Ogwen Valley Bunkhouse

I'm not the kind of person who is willing to advertise someone's business for them but i'm going to make an exception in the case of Gwyn's place, Ogwen Valley Bunkhouse.  http://www.ogwenvalleybunkhouse.co.uk/ 


This weekend i was taking my partner who had not stayed in a bunkhouse before so i was doubly concious of that lack of privacy and basic facilities such accommodation often offers, this bunkhouse was suggested to us by a farmer in Ogwen.


On arrival at Gwyns we found a work still in progress, however all of the facilities were in place. One of the things that we really liked was the warm welcome that we received. Gwyn is a thourougly nice guy who really works hard at making his guests feel fully at home.


We enjoyed our first visit so much that we have been repeat visitors for the past 12 months, taken friends and family there and used it as a base for several "big weekends".


Situated only 15 minutes from the main A55, nestled in the heart of Snowdonia and surrounded by mountains it is ideal accommodation for anyone who wants good value and a warm homely atmosphere.

Black Nights

I was sitting in the Bunkhouse when the idea of a night run came to mind, i had managed 7 hours earlier in the day but still itched to run again. So i decided upon leg 2 of the Paddy Buckley round, i would go directly up the hillside behind the bunkhouse to the summit of Pen yr Ole Wen. Then on to Carnedd Dafedd, Carnedd Llewelyn, Pen yr Helgi Du, Pen Llithrig y Wrach and down into Capel Curig.


Debbie agreed to collect me from Capel Curig at 10.30, mind made up i set off about 7.30, up the hillside to Pen yr Ole Wen, which i missed completely and arrived on Carnedd Dafedd..... This should have been a sign.


 From there i got out my GPS and followed it to Carnedd Llewelyn, it was nearly dark when i arrived but there was enough snow on the ground to make seeing easy enough and my head torch is brilliant. I was not expecting to be greeted by thick fog, heavy sleet and extremely high winds. The higher i went the worse it was getting.


PANICK set in and i missed the summit, my GPS was pointing all over the show. The wind stung my face and my eyes watered so much i could barely see enough to keep walking. I decided on headed down hill out of the fog and perhaps shelter from the wind, I was not dressed for these conditions and could soon get into trouble.


Luckily i made the right decision and dropped down out of the fog, what a difference, the wind was still pretty harsh but the fog cleared and the sleet stopped. My confidence returned and i set off again on my way, arriving in Capel Curig a little late and a little wiser from the experience.

Ogwen Valley Bunkhouse

Cefn Ysglion Duon

Cefn Ysglion Duon again

Gorilla picture from the Cafe in Betws-Y-Coed

The Dark side

Its days like this when i could give it all up, running cycling, yoga, work, even life seems so hard at the moment. I'm in a big hole that i don’t remember falling into.


We've all been here I’m sure, the whole world is against me and everyone wants a piece, i can’t do right for doing wrong. 


So why am i in this hole now?


Life i suppose, it presents it challenges to us and how we face them determines the outcome, not of the challenge but the affect it has on our lives. Allowing the life issues we face to have a negative effect on us is really down to us.


What i call leg 3 of the Paddy Buckley Round starts at Capel Curig, the first climb is Carnedd Moel Siabod, it then traverses the Boundary Ridge, through Cwmorthin quarry and on to Moelwyn Mawr before heading back and west to the final climb of Cnicht and finishing in Aberglaslyn. This takes about 7 hours to complete at a gentle pace.


2 hours in and the patella ligament in my right knee starts to niggle (again), i can feel some discomfort where it joins the top of my shin. What am i to do, even if i take a short cut I’m at least 2 hours from the car? I have no choice but to push on gently to the quarry and take the short cut back from there. It’s been 5 months since i injured my knee and I’ve just about had enough of it, I’m beginning to think it will never heal.


Over the next hour or so the clag covering the hills slowly vanished and with it the pain in my knee. By the time i arrived at the Quarry, some 2 hours later, i have completely forgotten about the knee pain and was instead, enjoying the magnificent views and constant sinking into peat bogs. You haven’t lived until you have experienced the Boundry Ridge peat bogs. :-)


Some of my friends are facing their own challenges, some can’t run because they are injured, others can’t run because of illness and some are just too damn busy trying to survive. 


It’s easy to let these things take over your life and i am often guilty of this, reading a friend’s blog tonight has made me aware of all the good things going on in my life. Getting through illness and injury can be tough but not as tough as some of the challenges we set our selves when we are running.


Despite all the issues we create for our selves, i am a very lucky man, sure i have things in my life which could be better but i still have my general health. I also have 2 lovely daughters and the love and support of my partner Debbie. 


What more can a man ask for?


Get well soon guys.

Carnedd Moel Siabod

Cwmorthin Quarry

Salamon XR-Crossmax

Quarry again

Gorilla picture from a cafe in Betws-Y-Coed

Training in the Lake District - BG Leg 1 reccie

5th April 2012


9.00pm Thursday, Leon and i set off from Keswick, its a long grind to Skiddaw and i have to admit - its not one of my favourite ascents. 

Cumbrian way out of Keswick

Leon on Skiddaw - The summit was a little breezy and cold, this seems to be quite normal for Skiddaw.

We jogged down across Hare crag to the Cumbian way and sat a while to soak up the atmosphere.

Great Calva was the next summit to bag but the camera had given up so no more pictures. Mungrisdale common offered us no resistance and we were quickly up into the fog on Blencathra, with the weather starting to worsen we pushed on down Doddick fell and back to the car.


