Review of 2011

Well here we are at the end of 2011 so I thought I'd have a short review of the places I've been to during the year & photo's of the summit's I have visited.
JANUARY 2nd 2011 saw me visit Seat Sandal & Fairfield in the lake district with two mates, Chris & Nige. A cold and clear day with high cloud that gave us some good views.  There was still patches of snow and quite a bit of ice but nothing to hazzardous.

Summit of Seat Sandal

Snow clinging to the sides of Fairfield

Summit of Fairfield

Nige & Chris happy to be here

 
JANUARY 3rd saw me & Jill go on our yearly visit to Edale in the Peak District. We decided to go up Grindsbrook & up around Upper Tor & Nether Tor then down Ringing Roger. The weather was quite cold with a bit of ice going up Grindsbrook that made for an interesting ascent.

Iced up Grindsbrook

Looking at our way across Upper Tor, Nether Tor and Ringing Roger from the top of Grindsbrook

 FEBRUARY saw us having the first Wales weekend break in the Croesor Valley, Snowdonia. A fantastic area that is steeped in the slate mining history. Stayed in a cottage and had a walk around the old mine buildings at the foot of Cnicht & The Moelwyns. The weather was a bit mixed but for most of the time it was dry and quite warm for the time of year.

Our hideaway for the weekend

Looking back down the valley with a cloud covered Cnicht on the right

The old ruined buildings of the Croesor Quarry

MARCH 3rd saw me going to my favourite snowdonia mountain, MOEL SIABOD. This place for me has a bit of everything, from a steep start to a gentle walk around the Llyn y Foel to the nice scramble up the Daear Ddu Ridge to the summit and then the way back along the spine of the cliffs and back down onto the farm track. The weather was sunny and warm. Brilliant

On the approach to Moel Siabod in glorious weather

The scramble up the Daear Ddu Ridge

View from the summit. Left to right. Snowdon Horeshoe, Glyders Fawr & Fach, Pen yr Ole Wen, Tryfan

The sun going down behind Moel Siabod from the old quarry buildings

 MARCH 23rd saw me again in Snowdonia, this time around the Ogwen Valley area to visit the summits of Y Garn, Foel Goch, Elidir Fawr, Mynydd Perfedd, Carnedd y Filiast. Another fantastic day in warm, sunny and very hazy weather.

Up along the ridge to the summit of Y Garn

From the summit of Y Garn looking across to the next four summits of Foel Goch, Mynydd Perfedd, Carnedd y Filiast, and the bulk of Elidir Fawr on the left

From the summit of Y Garn the view down the Ogwen Valley with Pen yr Ole Wen and the Carneddau on the left, Llyn Ogwen in the middle and Tryfan on the right. Llyn Idwal is just below in the shade

APRIL 16th & 17th saw another weekend in Snowdonia, this time camping & meeting up with members of the Walking Forum. On the 16th, a few of us met to take on the mighty Snowdon Horseshoe. This would be a first for me and would lead to me doing it quite a few times over the coming months. A most fantastic and enjoyable walk along what must be one of, if not, the finest ridge walks in Britain. The weather was very still with hardly and wind but quite misty. It did clear up on the ascent when the views opened up. Fantastic

The start of a misty Crib Goch Ridge

Along the very spine of Crib Goch

Up the steep ridge onto Crib y Ddysgl

The summit of Crib y Ddysgl

Outside the cafe on the summit of Snowdon

On the summit of Y Lliwedd

As the mist lifted the whole horseshoe came into view

MARCH 17th saw Daniel, Mark and myself take on another classic ridge & scramble walk up Tryfan and onto the Glyders via Bristly Ridge. Another epic day in clear, warm & sunny conditions. A fantastic weekend.

