Meet Report: Plas-y Brenin, Snowdonia, 27th - 29th February 2004

The white hills looked promising as we entered North Wales on Friday night and as we approached the Plas-y-Brenin Mountain Training Centre the snow started to fall. A brief snowball fight from the cottage to the bar was enough to fill us with high expectations for the following day.

Saturday was gloriously sunny with a bright blue sky and white, white mountains all around. The paths were guesswork as we stepped into the thick blanket of fresh snow over our boots and often well up over our knees. Although kitted up with crampons and ice axes there was no chance of their use as the snow was soft and dry and gave way under our feet. Higher up we took off our sacs and leapt into it, rolled down the hills or slid down on our backsides. It was fairly tough-going and bitterly cold higher up but we were delighted with fantastic views at the summit of Glyder Fach then decided on a quick descent around the base of Tryfan. After 8 hours of idyllic walking we were glad to be back for a very well-deserved dinner at the bar.

Sunday there was lots of activity. Jason headed off on his mountain bike, Marisa, Ian, Noelle and Paul exploring the local villages, and Tom, Kate, Michael, Rob and myself headed up Moel Siabod. Although we didn't have the virgin snow of the previous day it was still very beautiful with incredible views and a fabulous scramble across the ridge. Derek and Jayne climbed Y Garn by it's eastern flank and descended via the Devils Kitchen watching climbers on the icewater falls. The Devils Appendix ice fall was not quite in condition to climb but looked spectacular spilling over the crag. They watched the sun set as the snow started to melt and we all returned home feeling very fortunate to have had such a wonderful weekend.

Fantastic.

Mim Chapman