I wanted to go somewhere different to my usual places around Northen Snowdonia,and the Rhinogs had always been somewhere I had liked the sound of but never had the confidence in my navigation until this last year,when everything has clicked and Ive gained a lot more experience.So I ordered the Harveys map for the area(Harveys has now become my favoured map to use)and started planning and reading other peoples blogs and fine reports on their walks in the area.I was looking to camp at one of the lakes and take a moderate route where we could introduce ourselves to the Rhinogs but not be to taxing and not over stretch ourselves,just in case.The weather forcast was for lovely sunshine and low winds with cold tempratures at night. I hoped for some snow on the ground but not to much just enough to add to the experience. I decided on Llyn Hywel by Rhinog Fach.I picked up Paul along the way and we made our way down along the A470, then just south of Trawsfynedd took the turning along the single track road to the car park at Graigddu-isaf(grid ref.SH684302.
We got out of the car and just took in the landscape around us.The Rhinogs had always seemed mysterious to me, I had read about them being very remote and difficult to navigate with little visable paths ect. This is what had stopped me coming here sooner and so when I was planning my route at home, I went over it thoroughly and had a good idea of how the land would lie. So when we set off amd made our way up to Rhinog Fach I was suprised at just how clear the paths were all the way up to our destination.This made me laugh,better safe than sorry.I enjoyed picking of the land marks along Blwch Drws Ardudwy that I had taken note of as we passed then by, and then we reached the style over the wall below Rhinog Fach.The path leading up to Llyn Hywel starts quite steeply and the mellows out a bit and its a bit of a plod on rocky ground. It was along this path we met the only two other people on the walk. We stopped and chatted with the man and woman for a little while and then let them go ahead of us.
We reached llyn Hywel and saw a good pitch straight in front of us next to the lake. We decided to have a look about for other suitable places but came back to the first site and set up camp.
Fantastic,what a lovely place to camp,and we did indeed have a little snow to add to the experience. Magic. I left paul potter around camp and headed up Y llethyr to take in the views.
Rhinog Fach from Y Llethyr
I reached the top but didn't go along any further but made my way down before the sun went down.
We had some homemade beef curry for tea and spent time chatting but once it started to get quite cold we took to our tents.I listened to some bbc6 radio programmes that i had downloaded and paul watched some series he had downloaded. I must of fell asleep fairly early as I woke up about ten, then nodded off again around 12. I woke up again when the wind picked up and started to gust quite strongly for an hour or so. I fell asleep and woke again to heavy rain and then heavy sleet around 4.Paul had also woken up with this and we both spoke briefly,we both were a little concerned about the lake breaking the banks and splilling into our tents as along with the rain you could also hear the sound of waves on the lake being picked up by the wind.This was just a little fear coming in, we know these things can happen, but we needn't of worried, it sounded worse than it actually was. We then slept to 630, I woke first to a wet heavy lump on the fly of my tent resting on my forehead.I prodded it...snow.I turned on my torch and you could see where the heavy snow was lying on the sides of my tent. I unzipped the outer and was greeted with snow coming down towards the opening, thick and fast. I had a little panic,we were in three season tents after all and we had never camped in this kind of snow before. I called Paul and then shook the snow off my tent and worried less as the snow slipped easily down the sides. My main concern now was the car.Im self-employed and this vehicle is my bread and butter. I had visions of crashing my car or getting stuck on the single track. These fears were fueled by a couple of bad experiences of driving in the snow in the past. I know how quickly things can go wrong when driving in the snow.
We packed our gear and waited for sunrise until we packed our tent away. This was the view at dawn.
We packed up and set off,Paul was trying to keep me positive but I had this worry about the car going on in my head. We stopped now and again though and marveled at how much this remote rugid landscape had been transformed into a wonderful winter mountainous scene,and all within a couple of hours.
We headed back and when we reached the fire roads the snow was really thick. Thick enough to make me feel twice as worried.
We reached the Graigddu-isaf farm and i knocked on the door,I explained to the lady that i was worried about not making it along the single track road and blocking her access and creating a problem for her and what would she suggest.She was a really nice lady and thought that it would be fine to drive along and if we had any problems to come back and see her.
- We reached the car and set off.we ambled along in second gear. We were doing it,so far so good i kept on telling myself. We passed an older gent on his fat bike, waved and carried on all along to the main road and set off back home. I felt the relief come over me and the joy of the camp replaced the worry of another car accident caused by snow, that had filled my mind. What a great camp!!
