
The Heights
This very dog-friendly and Irish-friendly pub welcomed us after we realised the Vaynol Arms would be too wee to accommodate all of us. We claimed a few tables in the front by the telly to watch the match. Many of us ordered food upon the recommendation of our driver. This recommendation was quickly redacted as the food was subpar after a long day of hiking and climbing. Although the joy of winning the match meant it didn't matter. One of the staff helped us celebrate our victory by firing off a confetti cannon over us. He had been no doubt waiting to use this cannon for many months if not years. His coworkers were not impressed with his actions and the subsequent mess, especially after we promptly left to make our merry way home.
Rian's Log
19/03/2023
Hello my name is Rian, I have been forced to right about the club trip by mr Aodhán. To start from the start we got on a boat and it was fair long hai, we ended up in wales fair racked and I got myself a wee McDonald’s to fill the hole in me belly, and sure once we hit the hostel we hit the sack fairly soon. On the Friday plenty was done I did the auld rock climbing and it was thoroughly enjoyed, few ropes wear put up and climbs where done, it was nice clean rock in the quarry and stayed fairly dry throughout. We landed back at the hostel and drank for the saints day, games where played and was good aul craic in-fairness.
The Saturday I did the longer hike and it was good apart from Niall farting all the time, don’t walk behind him believe me, we marched on anyways and did a few scrambles, we went down anyways to see the game but we where a tad bit damp, the game was surreal, that was a big word wasn’t it cheers, we drank a more that night and had the craic went to bed anyways and went home on Sunday, but on the way we went through laudikwyevriwjegwostwvsufosgwudodb wat a spot now hai. Right so good luck to the lot of yis and enjoy the pancake toesdy tomorrow.