OM won't let me upload photos at the moment. Here is a brief report. Full report and photos here.
A two day trip round the Carneddau starting from Cwm Eigiau. I started
by climbing Foel Fras via steep grassy slopes, as I couldn't find the
path on the ground. Once on the ridge Foel Goch and Carnedd Llewelyn
were covered in mist. However, things improved as I moved along the
ridge. I nipped into the refuge at Foel Grach, my last visit there was
in 1982.
By the time I reached the summit of Carnedd Llewelyn only the top 100ft
or so was misted out. I soon dropped out of the clag as I descended
the SE ridge to Craig yr Ysfa. I climbed up from Bwlch Erol Farchog to
Pen yr Helgi Du. I had started getting cramp in my legs on the last
section, so decided to stop there overnight.
In the evening the cloud cleared and there were extensive views, with
very little haze. There was almost no breeze and I was able to sit
outside the tent in my shirt. It was a perfect night, with bright moon
and the odd shooting star.
On the second day I was up at 4:00am and away by 6:00am. I dropped
down to Bwlych tri Marchog and slogged up to the summit of Pen
Llithrig y Wrach. From here the route back was uncertain. My Harvey's
map didn't show any paths along the NE ridge. However, there was an
obvious footpath leading in the right direction. This was indistinct
in places and very, very boggy. I didn't want to go as far as Moel
Eilio, so decided to cut directly down to Hafod y rhiw. After a few
hundred feet of waist deep heather and a nasty incident when my leg
slipped between to hidden boulders, I found a path which lead me down
to Hafod y rhiw. From there is was a simple plod along the track to
the truck.
