My Easter Holiday - Easter Expedition Best Bits!! - My recommendations

Although I have walked extensively in Snowdonia, on expeditions like these you always manage to find somewhere you haven't been before, or see something new.

I haven't camped near the Llyn Eigiau before.  Usually when I'm in this area I tend to camp round the corner in the next valley, by the Melynllyn or Dulyn Reservoirs.

If you fancy a wild camp at Llyn Eigiau please remember the following 'wild camping rules':

• Set up late in the day, and leave early in the morning
• Do not make any unneccessary noise
• Take all your litter home with you
• Leave no trace that you were there
• Do not polute the water source
• Bury or carry out any human waste
• Boil any water taken to drink
• and most definately NO open fires!!

The best location for camping by the broken dam wall, is to pitch in front of the wall, on the right, as you approach from the road head.  Make sure (if weather conditions permit) that you pitch your tent facing East towards Moel Eilio.  This means that on a clear, fine day, you can watch the sun rise over the hill from the door of your tent.  The perfect way to start any day and something which at this time of year occurs at between 6.30 and 7am - definately worth getting up for.

For me the best sections of the expedition were the walk from Pont Cyfng in Capel Curig over to Dolwyddelan, and the walk from Blaenau Dolwyddelan over to Nant Gwynant.

The first section, although not particularly long, or demanding, offers amazing views of  Moel Siabod, followed by a gentle walk through the forest into the village.

The second section is more demanding and takes you over a more rugged and desolate section of the Moelwyns.  The path followed is well defined, but not very popular, except it seems, with DofE groups.  Which is a real shame, as from here you get extensive views of the Snowdon Horseshoe and many other mountains.

Both these sections of the walk could quite easily be linked to starts and finishes using the local public transport network of trains and buses.  Details of these can be found online or in the current Conwy and Gwynedd bus timetables.


 

My Easter Holiday - DofE Expedition Season is up and running in Conwy!!

In my role as a Youth Worker I work with Conwy County Borough Councils Youth Service DofE Open Award Centres.  Every Easter heralds the start of the DofE Expedition Season, and with over 150 young people registered with Conwy Youth Services Open Award Centres, participating at all 3 levels (Bronze, Silver and Gold), we need to start our practice expeditions as soon as we are able.

This Easter we offered 60 young people participating at Silver and Gold level the opportunity to complete their 3 or 4 day practice expeditions in Snowdonia.  With the first expedition running at the start of the school holiday and the second at the end.  Both expeditions followed the same route, with the silver participants completing 3 days hiking and 2 nights camping and gold participants camping an extra night and completing an extra days hike.

For anyone not familiar with the DofE Award Scheme, participants have to undertake an expedition as one of four sections (or 5 if doing Gold) to achieve the full award.  During the expedition they work in groups of between 4 and 7 and they must be self-sufficient, so have to carry all their equipment and food with them.  On a practice expedition each group is accompanied by a trained/experienced adult, to give additional training and monitor the groups abilities.  This was my role on both expeditions.

Our Route

Day 1 - Conwy Quay to wild camp at the broken dam wall by Llyn Eigiau (Reservoir).  Passing Craigyfedwen, Caer Bach Fort, Cae Coch, Bron-y-Gadair (Outdoor Centre) and Pen-y-gaer en route.

Day 2 - Llyn Eigiau to Dolgram campsite in Capel Curig, via the dam end of Llyn Cowlyd  and Llyn Geirionydd.

Day 3 - Dolgram to the National Trust campsite at Hafod-y-llan Farm (Golds) or the Watkin Path Car Park on the A498 (for lifts home - Silvers).

Day 4 - Hafod-y-llan Farm to Blaenau Ffestiniog Railway Station, via Croesor, Cwmorthin and Tanygrisiau.

Looking up to the broken dam wall in Cwm Eigiau

The 1st Expedition

I lead a different group of young people for each of the 3 days I was on the expedition.  As there were only a couple of gold groups, there was no need for all of the leaders to stay for the last day, so I got to go home at the end of day 3.

The weather wasn't too bad, although it was very, very cold at night.  We even had frost on the tents on the first night at Llyn Eigiau, but this soon melted away as the sun came over the mountain tops.

