Week 2 Mountain hikes and minimalism

Determined this week to get out as much as possible before the threatened wintery weather appears. I am quite happy to hike in all sorts of conditions, but I do hate it when its icy. I have absolutely no sense of balance and it only takes the smallest patch of something slippy to send me head over heels. One of my life's regrets is that I have never been able to ice skate or roller skate, and that surfing will always only ever be a spectator sport. (Although if I am honest, that might be more to do with the thought of trying to squeeze myself into a wetsuit!)

So, with this in mind I head into the mountains. I knew there was snow on the higher ground but I thought I'd be ok. It is the most amazing approach, you turn a corner and suddenly the snow capped mountains are spread out in front of you. It is really completely breathtaking.

My photo doesn't do it justice at all, but if you want to see one that does, follow this link to see one of Stewart's. I can only aspire!

The weather was ok so I thought I would head to Llyn Idwal and walk around the lake to get some miles in, plus some wonderful photo opportunities. I had one of those brainwaves you have when it seems like such a good idea at the time. I parked at the very far end of Llyn Ogwen and walked a mile or so to the visitor centre at Llyn Idwal and then up to the bridge over the waterfall.

I love this bridge and the walk to Idwal is beautiful and quite forgiving to the lapsed hiker! In the dull light, the colours were very dramatic. I have tweaked a bit in Lightroom just to enhance the clarity, but haven't done a lot. Continued up to the lake which was looking fabulous.

However at this point the wind came up and it started to rain, as you can see from the splodges on the lens! Raindrops on roses, fine. Raindrops on lenses, not so much. So decision to make. Take a chance and walk round the lake or wimp out and head back to a flask of soup in the car. Wimped out.

Actually it was a good thing I did as the weather got steadily worse and I walked most of it in hail and horizontal wind. Now this is going to surprise regular readers, but I actually had a complete change of clothes in the car, all the way from ladies "unmentionables", to another coat (the one I bought last time I forgot a coat). So after a certain amount of undignified wriggling in a confined space (well you try changing trousers in a car!) I sat there warm and dry sipping on piping hot soup. Smug doesn't even come close!

On the way home I even managed to take a photo ready for Derelict Sunday on Blip. One of the disused farm buildings on the road from Capel Curig.

All in all a pretty fabulous day with well over 5 miles walked.

In the 52 in 2016 challenge, this week's theme is minimalism. I've never really had a go at this and not sure if I really understand the brief, but here is my effort.

It's hard enough trying to take a good photo with what's in front of you, but to have to put it there yourself in the first place is a whole new challenge. I had a go at a few different things but nothing worked until I found my bottles. It's the positive side effect of being a crafter and hoarder, there is all sorts of junk treasure in the house to shoot!

Lessons Learned: Remember to put the clean dry clothes back in the car for next time!
Never throw anything away as you never know when you might need to photograph it!

Diet Diary: Still feeling determined, so its going well. The trouble is that the hiking makes me hungry, so it's hard trying to find the balance.

Rambling Record: At the end of week 2 I have done nearly 47 miles, with a target of just 40, so well ahead. Gives me a bit of wobble room.

Llyn Ogwen and Cwm Idwal

I think I have attempted the Cwm Idwal walk about 5 times so far and due to adverse weather or unwilling companions have not managed to get all the way around.

Well today I was determined. Partly because I wasn't going to let it beat me and partly because having had a really stressful few days the diet has taken a bit of a hammering and so some serious hiking was a bit of a necessity if I'm not going to break the scales at Slimming club tomorrow!

So I parked up by Llyn Ogwen and walked to the Visitor Centre. The scenery here in the Ogwen Valley is so dramatic and although you walk along the A5 there is very little traffic.

By the Visitor Centre (where there are toilets and a cafe selling some gorgeous cake, but only to those not needing to get back on track with their diet) you follow the path up and very quickly come upon the view below. The peak in the distance is Tryfan. This is one of the most recognisable peaks because you can see a reclining facial image. Apparently some say Native American Chief with headdress, or Neolithic Man. Although the current most popular is apparently Homer Simpson!

Just along from this view is a small wooden bridge that goes over a waterfall.

This view is from the far side of the bridge, looking back to Llyn Ogwen. The gate in the centre has been designed to reflect the landscape of Cwm Idwal.

There is an obvious designated path which takes you along the side of the lake, towards Devil's Kitchen, the scooped out end of this glacial valley.

