Adapting to Conditions: Plan C - Siabod

Today was day 4 of the course and the plan was the ascent of Cnicht and an overnight camping where we would do night navigation.

The weather forecast however referred to the ‘Mini Beast’ & associated severe wintry conditions and so it was felt that on a course with a ‘Summer’ remit, we needed to camp closer to exit options. And so to plan B which was ‘The Glyders’ and camping near Pen y Pass. Only, when we got to the start of the walk, we could see the tops were way too snow covered. And so to plan C - 6 hours nav on the western flank of Moel Siabod. Today’s double rainbow blip was taken towards Siabod at the end of the day as we waded through bog and thick grassland.

This was followed by setting up camp in a sheep fold above the Pen y Gwryd hotel & then 4 hours night nav around Llyn Cwmffynnon and Moel Berfedd 482m. The terrain there is tough at the best of times: countless streams to negotiate, tufts of soft rush to wobble on slippery rocks to avoid, big boulders to clamber over and plenty of water filled holes to catch us unawares. At night, the pitfalls seem constant.

Unfortunately the fire alarm had gone off at 5am in the Llanberis YHA, so it was a very long and physically & mentally exhausting day. I’m getting better at finding my way though :-)

Philosophy Friday, in memory of Steven Hawking, a truly inspirational man:
However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at. It matters that you don’t just give up.