The 2nd Expedition

Again I lead a different group of young people each day.  Although I ended up going home at the start of day 3 as I was rather ill over night and not really fit to lead a group.

The weather for day 1 was lovely, and although cold over night, we didn't get any more frost.  Day 2 also started off nice but as we arrived at the campsite it began to rain, and boy did it rain!  It finally stopped some 4 hours later.



Why do I do it??

This was a question I was asked by several of the young people who I walked with over the duration of the expeditions.  They have a clear reason for doing the expedition - their DofE Award, but they were very curious as to why us adults were doing it. 

I do it because I love it!  I love walking and camping and being in the outdoors, and I want to share that with others.  I enjoy working with young people, so combining the two things is a dream.  It's not always easy though.  The weather can be cruel, you have to be at least as fit as the young people (which gets harder the older you get!!), and you have to be 'Mr Motivator' in order to get everyone through the hard bits in one piece - this can be the most draining part.  But the rewards far out weigh any down sides - to see the young people complete what for most is a real physical and mental challenge is amazing.

Photos from my journeys

 

Sorry for lack of postings!!!

Since moving house at the beginning of March (all of around 1 mile) I have been without access to the internet, so I have been unable to post any updates.  Now that I am back online, I will start posting again. 

This coming weekend I will be out on the hills of Snowdonia supervising my first DofE expedition of the season.  I am really looking forward to getting out there, even if the weather forecast is for cooler weather.  Although I am familiar with the areas and routes we will be travelling along, I really enjoy sharing it with young people who haven't been to these areas before.

I will be taking my camera with me and be keeping a look out for anything unusual that I may come across which I will share with you on my return.

Enjoy the weather!!

Volunteering Progress

Snowdonia Society

The Snowdonia Society would like to see a National Park in which the unique and irreplaceable qualities, on which the economy depends, are proudly protected by thriving and cohesive communities that have adapted to climate change.

The Snowdonia Society is a registered charity working to protect, enhance and celebrate Snowdonia, its wildlife and heritage. The Society works with local communities, organisations and businesses to achieve this vision.

http://www.snowdonia-society.org.uk/

Yesterday I e-mailed the Snowdonia Society to offer my services as a volunteer.  Today I received a very speedy and friendly reply from Bea.  Once you've volunteered they e-mail you with events, as and when they are arranged. 

In my e-mail I mentioned that I was an ML(Summer).  Anyway, it seems that they have some sort of walking event planned for Saturday 5th May, to coincide with the official opening of the All Wales Coastal Path, so wondered if I fancied helping with that - of course I said yes!  Not sure about the details as yet, but I'll keep you posted as and when details become available.

OPAL (Open Air Laboratories)

The Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) network is an exciting initiative that is open to anyone with an interest in nature.

We aim to create and inspire a new generation of nature-lovers by getting people to explore, study, enjoy and protect their local environment. In 2007 OPAL received a grant of £11.75million from the Big Lottery Fund

http://www.opalexplorenature.org/


I discovered the OPAL website last year when  I was looking for surveys that young people could take part in.  Currently there are 6 different surveys available for anyone to participate in.  These are:
Soil and Earthworm Survey
Air Survey
Climate Survey
Biodiversity Survey
Water Survey
Bugs Count Survey

The website contains detailed information about the need for surveys and what OPAL hopes to do with the results.  The best part is that there are step by step guides for each survey, with workbooks/sheets for collating results.  Any identification guides required are also included.

You are able to register online with OPAL and enter all your results electronically.  You can then see your own personal record for the results you have sent in.  These results are then added to the overall survey results, which can also be seen online.

This may sound very complicated, but the site is very friendly and tries to encourage children to participate.  There are even class resources for Teachers.

I recommend having a look at the website, especially if you have children and enjoy the outdoors.  It may inspire you to have a go at one of the surveys as a family activity or as part of a day out.  My eldest son has recently registered with OPAL and hopes to start taking part regularly in several of the surveys as part of his Bronze DofE award.

I too have registered with OPAL and will be sending in results for the Climate and Air Surveys whenever I can.

John Muir Award Proposal Accepted!!

I have just had my John Muir Conserver Award proposal accepted by Hugo at the Welsh Award Office. I am so pleased that they thought my ideas were suitable! Everything that I report on this blog will be going towards the award.

