Meet 2013 – January – Snowdonia Bethesda

Burns celebration weekend

Friday 25^th January – Sunday 27^th January

The meeting at the end of January is when MKMC traditionally celebrate Robby Burns birthday. And so it was that 14 members filled the little Welsh miner’s cottage in Bethesda belonging to the Wellingborough Mountaineering Club. Accommodation comprised lounge / dining area with gas fire, galley kitchen, two sleeping areas and an external shower block.

The first group to arrive in the afternoon was Andy, Jay and Alan. Having worked out how everything worked in the cottage they set off for a little jaunt in the wind and rain. Their quest took them through the shifting spoil heaps down to Bethesda (where they briefly spotted Ian passing through the town in his limo), and then back along a scenic stream and up the hill side. The rest of the party started arriving after 5 o’clock with Bob and Jamie the last to arrive at midnight.

On Saturday the weather looked more promising and the party split into three groups. Alex, Ian, Bob and Wayne set off for the slate quarries in Llanberis and a bit of exploring; their mission was to do a route called “Snakes and Ladders”. Liam and Constanza did a linear walk from the cottage along Cwm Pen-Llafar in the direction of Ysgolion Duon (Black Ladders) cliffs. The rest of the group drove to Aber Falls and did a circular walk taking in Foel-fras and Drum in the Carneddau range. Once the group got higher up, low cloud spoilt the views, and the wind on Drum was ferocious.

In the evening everyone pulled up their sleeves and helped prepare dinner of haggis, tatties and neeps (mashed together to make Orkney Clapshot).  Dessert was Raspberry cream and shortbread and a number of members brought along a variety of whiskies to sample. Part way through the proceedings Alan read “Ode to a Haggis”, and then everyone read a Burns poem. To round off the evening a variety of activities took place including the ever popular ‘table traverse’. (This year there were no broken bones).

On Sunday Liam and Constanza went off to explore the Aber Falls area. Some went to the Beacon for a spot of warm indoor climbing, while others simply decided to have a leisurely day in Pete’s Eats or head for home.

MKMC members attending: Alan (organiser), Andy, Jay, Constanza, Liam, David H, Gareth, Jamie, Emma, Ian, Mark, Alex, Wayne and Bob. It was lovely to see Constanza who had flown over from Germany to be on this trip (that must be worthy of an award).

Selection of pictures in the Gallery