Total ascent 858m (2815ft).
Today turned out far, far better than expected. But first the necessaries. Mike arrived at the quite lovely Bron Eryri B&B just after 6. Carole made us a pot of tea (yes I drank tea!) and gave us some superb cake before we set off to explore. Incredibly, between Capel Curig itself and the B&B (about a mile) there are three pubs and a cafe. We went for a pint in the first pub, then the second. It was obvious by now that I wouldn't get to see the match so we returned to the first pub, Tyn y Coed, to eat. I had a mighty fine beef curry and we chatted and drank for several hours.
So this morning Carole kindly gave us a lift to Pen y Pass and we were off up the Glyders. It was good to have company and especially Mike, who has been a great walking companion over the years and is still a strong walker despite the injuries.
I was expecting a cloudy day but not the drama we actually got, which was mist at various times above us, below us and around us. So on the way up we had fantastic views of Snowdon surrounded by mist, and on the way down we had fantastic views of Tryfan and the Carneddau surrounded by mist. It was the middle bit though which was the best.
We reached the top of Glyder Fawr with ease, but headed off quickly for the far more interesting summit of Glyder Fach. It's such a great summit that we lingered for quite a while, the entire time in thick mist. We clambered up Castell y Gwynt (castle of the wind), a spiky rock formation, posed for photos on the cantilever and ate a superb Bron Eryri packed lunch. And watching rocks and whole mountains looming out of the mist then disappearing just as quickly was fascinating. It was so different to any other time I've been up there.
Once down we had a cuppa (tea again!) at Ogwen cafe and walked around the lake to knock a mile off tomorrow's epic, before walking back to Capel Curig in glorious sunshine. We managed to avoid one of the 3 pubs on the way back but not the other 2. So I'll end prematurely because it's time for food and more drink. It'll be odd finishing tomorrow but it will be a heck of a climax across my favourite mountain range.
So here are a few photos from today, though again the zoomed ones will probably be blurred.
Mike, aka Fatman, with Snowdon behind.
Snowdon.
Me! On top of Glyder Fach.
Me again! On the cantilever.
The summit of Tryfan.
Tryfan and the Carneddau.
-- Posted from Kev's iPhone
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