Snowdonia Trek Horrible Day on Cnicht

Today we walked from Tremadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog over Cnicht, a small mountain just under 700 metres. About 15.5 miles but it took 8.5 hours, slowed by the weather, scrambling on slippery rock and old age!

It was raining as we left our hotel and hadn’t stopped when we reached our next stop in Blaenau.

The higher we went the worse it became with winds over 40 mph behind the rain making my face feel like a pin cushion at times. Rain was running down my arms making my fleece sleeves very wet as well as blowing in around my face. Horrible weather!

Al fared better with his new Gore-Tex jacket and trousers but you can’t always have new gear. Most of the time mine is fine.

I carried my Mamiya 7 camera all day with no chance to use it. Even in a LowePro case with a waterproof cover everything was wet.

Our hotel doesn’t do food on a Sunday so we went out for an Indian. Now having a pint in the pub. Hope most of the gear is dry when we return to the room. 

We turned on both radiators and heated towel rail to Max to dry gear. Room may be more like sauna so sleeping may be a problem but gear should be dry!

Forecast for tomorrow is similar so having second thoughts about going over Moel Siabod. May find a lower route. Five wet days in six so far! So much for adding to my Snowdonia portfolio.

One highlight of the day was seeing an Osprey a few miles from Tremadog. I had no idea they were nesting in the area.

Welsh Highland Railway

Falls above Blaenau Ffestiniog

Photos taken on Moto-X phone

Dave Butcher
www.davebutcher.co.uk
www.darkroomdave.com