I drove for 4 hours so i could run for 4 and a half hours - is it worthwhile? To me, yes. Its been a while since i enjoyed my running this much and recently every run has been a pleasure. 


Don't stop till you get enough.

Training in the Lake District - BG Leg 4 reccie

1st April 2012


9.30 Sunday morning i had arranged to meet with Leon at Castlerigg Farm camp site, so when he arrived at 9 am my partner and i had just crawled out of our sleeping bags. Saturday night on Great Gable had turned into Sunday morning (as it does) and we had arrived back at the camp site at 3 am.

Sca Fell in Cloud

By 10 am we had packed away the camping gear and set off to Honister, the plan was the BGR leg 4 route, out and back. Now i didn't fancy Great Gable again but i had told Leon that we would do the full route.

Wast Water

We climbed out of Honister towards Moses trod on the tourist path, which is much easier than the grass ascent when your legs are still tired from the previous day/night. Already i was beginning to think i should have cried off  and had a days rest. 

Wasdale Head Inn (not my image)

There is a nice easy set of steps down to Black Sail Pass and a grim climb up the pass between Kirk Fell & Looking Stead. Wasdale came into view and we headed straight for the pub. Coffee and cake may not be the traditional fell runners food but it worked well.

Kirk Fell with the summit of Great Gable behind

Yewbarrow is a grim climb but we were soon over and heading towards Red Pike, the sun was shining and plenty of walkers filled the summits (went slowly and got under foot). We chose an almost perfect line across to Steeple and arrived right on the trod. Steele Fell done we set off for pillar, there are a few trods developing around the small summits in between which makes navigation much easier.

Red Pike from Scoat Fell

Leon enjoying the ascent

Pillar has some good memories for me, i was on my Bob Graham Round in 2010 and was suffering a little, my support runners and i managed the ascent ok but i discovered a huge white buffalo on the summit. I was assured that it was an "optical illusion", however it sure looked like a Buffalo to me. Luckily there were no Buffalo's around today and we got on our way towards Kirk Fell. This was easy running and we quickly arrived at the ascent to Kirk Fell.

Steeple

Pillar

A quick consultation with Leon and we agreed that the end of this run could wait for another day, it had been a long weekend, and we were both feeling the pace a little. Coincidently we happened to be back on Black Sail Pass so - took the short cut back down into the valley and up the other side to Honister were my partner waited with more coffee and cake.

Leon on Pillar

We had a good day out with a little sunshine and fantastic views. 

Sleeping on Great Gable

31st March 2012


The plan was to reccie the descent off Great End towards Great Gable and meet up with Andy Blackett on his Bob Graham Round on Great Gable, he was going well, so between 10 & 11 pm seemed reasonable (ish), I had said i would have a cup of tea ready for his arrival.


I set off from Honister slate mines at 6pm and headed up to Grey Knott and on to Brandreth before taking a direct route, over to the foot of Great End. I planned my ascent and headed up the North west side. It soon became clear that this was not going to be as easy as it looked, after arriving at the top i decided i had previously chosen the correct route by descending off the north east end, so headed off this route through the craggs and made good time to the stretcher box at the bottom of Gable.

Great End 

Dusk was looming so i set off up Great Gable with the intention off settling in for the long wait on the summit, it was 8.30 when i eventually reached the summit and the light was fading fast, i soon found a cosy spot to settle out of the cool breeze. A snug little spot facing Kirk Fell so i could see Andy coming and soak up the atmosphere of the mountains at night.


By 10.30 the atmosphere was no longer cosy and i had used all my water on cups of coffee trying to keep warm, the ground was beginning to sparkle from the frost, my hands and feet were going numb. Time to make a move and head off back to the car - i called my partner and informed her i would be no longer than an hour.


Heading over Green gable towards Honister i spotted lights coming from the direction of Pillar, great news, the boys are on their way, i turned around and headed back up Great Gable. Unfortunately i had lost phone signal so was not able to advise my partner of the change in plans. 


12.30. The boys arrived and i was an hour late back to the car and freezing cold again. It took a further hour to get off the hills with Andy and back to Honister. Andy went straight through without stopping and i awaited a telling off from my partner. "Don't go into the Lakeland hills on your own at night and arrive back 2 hours late".


I spent the best part of 4 hours on Great Gable waiting in the cold but i now have the route off Great End sorted ready for the Cumbrian Traverse and Andy completed his BGR in good time - so a good result all round.

BGR Support

Saturday 31st March 2012


The Bob Graham Round. 


The idea is to visit 42 named summits on a 66 mile circuit with 27,000ft of ascent. It starts and finishes at the Moot Hall, Keswick in the English Lake District. It is not a race, except against the clock, and contenders have a full 24 hours to complete the round...


My roll was to support Andy Blackett for the first section of the round from Keswick to Threlkeld, approx 3 hours & 40 minutes. 6am we set off from the Moot Hall to the first ascent - Skiddaw.

Great Calva towards Mungdale rise common

Andy heading into the sun.

Andy and wife Fiona on Blencathra

Doddick Fell

Doddick Fell again

Breakfast

Steel Fell - the first climb in leg 2.

I met up with Andy again on top of Great Gable at 12.30 in the morning and although very tired he was still moving well, Andy had a successful round and completed in 23 hours and 36 minutes. 

Congratulations Andy.