SUMC - Swansea University Mountaineering Club

Last weekend's trip to North Wales was the second weekend trip away for the club, and it began much like every other, setting off a little later than planned in a minibus crammed with gear and anticipation for the weekend ahead.

Leaving Fulton House around 4.30pm the minibus headed towards Tremadog in miserable drizzle, all of us hoping that the weather would improve further north. After a midway fish 'n' chip stop and in total around 4 hours of travelling the bus pulled up outside the bunk barn in Tremadog. It was basic as expected, but filled our needs and it wasn't long before the bus was emptied, beds were shotgunned, beer was drunk and the games began. It is amazing what entertainment empty beer cans and chairs can provide a group of climbers on a cold Friday night in North Wales. Anyway, numerous balancing and awkward competitions were produced and developed, until the rest of the Swansea group arrived in Nick's van around midnight. A handful of ex-members had also made the effort to join us, so in the merry atmosphere we discussed prospective climbs for the day ahead and debated guidebook preferences regarding topos (visual descriptions of a crag and its routes, usually in the form of a photograph) and it was well into the early hours before all 16 beds were occupied, silent and sleeping.

Eight am Saturday came far too quickly for those of us unable to find comfort in beds with slats missing or next to the snorers amongst us. However it wasn't too long before we'd all geared up and set off for the first crag of the trip, Craig Bwlch Y Moch, which was just a 5 min walk from the barn - very handy! The crag has a range of climbs at different grades and by 1pm (after a delay in finding the route due to the thick wood at the foot of the crag) I had managed to lead my 1st route of the trip, Christmas Curry (Micah finish), S/HS 4b, an enjoyable 4 pitch route, which was also climbed by Tom & Ross; Martin & Gareth; Dave & Dom and Jon & Jeff. Little did I know it would be my only route of the holiday! Once returned to our bags shortly after the route, Simon (my climbing partner) and I were tucking into our lunch (I will mention here that the woodland surrounding the crag, is far from level, and is accompanied with numerous boulders and squelchy mud) - Anyway, the uneven ground was to blame for what happened next. Out of nowhere my left leg skidded away from me resulting in my full body weight (plus the gear on my harness) landing painfully on my slightly twisted right ankle - Oww! As for me, the rest of Saturday was spend initially negotiating my decent to the road from my lunch spot on my bum, which was only possible thanks to Bethan who assisted and proceeded to drive me the 50mins to Bangor A&E for an x-ray. Thankfully nothing was broken; I had just sprained a tendon and was given tubi-grip, painkillers and crutches and sent on my way. Not a great start for me!

However, all was not lost. We (Bethan and I) returned to the bunk barn and were greeted with hungry faces. The guys had been anxious as to our whereabouts - after all they had been climbing all day and wanted a pub tea and needed our return (and hence the return of the bus) in order to do so! Charming! With a quick and rather awkward one legged change we were ready and set off down the road for food at the Golden Fleece (a local pub). After a good feast we gathered in the 'games room' which consisted of a rather splendid collection of dodgy dated games, each with what seemed their own deficits. The pool table had ripped felt and consequently no cues were issued, instead games were spiced up by using my crutches as an alternative to a cue! Also, following some nifty Swiss army knife action, Stu and Simon managed to repair the foosball men, ensuring that now all the men were fixed to their bars. Again drinks, jokes and imaginative competitions were created, exhausted and resurrected and despite all of us feeling it was much later than it actually was, we managed to avoid returning to the barn until after 11pm.

I should mention that Saturday had been far from a write-off for the rest of the group, who in the time it took for me to get to and from Bangor had completed various routes, particular highlights included Simon & Zayna's assent of The Plum E1 5b, which included Simon enjoying a lob (fall) from the crux; Stu, Paul & Chris' alternated lead of The Fang HVS 5a; Jon & Jeff enjoyed Valerie's Rib HS, Jacky & Nick enjoyed both Scratch Aréte HVS 5a and Barbarian E1 5b, Martin & Gareth did Oberon VDiff and congratulations to Bethan and Zayna who pushed their grades leading Yogi VS 4b. Saturday night we found ourselves psyched for the day ahead and ready for a good night's sleep which didn't take long to follow.

After a much better nights sleep by all, it was a real shame to wake to drizzle on Sunday morning. However, after a café breakfast across the road, spirits were lifted as we headed for Carreg Hylldrem, a sheltered bouldering crag where the majority of us would spend our day. The ex-members and the rest of the van's cargo went walking and scrambling around Cadair Idris for the day.

On arrival at Carreg Hylldrem I had prepared myself for a lonely day in the bus - as I'd been given the heads up that despite being a roadside crag, there was a steep 2 min approach that definitely wasn't possible on crutches, poo.

So, after waves goodbye I settled down to my iPod and magazine. I had just realised how bored I was to be when a rap at the window startled me. It was Martin and Stu - to rescue me! It was an interesting operation getting me and crutches up the hill, but within 10mins I was at the crag with everyone, feeling much more cheery, thanks again guys.

Despite drizzle, the face of the crag was dry and Jon, Stu and Simon enjoyed a complicated traverse with a super hard crux finish that was a struggle to complete. The traverse was accompanied by various other short problems with all holds easily highlighted by distinct chalk patches. It was hard to sit still and at one point I did get to hold my weight on the only jug (big hold) there - but was rightly soon advised to quit while ahead before I injured myself further.

With a group picture to finish (see the website) we were done and headed back to the barn for the final clean up and pack before heading off. The Llanberris pass was spectacular despite the rain and later in Llanberris town we had time to mooch through the outdoor shops, some of us more restrained than others when faced with the opportunity to buy swanky kit and gear. After another healthy (!) chip shop boost we concluded our North Wales trip and headed south to finally arrive safe in Swansea around 11pm Sunday night. It was another thoroughly enjoyable trip that the club should be proud of, as it takes something special to be able to feel that even when you end up on crutches!

Read more about us at http://www.uwsmc.org.uk, cheers, Beck Holland