So far so good. The weather is beautiful with a cool breeze making it perfect hiking weather. At the far end of the lake the path suddenly gets very steep. In the picture above, right in the middle, you can see the slope. You follow that path to its end and then scramble up the side of a waterfall which you then have to cross. The path gets a bit vague here and I did my usual trick of waiting for a couple of hikers to pass and then follow them. 

This of course only works if they are heading the same place as you! After we had all been climbing for quite a long while over some very steep and rocky terrain I thought I had better check that this was the right way. Of course it wasn't. They were heading to the top ridge of the Glyderau mountain range and we were almost there. I had missed the path down to the lake completely. Seem to have done something similar before! Still the views were fabulous.

At least I could see the path from up there and it was a heck of a long way down! Still, undaunted, I retraced my steps and headed back down. I slipped once and have now had my first hiking injury. Caught my foot between 2 rocks and came out a bit bruised and bloody. Although to be fair, if I'd known that the hike was going to be so hard I would have worn my walking boots and not my shandals. (Shandal, cross between a shoe and a sandal apparently, who knew!)

So eventually found my way down to the banks of the Idwal. I was tempted to paddle, but unfortunately time was short as I hadn't expected to detour quite so much and I had to get back for the school run.

So I have finally done it, and then some! Definitely going to do it again, and maybe next time I will leave myself enough time to climb to the ridge of the Glyderau.

Lessons Learned: Next time I follow someone, make sure we are heading for the same destination!

If going mountain climbing, wear boots!

Diet Diary Had a good day today. Will find out tomorrow if it has compensated for the sins of the weekend!

Cwm Idwal and Horseshoe Pass

Haven't been able to get out for what seems like an age. So determined to do something today. I have unsuccessfully attempted Cwm Idwal twice before, so today was going to be third time lucky!
Stopped off in Betws-y-coed for the obligatory coffee and cake in Cadwaladers and I was on my way. It had been really drizzly but by the time I got to Llyn Ogwen it had stopped.
In practically all the How To videos I have been watching on You Tube for Lightroom, they recommend shooting in Raw. Now I don't really understand it completely, but I think that the general theory is that in jpeg your camera makes a few adjustments for you, but in Raw it doesn't so you have more control in editing. If that is wrong, I do hope someone will tell me.
So anyway, set the camera to Raw and away I went.

I have been playing around with Lightroom for a few days and even on the basic level that I have got to, I am so pleased with the results. I don't completely change a picture, because I'm still not sure I like the over produced look, but bring out the colours and definition. 

One of the videos suggested that you set your exposure for the sky as it is easier to lighten the shadows than add definition in a burnt out sky, so something else to try today.

The plan today was to walk all the way around the lake, but as I climbed up towards it, it seemed that with every step I took the wind speed increased by 1mph so by the time I got to it, I could barely stand. So head down, shoulders hunched, hat gripped I started walking around the lake until I had the realisation that I wasn't actually enjoying this at all. The whole point of this new hiking and photography lark was to have fun. And I wasn't. So I turned round and headed back down again. I've been out in worse conditions than this before and always found it exhilarating but maybe today wasn't going to be one of those days. Maybe 4th time lucky?

So the plan was to have an early evening and edit some photos. As I was travelling home via Llangollen, the sky started doing some very beautiful and dramatic things, so I detoured via Horseshoe Pass and took the following pictures.

Can anyone else see the SS Enterprise in the one below, or is it just me?

So I had a play around with them on the computer and to be perfectly honest, couldn't tell the difference between Raw and Jpeg, but that is probably because I am a beginner don't really know what to look for. But I do see the difference in exposing for the sky as I have found a lot more definition there.

Lessons Learned: If its not fun, don't do it! You are not always going to be in the mood for adverse conditions so don't let it become a chore.

Experiment!

Llyn Ogwen and Llyn Idwal

It used to be difficult to get motivated to go out when you look out the window and it is foggy and drizzly. Not anymore. I so relish the idea of a day out that it doesn’t really matter about the weather. Ok, so I might not get some great photos but that isn’t the only reason I go out. It’s not for “exercise” as that is a pretty uninspiring reason to be doing anything. I think its just a new found love of discovery. Of what I am capable of personally and also what treasures this beautiful Country offers.