On Tryfan's "cannon stone" with March 23rd's walk behind me

On the climb up Tryfan's North Ridge

Tryfan's summit stones, Adam & Eve

Looking across to the Glyders and the Bristly Ridge scramble

Plenty of good foot and hand holds on the way up Bristly Ridge

The Cantilever Stone on the summit of Glyder Fach

The moon like landscape of Glyder Fawr

Glyder Fawr summit with Snowdon in the background

Ascending the Devils Kitchen to Llyn Idwal with Pen yr Ole Wen & The Carneddau in the background

 APRIL 29th saw me visit Helvellyn in the lake District with my daughter. We Started at Glenridding and did the classic ridge walk of Striding Edge and descending via Swirral Edge and Catstycam. Another quite warm day but with a chill on the summit and quite windy

From the summit of Birkhouse Moor, Striding Edge on the left, Helvellyn, Swirral Edge & Catstycam

Looking along Striding Edge to the summit of Helvellyn

A look back along Striding Edge

A windy Helvellyn Sumitt

Our descent down Swirral Edge and Catstycam

Catstycam Sumitt

A panoramic view of the days walk

MAY saw me back in Snowdonia for the weekend. It was the weekend of 20th-22nd and was another walking forum mega meet. Unfortunately the weather wasn't very good at all but some of us did manage to get over Crib Goch and down the Pyg Track. the plan was to do the whole Horseshoe but the wind & rain soon put a stop to that. It was still a great weekend social wise but the crossing of Crib Goch in that weather was an experience I don't want again.

Spirits are high as we get ready for the ascent up to Crib Goch

Getting a bit damp & misty on the climb up

At the start of the ridge

Disappearing into the clag

 JUNE 5th saw us visit Blencathra via Sharp Edge. We have been up this way before in warm sunny weather and it was a great day. This day however was a bit cool and damp. We also paid a visit to Bannerdale Crags. 

Scales Tarn below Blencathra with Sharp Edge going up on the right

Our way along Sharp Edge

On top of Sharp Edge with Bannerdale Crags behind

From Blencathra summit looking over to Thirlmere on the left and Derwent water on the right with Halls Fell Ridge in the foreground

Bannerdale Crags Summit

Blencathra, Foule Crag & Sharp Edge from Bannerdale Crags

Sharp Edge & Foule Crag

MAY 10th-12th saw us back in the Lake District for a long weekend at the Langdale Campsite. We met up with other members of the wlking forum for the annual Lakes meet up. The weather was mixed but on the whole it was dry and quitwe warm. Friday saw us have a drive round as it was quite wet untill late afternoon when I decided to have a walk up Side Pike overlooking the campsite.

Crinkle Crags with The Band leading upto Bowfell from Side Pike

Side Pike summit with the Langdale Pikes behind

Saturday saw us go up the Band and on to Bowfell. I carried on over Crinkle Crags and onto Pike of Blisco. The weather today was warm and clear with quite a stiff breeze on the summits

From left to right. Pike of Blisco, Crinkle Crags, The Band, Bowfell

The view from Bowfell summit down to the camp site with Lake Windermere in the distance and the Langdale Pikes over to the left

The view from Crinkle Crags down into Langdale Valley with Pike Of Blisco on the left

A windy Pike of Blisco summit

June 26th saw me back in Snowdonia and back doing the Snowdon Horeshoe. It was another warm day, a bit breezy with a bit of mist on the summits.

A few people making their way up the East Ridge to the start of Crib Goch

All clear along the ridge but misty on the summits

A misty Crib y Ddysgl summit

The Snowdon train at the Summit Staition

Ridge walk up to Y Lliwedd

Y Lliwedd and a cloud free Snowdon

JULY 1st-3rd saw us camping out again in southern Snowdonia. We stayed at a place at the foot of Cadair Idris that over looks the seaside resort of Barmouth. Again it was a really warm and sunny weekend. Saturday was the day we climbed Cadair Idris and Craig las

