August bank holiday, North Wales, club trip and good weather: it’s not often you can put all of those elements into one clause. But that’s exactly what we had at the SMC August bank holiday meet, and the ten souls braving the bank holiday weather curse were rewarded with great climbing conditions.
On Saturday everyone went to the Pass and split between Carreg Wastad and the Cromlech. A wide range of routes from Crackstone Rib to the Foil were done in fine and far, far from fine style. Ed’s smooth ascent of a very wet Cenotaph Corner with Tony was the stand out effort of the day.
By some weird magical process everyone went to the Ogwen valley on Sunday. Rob, Rich and Alex went to the classic (aka polished) Idwal slabs. Ian, Mark, Ed and Lou explored the rather more esoteric niceties of Clogwyn y Tarw (formerly known as The Gribin Facet), overlooking Llyn Idwal. Whilst Mike and Tony travelled the Direct Route on Glyder Fach Mike and Jo went to Clogwyn y Grochan.
Monday morning brought low cloud and mist, or was it rain? Just a little, but enough to warrant a delayed start via Pete’s Eats and maybe a shop or two. Mark and Ian decided to clip some bolts in Never, Never Land on the Slate. It was by now dry but very windy. Ed and Lou went to Milestone buttress and Jo and Mike explored the slate quarries.
The Dolgam campsite, Capel Curig, was an excellent location for maximising options, had nice level camping, limited but clean and well maintained facilities with the Tyn y Coed about a mile away, so for £6 a night really good value.
All in all this was another excellent SMC meet. If reading this has made you feel a bit jealous then commit early for the next meet at the Gower on 9th/10th September: sunshine is bound to be guaranteed, sea, sand, bolts and a new guidebook, that’s gotta be good.