So anyway, I venture out in the fog and rain and head for Llyn Ogwen again. I know I was there only recently, but I have seen other people’s photos of it and want to look at it from a different perspective. In the crafting world this is called “scraplifting” but I think everyone else just calls it copying!


(I do of course stop on the way in Betws-y-coed at Cadwaladers for coffee accompanied by rhubarb and cherry cake. That is 4 down and 4 to go! When I was young I always wanted to marry someone called Cadwalader as I thought it such a fantastic name.)


It was misty most of the way, then suddenly the fog drops and you see the mountains peeping over the top of it, it is quite surreal and so beautiful.

When I get to Llyn Ogwen practically all the snow has gone, so I feel it is now possibly safe to do the walk up to Llyn Idwal. Actually, I feel like a proper hiker now as I have an official hiking stick! 

I go past the lovely waterfall, but no icicles this time.

The path is slippery in places, but manageable. I get to the lake relatively unscathed and it is so lovely. It is still mostly frozen and there is some snow still on the surrounding mountains. It is cold of course and eerily peaceful.
I got about halfway round the lake before I was advised to turn back as the path had become very icy and treacherous. Apparently, I now need crampons, and I thought walking was supposed to be free!

I took a few photos, but with it being dull and misty, wasn’t sure how they were going to turn out. Some I am pleased with, some not so much, but even if they are not “art” these photos are a memento of a fun day out and a beautiful place visited, after all, isn’t that what photos should be?
So, will have to leave it for a couple of weeks, but I am determined to do the whole walk one day soon. 

One thing I have noticed is that hikers and photographers seem generally to be a friendly bunch who will always give you a smile and a hello. I think it could be the shared lunacy of walking up mountains in rain and fog, but whatever the reason, if you should come across a lady in her middle years in a bright turquoise jacket who is pretending to take photos when she is actually trying to catch her breath, say hello, as it could be me!


Lessons learned: An outing doesn’t have to be just about the photographs, and the photographs don’t have to be art. Keep your camera handy and be prepared for a sudden change in conditions.
Carry an official hiking stick, it makes you feel like you look like you know what you are doing!

Llyn Ogwen

Back to Snowdonia today and an attempt at the Cwm Idwal walk from my Snowdonia App. However, when I got to the starting place at the Ogwen Centre and saw everyone else with their crampons, ice picks, ropes and St Bernards, I thought that perhaps I wasn't really prepared for that type of walk/climb. Maybe in the Spring.

However, the walk starts off by Llyn Ogwen and the road follows the length of it, so I decided to do this instead.

The scenery is breathtaking. The lake is situated in a valley and has snow covered mountains on either side. You can walk the whole length on the road, just getting out the way of occasional traffic, and it is completely flat, making an easy walk for the unfit amongst us.

The lake was frozen in places and the snow on the paths about 4" deep and it all felt very arctic! On the way back I met a very helpful fellow photographer who suggested I have a go at the start of the original walk, just up to the bridge and waterfall. So I decided to have a look, after all what is the worst that could happen, apart from falling and breaking some bones, or worse still, the camera!

Its only a short walk up some steps, but they were covered in compacted ice, so slippery doesn't even come close. Anyway, I made it and so glad I did. This is my favourite photo that I took. 1/10 second exposure to try to get the clarity of the icicles and the movement of the water behind them.

The walk down was horrendous. I have even less sense of balance than I do sense of direction so it was very slow and tentative. I stopped every time someone else was about so there was no one to witness the humiliation of me possibly tumbling base over apex. Good thing about having a camera, you can pretend you are taking pictures!

The snow had seeped through my so called waterproof boots but luckily I have learned from previous episodes to have spare trainers, wellies and socks in the car.

Next stop on my day was Lake Padarn in Llanberis. I have seen some gorgeous pictures taken across the lake of Snowdon and wanted to have a go. 

I follow a couple of Facebook groups of North Wales photography and the inspiration is endless.

Final stop of the day was Sunset at Trefor. I had been there the once before when Stewart and I went Chasing Waves. Such a completely different atmosphere this time. Absolutely no one about, very calm water and the light beginning to dim. I followed the headland walk along the cliffs for a while until it started getting dark and I realised that it probably wasn't the safest thing to be doing! Back along the beach for a while and waited for the sun to set.

Lessons Learned: Look for the detail in the big picture.
My waterproof hiking boots can not cope with 4"of snow.

You can't drive in wellies.