Barmouth and the Mawddach Estuary from Craig las summit

A clear way along to Cadair Idris

Cadair Idris summit shelter and trig point

A hazy view back to Barmouth, Craig las and "The Saddle" in the foreground

A panoramic view of Craig las and Cadair Idris form our tent

JULY 30th saw me complete the welsh 3000's. 14 peaks that are 3000ft or more above sea level. It has taken me three years and I have done some of them more than once. On this day it was the turn of Foel Grach, Carnedd Uchaf and Foel Fras. The day was a mixed bag weather wise with a bit of mist & drizzle here and there but again for the most part it was dry. There was also a stiff wind on the summits. I had set off from the small car park at the end of the lane near to Llyn Eigau

The emergency shelter below the summit of Foel Grach

The rocky summit of Foel Fras

Carnedd Uchaf, my final 3000ft summit. I left this one till the last as it sits between Foel Gach & Foel Fras and it was a bit misty on the way there but it cleared up enough for a decent view all round

AUGUST 12th-15th saw us have a long weekend camping in Church Stretton, Shropshire. a very nice part of the country with excellent walking. The saturday saw us up on the Long Mynd where the weather was again warm & sunny

Looking down on to Church Stretton

Heather in bloom on the Long mynd

Long Mynd trig point

Long Mynd summit map pointer

Clear views of the surrounding hills

August 28th saw me back in Snowdonia with my daughter going up Moel Siabod. We had attempted it the week before but had to turn back because or the bad weather. This time though was different as we made it to the summit in fine weather but had no summit views as the mist came down. It did clear on our descent though and it finished up being another great day out in the mountains.

A clear way to Moel Siabod

A good line up the Daear Ddu Ridge

A damp & misty summit

A look back at the Daear Ddu Ridge and a clear summit

SEPTEMBER saw me on the Snowdon horseshoe again. Friday 23rd I went up Crib Goch and came down the Pyg track. The weather was bright to start with but the wind picked up and it was also quite misty. It was very atmospheric but at times the wind was just too much.

The misty & windy pinnacles

Nothing to see here

The way down the Pyg Track

Thursday 29th saw me go back to do the horeshoe for the final time this year as the weather was very promising and I wanted to have views all the way round. I wasn't dissapointed and it was a day in the mountains to savour

A clear and very quiet ridge all the way

A very clear Crib y Ddysgl

The summit of Crib y Ddysgl with a clear Snowdon in the distance

A clear route of Snowdon and up onto Y Lliwedd

The ridge between Y Lliwedd & Snowdon

From left to right, a very clear Snowdon, Crib y Ddysgl & Crib Goch with the miners track along the Llyn Llydaw

OCTOBER 29th again saw me met up with members of the walking forum to have a walk up to the Aber Falls and on to Llwytmor in the Northern part of Snowdonia. A great little walk that started off in good clear warm conditions but started to deteriorate the higher we got. The wind got up to very gale force at one stage and was knocking us over like skittles. Another good day in good company.

The Aber Falls

Time to put on waterproofs and warmer clothes

Getting blown off the summit

Trying to stay upright

NOVEMBER 6th saw us go back to Edale in the Peak District for a walk that took us up jacobs ladder around the kinder/edale edge and back down Ringing Roger. The day was vary sunny and warm for November. A fantastic day to be out.

A look back down Jacobs Lader

Rock formations around Kinder Edge

Around the edge to Ringing Roger

On top of the world.   OK then, Edale

A look back at the high ridge walk above and around Edale as the sun goes down

NOVEMBER 18th-21st saw our last weekend away and also our last walk of the year. It was spent in that great place in Snowdonia, the Croesor Valley at a little tucked away cotage at the foot of Cnicht. Our third time here and have had great weather and a great time evry weekend we have stayed.  We had a good look round the old quarries this time and it was great exploring the area and getting a feel how hard it must of been living and working in the area.

Our hideaway for the weekend

Cnicht on the left and The Moelwyns on the right from above the cottage

Cnicht & Moelwyn Mawr from the Croesor Cafe

Well that was 2011 and I'm hoping that 2012 will bring as much pleasure when I'm out and about. Here's hoping you have a happy and enjoyable 2012 what ever you do.
Cheers
Andy