Just back from N Wales

It was bloody freezing!

14 messages
15/02/2003 at 20:46
I was on the Dol Gam campsite for the last 5 nights. The worst was last night - it was minus 7 at 7:30am. Even the bogs had frozen! Had to use the farmhouse one instead. Otherwise the days were mainly sunny but chilly at altitude. Had a great time. Pitched near the river - lucky I had my ear plugs with me.
15/02/2003 at 21:20
Were there many people stopping there?
15/02/2003 at 21:27
Monday to Friday there was three tents - when I left this morning there was about 20.
15/02/2003 at 21:35
So what did you get up to?
15/02/2003 at 21:44
Had an easy stroll around the Idwal area from the Ogwen side - the tea shop was closed though. Repaving the front.
Also walked over to the Glyders from the Pen y Pas side for a change.Got myself a suntan that day! Still 4 bloody quid to park there!!!
15/02/2003 at 21:52
Can understand it in summer, but that's taking the p*ss, £4 to park there in the middle of winter.

Dol gam's a super camp site, but I definetely wimp out of camping this time of year - it's B&B or YHA until the night's get shorter and warmer!
15/02/2003 at 22:05
I have to admit I got a fleece sleeping-bag liner from Ellis Brigham after the first night. Worked a treat! Also got into a discussion with the bloke there about Coleman fuel. Never really thought about it before that its only petrol without additives at £40 a gallon!!! Fill 'er up mate!
16/02/2003 at 09:59
Sort of - the problem is that some of the additives don't burn off at stove temperatures, so eventually clog jets and valves. Whether that matters to you depends on what stove you're using. If it's something like an XGK or a Primus Multifuel or why, which is field serviceable and easy to clean, it doesn't matter much. If it's, say, a Whisperlite cleaning's a little bit more of a pain in the backside. Dragonflies look like they should cope, but the metering needle that enables it to simmer clogs and has to be taken out and scraped clean (it's a tapered vee-section groove from memory).

So, it's a bit 'yes, but...' Coleman Fuel is insanely expensive though. In the Andes, benzina blanca is the same thing, but at a fraction of the price. Solution? Emmigrate :-)

OutdoorsMagic Editor | jon@outdoorsmagic.com 

16/02/2003 at 13:29
Instead of using the YHA I tend to use local bunkhouses. Speaking of which does anybody know any in the Lakes?
17/02/2003 at 10:03
£4 to park is very steepand acts as a deterrent to contributing to the upkeep of the park. But parking on thr little side road leading to the car park is free as are the 4 or 5 spaces directly opposite the small car park in front of the tea kiosk. Then theres the A5 itself, the pavement is very wide and accommodates several cars.
17/02/2003 at 10:06
Ignore the last posting, mixed up my car parks. Pen-y-Pas, park at the bottom of the hill leading up (from the Capel Curig side). The walk up is not too bad.
17/02/2003 at 10:16
I was going to say parking on the A5 to go up Snowdon would have given a nice long walk in!
17/02/2003 at 12:45
just got back from snowden

1 did north ridge and then did tryfan!! Well cool! first time in n wales!
17/02/2003 at 19:25
the £4.00 car parking charge doesn't seem to discourage many, the fact that it's nearly full all the time does that!!
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