Crinkle Crags

After yesterday, a shorter walk was in order as Mike and Dave were fine going up but coming down steep sides was quite painful. Not holding back too much we decided to do Crinkle Crags but start on Hardknot pass.

Starting higher up felt like cheating but as we rolled out of the van with aching limbs it still felt daunting. Walking up to Pike o blisco felt fine and we continues to Great knott in good spirits. It was not as much of a ridge walk as i had thought but when we reached the first Crinkle all that changed as we realised the prominence of the ridge in the valley. The views were astounding.

You had quite a unique 360 degree view of the lakes from here and we soon decided that to appreciate this we needed to spend a bit more time up here. lets start with lunch!

After a gaining confidence we found some spectacular places to take photo's and Tala expresses himself with amazement!

Unfortunately my fear of hieghts kicked in a few times and i didn't venture any nearer the edge than i needed too. However i did surprise myself and the others when i waked up to the highest crinkle and to get through the crack you need to do a bit of climbing up the bad step. As i walked up to it i had thought there was a way round but then a realisation that it was up and over. So without thinking too much i just started climbing and was over it and a rock kipping exercise onto the top.

As the top opened upa bit we spent the next 40 minutes exploring on the top and a luxury lie down down to drink in the atmosphere and scenery. Brilliant! The next morning i thought i would have another walk in the valley to get the legs moving again and take a few shots of the scenery to remind me what a fantastic few days we had.

Langdale Pikes and Bow Fell

This was the second walking trip this year and once again had the most fantastic weather making the walking much safer and the views more spectacular. We decided to start off on the Langdale horseshoe and see where it took us. Walking up the Dungeon Ghyll to Harrison Stickle started to remind me how much fitter i could be. I had forgot how dramatic it was and was a great start to a brilliant day.

As we reached the top the peaks have a great prominence in the valley and then opens out towards High Raise. We progressed downwards now before a rise again to Rossett Pike.

We were around 4/5 hours in now but still had some walking in us and were keen to complete the day with Bow Fell. I saw a path from the tarn and we set off but as we got ccloser the path was not well formed and with the others in front we were on the way to Esk Hause before we knew it. It was a good climb up and i was starting feeling it now but after a Red Bull (no vodka this time) i seemed to have a second wind and the climb to the top of Esk pike didn't seem too bad.

As i arrived on the summit my confidence grew massively as i saw a straight forward walk to the top of Bow fell. A quick photo of Andy and Tala and i was off strifding up to Bow Fell. The top of which was awesome with brilliant views all around that will inspire many more walks in the future.

It was just down now which for me i felt good about but it was exceptionally steep and a lot longer than i expected, whew i was pleased i had not come up this way. Dave struggled with a tendon in his leg which made things harder and a long route down the band. However after 9 hours we were all shattered but safely in the Old Dungeon Ghyll with a pint.

Tryfan

I had wanted to climb this for sometime and after a few aborted chances due to the weather that was not going to happen today.

Following on from a long walk yesterday this was tough to get the legs moving but after a hard push we made the stone wall between Glyder Fach and Tryfan. It didn't look too far then but we had under estimated the difficult scramble that was now in store

As Dave and Andy pressed on the direct route Mike and I decided to follow the path which didn't seem right to start with as it went around the side before it headed up. However it was a bit easier as the rocks to clamber over were a little smaller - much better for my short legs. As we neared the top they found there way and we pressed on up to the top together and then what a view.

You can make up the summit on the left and queue of people looking to do Adam and Eve. We headed back down to the wall and i was about done in but not wanting to let anyone down i agreed to carry one and i was really pleased i did. The legs seemed to get stronger and we made it to Glyder Fach and the guys had some great photo's with the cloud free sky.

We headed on to Glyder Fawr with some great views of the Snowdon horseshoe and then down through Devils kitchen which with the wind swirling around felt much harder coming down than it was going up. however we had been walking for over 7 hours so it may just have been my state of mind and really was relieved to see the finish a a brilliant walk.

The Watkins

This was the second time i have done the Watkins path over the top of Snowdon but what a brilliant route. A taxi round to the far side at Nant Gwynant and then we were free to walk back to our hotel in llanberis. The path winds it way through the forrest and then through the less used Cwn Llan. It was great to see newly arrived Wheaters and Ring ouzels as well as noisy Ravens overhead.

After you have walked up the back of Y Lliwedd the views across to Crib Goch, The miners and Pyg track open up especially in the great weather we had. I can't think of many better places to sit and have lunch. The next bit is up the scree slope to the top and this is a really tricky bit and quite exposed as it drops off into the Cwm as this video i took shows http://youtu.be/1cdXF5vGkNQ. After a last push we were on top and the obligatory selfie!

Just to remind us that it is not always clear skies and sunny the last bit of snow remained just below the summit.

The train didn't seem to be running properly today but as we walked down the Llanberis path it was in half way station with ribbons on the front as though it was being used for a wedding and with a helicopter landing and taking off from the same it must have cost a few quid if it was. More likely a film of some kind.

Zip World

Wow what a brilliant day!

100 miles an hour down a zip wire that is over a mile long over a slate mine and lake - what an experience and really exhilarating. To top that the weather was perfect not too warm but hardly a cloud in the sky.

I felt like a massive rush gaining speed up to what must have been 100mph and then like a bird soaring over the quarry. Even had time for a good look around and appreciate the view before steaming into the finish. Andy and Dave flying in: https://youtu.be/9v29Chl7LQE