January 2025 – Hut meet – Ogwen Valley

24-26 January

Hoping for winter the annual Burns dinner trip to Caseg Fraith (ULMC) hut completed with
the address to the haggis and a 3-course meal. And Alan’s Haggis videos.

Friday
Alan, Tom and Andy headed up on Thursday night and warmed the hut up for everyone.
On Friday they headed up the reservoir road and followed the Lyn Cowlyd leat along the
hillside to above Capel Curig. They visited some important mountain shops and the bar at
the Brenin then took the drovers road back up the valley (17k). Peter arrived around 3 and
prep was made for the next night’s dinner including making the soup. Cosy whisky by the
fire. Sadly Alex, Floyd, Alex and Michelle were all under the weather and so could not
come.

Saturday
A sunny lovely day with mild winds. Lots of different groups.
Stacey, Malcolm and Alan enjoyed stunning views along the Careneddau with a great point to point walk from Bethesda onto the Carneddau ridge back to the hut via Pen yr Helgi Du and Yr Braich. They also met Rita.

Greg and Bex went on a “short” walk to Lyn Cryfnant which turned into 20k. Loz, Gill and Andy walked the valley lakes and tested out the new Club walkie talkies chatting with Peter on the summit of Tryfan.

Peter and Tom went mountaineering and climbed the quite icy but rather fine North Buttress (grade 3) to the summit of Tryfan – with plenty of use of the rope. Peter put his crampons on half way up then kept them on almost to the top. Back via the NE ridge of Foel Goch.

Poor Nigel had a bad stomach and so joined us later that afternoon via Joe Browns Mountain Emporium!

Sophie took an early run up the Carneddau but was too cold in the wind so came back to warm at the hut.

A great Burns dinner with Alan’s brilliant address to the Haggis and far too much food eaten!

Sunday
Sophie outdid herself with a pre-sunset start run up Foel Goch in the morning enjoying stunning light on the snowy Tryfan.

A gentle start for everyone else as the weather not so good with refried haggis, neeps and tatties. After tidying the hut most headed home though Stacey, Peter and Malcolm braved the (actually not so bad) elements and climbed the lesser known outlier Foel Goch (611m) above Llangwm. Stacey indulged his favourite activity of off-piste route finding on the way down, and trying to drown Peter in muddy bog.