Cadair Berwyn
DATE 02.04.2013 | DISTANCE 8.4KM | HIGHEST POINT 830M
Posted by Matt | Filed under other locations
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Driving along on the A14 with Mark, our initial plan was to visit the Peak District. We both fancied something a little higher though and considered the Berwyns instead. From where we live it's roughly the same distance as the High Peak region so our decision was made. It's always nice to take someone to a location they haven't visited before. This route offered something new for Mark, plus the immediate 'Wow Factor' of Pistyll Rhaeadr falls.
Snow started to appear in the fields as we passed Oswestry and fortunately the road through the Afon Rhaeadr valley had been cleared.
Once we arrived and laced up, we explored the falls with extreme care. It was ridiculously slippery above and below with huge icicles and verglas covered rocks. The spray from the waterfall had created some impressive ice formations but also made the falls a hazardous attraction. After some time fooling around we headed up into the Berwyn hills. The recent snow had made walking the slopes surprisingly easier due to the hard compacted snow over the usually boggy sections. It also provided us the opportunity for some bum sledging (see photos).
We finally reached Moel Sych summit and traversed the ridge line to Cadair Berwyn. As often the case, the sun decided to come out as we made our descent. The descent track that sweeps around Moel yr Ewig was very slippery and steep. A slip here in the snow could have resulted in a nasty fall. (ice axe and crampons advised). The last section of this descent was tackled 'bum to snow' with our walking poles as arrest devices. It certainly made things less tiring on the thighs and safer on this very steep section.
The next challenge was reaching Llyn Lluncaws. This natural bowl of rock had acted as a snow trap and contained plenty of it. At times, knee deep! It doesn't help that this area is usually very boggy with hundreds of water channels leading down to the tarn. Finally we reached the tarn with snow filled boots. The gaiters in my bag should really have been on my legs today. I HATE WEARING THEM!
Llyn Lluncaws was completely frozen over.. at least that's what we thought until Mark broke through the edge for some wet foot surprise. The sun was now out and the glare reflecting from the snow had a surprisingly immediate impact on our skin. Red faced from wind burn and snow glare we made our way back following the steep slope below Cerrig Poethior.
Pistyll Rhaeadr
CHECK OUT THOSE ICICLES!
PLENTY OF SNOW REMAINING
Craig y Mwn cliffs
ABOVE THE FALLS. A LOT OF IMPRESSIVE ICE FORMATIONS
LOADS OF ICICLES CREATED FROM THE WATERFALL BACK SPRAY
A CLOSER LOOK
START OF THE FALLS. I WOULDNT GET ANY CLOSER THAN THIS TODAY. TOO SLIPPERY!
HEADING OUT INTO THE HILLS. NOBODY ELSE ABOUT, AS USUAL.
A STEEP SLOPE OF FIRM SNOW. PERFECT FOR.....
BUM SLEDGING!!!!
THE PROBLEM WITH BUM SLEDGING IS HAVING TO KEEP GOING BACK UP. I THINK MARK FELT IT HERE.
FOLLOWING THE FENCE ON TRUM FELEN. USUALLY VERY BOGGY HERE, BUT NOT TODAY :)
ITS DIFFICULT TO AVOID THE TEMPTATION OF KNOCKING ALL THESE OFF BUT THAT WOULDNT BE FAIR, WOULD IT?
MOEL SYCH SUMMIT CAIRN
CADAIR BERWYN AHEAD. THE FIRST TOP IS IT'S HIGHEST. THE SECOND TOP IS WHERE YOU CAN JUST SEE THE TRIG POINT
A FROZEN LLYN LLUNCAWS BELOW
CADAIR BERWYN'S HIGHEST POINT
LOOKING OUT FROM OUR HIGHEST POINT
LOOKING LEFT FROM THE SAME POINT DOWN TO CWM MAEN GWYNEDD. THE WIDE ANGLE LENS MAKES THE SLOPE LOOK A LOT MORE GRADUAL THAN IT ACTUALLY IS.
LUNCH SPOT IN THE STORM SHELTER JUST BELOW THE SUMMIT. A MUCH NEEDED BREAK FROM THE WIND
THE VIEW FROM THE STORM SHELTER
CADAIR BERWYN TRIG POINT
HEADING PARTIALLY BACK ALONG THE RIDGE TO THE DESCENT TRACK DOWN THIS ROCK FACE. AGAIN THE WIDE ANGLE MAKES THE FACE LOOK SLIGHTLY LESS STEEP.
THIS TRACK WAS VERY SLIPPERY. in hindsight the moel sych descent track would have been much safer.
i highly recommend ice axe and crampons at this stage!!
a little further up from where mark is here required controlled bum surfing with the use of walking poles as breaking devices.
finally down them the east face. you can see the track if you look at the top middle of the ridge and it sweeps diagonally down to the right. the next obstacle was this deep basin of snow. always fun in the deep stuff.
llyn lluncaws
a nervous smile on mark's face. obviously i took my time taking this shot
lol..and there he goes!
this ridge is a much more gradual track to and from moel sych
heading back following the nant y llyn
the track below cerrig poethior