I have already completed the Discovery Level Award, which I did a couple of years ago with a group of Scouts where I was the leader.  Since then, as part of my job as Accreditation Development Worker for Conwy Youth Service I have tried to encourage Youth Workers to get their clubs involved in the scheme.  There has been some interest, but no completions as yet.  I hope to help boost interest with my personal involvement in the scheme.  I want to show everyone that with a bit of imagination and commitment any one can complete an award, at whatever level. 

For those not familiar with the scheme below is an extract from the Award web site:

 

 About the John Muir Award

The John Muir Award is an environmental award that encourages people of all backgrounds to connect, enjoy and care for wild places through a structured yet adaptable scheme. The Award is not competitive but should challenge each participant. Taking part will develop an understanding of, and responsibility for, a chosen wild place or places. For some this will offer an opportunity to explore values and spirituality. 

It was launched in 1997 by the John Muir Trust to:

Promote educational, social and personal development through exploration of wild places and involvement in conservation

• Encourage an environmental agenda within youth organisations
• Ensure that social circumstances don’t exclude people from opportunities to experience wild places.

John Muir Award Criteria

Four Challenges are at the heart of each John Muir Award, to achieve an Award each participant must:

Discover a wild place

Explore its wildness

Conserve - take personal responsibilty

Share experiences

  

Participants should show enthusiasm and commitment, and have an awareness about John Muir (pdf 105kb).

There are 3 levels of the Award, encouraging a progressive involvement (pdf 116 kb). The same 4 challenges above are repeated for each level, with increased involvement in time, activity and ownership.

• Discovery Award (introductory level) minimum 4 days (or equivalent)
• Explorer Award (intermediate level) minimum 8 days (or equivalent)
• Conserver Award (advanced level) minimum 20 days (or equivalent) over 6 months

Read more about the scheme at http://www.jmt.org/jmaward-home.asp  The scheme is open to all - individuals, families, groups, of any age.  So why not give it a go?? 

Welcome to my blog!!

Inspired by Alistair Humphries MicroAdventures I want to challenge myself and add to my knowledge and understanding of the wonderful area in which I live - Snowdonia - via a range of new experiences.  Alistair Humphries is one of the National Geographic's Adventurers of 2012, who advocates bitesize, local, cheap adventures on your door step.

I too want to spend this year having adventures on my doorstep, as well as giving something back and encouraging others to do the same.  I am also hoping to achieve the John Muir Conserver Award as a result of my endevours.

I have been mountaineering on and off, since I was 16 and joined a local Venture Scout Unit in my home town of Crewe, Cheshire.  I love the great outdoors and love to share it with others.  Whilst living in Conwy I have walked extensively in Northern Snowdonia, both on my own and with a variety of groups.  I have a good knowledge of the Carneddau, Glyders and Snowdon's tourist paths.  I have walked Cadair Idris via 2 different paths and some of the Berwyns, but that was over 15 years ago.

This year I want to push myself!  I want to do something worthwhile, different, challenging and above all, have FUN doing it.  I want to find out more about Snowdonia National Park, it's wildlife, it's flora and fauna, and it's past, present and future.  I want to explore areas of the Park into which I haven't yet ventured and take part in new experiences.  I will be using this blog to record my exploits.

So what adventures am I planning??

Adventures thinking of so far:

• Circumnavigate the following lakes in a kayak - Llyn Geiryonydd, Llyn Padarn, Llyn Tegid, Llyn Gwynant (I've never kayaked that far before)
• Bivi on top of a mountain, so that I can see the sun rise on the morning of the summer solstice
• Find a cave and sleep in it
• Find a mountain shelter and spend the night in it
• Start walking at dusk and walk till morning
• Find an easy fell running route and complete it (not a race that might be one step too far!)
• Complete some sort of cycle route within the park (I don't do cycling, so this will be a challenge in itself!)
• Blind fold selection!  Blind folded, point to a spot on the map within the Park and get there.

Where possible I want to use public transport to get around the Park.  My adventures will take place mainly at weekend, unless I can mange to take time off work, and I will do them on my own, or with my family and friends - although they don't know it yet!!!

So let the challenge begin!!!