Mixed Routes Outdoorsmagic at Cader Idris - Photo Gallery

Another Outdoorsmagic meeting out of the Lake District, this time in North Wales and once again the weather behaved itself at the weekend after heavy rain on Friday. I met the gang at a bunkhouse a couple of miles out of Bala, the first choice for accommodation had been in Dolgellau but the recent power cuts meant that they were unwilling or unable to confirm the booking.

The change of venue meant that we had to organise a 3-car convoy to drive the 20 miles or so to Cader Idris having carefully planned the route in the 2 minutes before setting off. As with all well laid plans there was a snag, one of the roads was closed due to flooding and a further impromptu route planning meeting in a lay-by was required.

The route involved driving along a single track road until it ended at a farm gate adorned with No Parking signs. As we were wondering what to do, a farmer drove up behind us wanting to get past and he helpfully told us that we could park in front of a semi-derelict looking farmhouse just at the side of the road.

Finally set off walking at 11 o'clock in fair weather and quite warm for the time of year along an identifiable path over relatively easy ground and not too steep and on to the start of a ridge leading to Cadir Idris.

As we gained height the mist rolled in and there were a couple of warning showers, one of hail, that lasted just long enough to put waterproof clothing on and then stopped.

The climb upwards wasn't really a ridge but it felt like it as we kept close to the edge of the broad hillside and as we got to the first of the subsidiary summits the mist began to clear and revealed good clear views to the north and west whilst staying misty to the south.

As we reach the summit of Cadir Idris the mist came in again and stayed there whilst we stayed at the summit, which was busy with walkers although we had seen hardly anybody prior to that.

We descended steeply down an eroded path eastwards past the attractive tarn in the shadow of impressive crags and then followed an easy path back to the road. With the prospect of a 3-mile road walk and the presence of a pub it was decided that the car drivers would volunteer to do the walk and return by car to pick up the others who would have to bravely wait in the pub. We were joined by Ben, the youngest member of the group who came with us for the exercise.

It was dark when we reached the cars after a 45-minute slog along the road, we were greeted by an old Welshman who wanted to know why we had parked in front of the farmhouse and blocked the entrance to his cow shed, even though it obviously hadn't seen a cow for a long time.

The car behind me reversed back on to the road, the car in front drove through a field gate in order to turn round and the driver got another ear-bashing from the old man. This was when I made the wrong decision to turn the car around without driving into the field. After several minutes of manoeuvres I successfully got the front wheel jammed against a kerb stone with 2 inches of clearance between the back of the car and a substantial stone wall. I was stuck.

The other two cars had driven off by now, Ben had come back to let me know. Even with two of us I was still stuck. Fortunately, there was a mobile phone mast situated behind the old farmhouse and Ben was able to call for help. There was much laughter at my predicament when the cavalry arrived but with them manhandling the front of the car over the kerb stones I was soon free and heading back to the bunkhouse.

You don't get this sort of entertainment just anywhere.

Andy Wallace 9th November 2002

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