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Day 1 of my beautiful, hard, snowy Arenigs trip 😍 This one was a mis-adventure from the very start. After getting stuck in the snow in my car on the way up and having to be rescued by 3 strapping lads (thanks again guys 😄🙏) I finally parked up and started making my way into the Arenigs, heading for Moel Llyfnant's summit and the 12km circular I had planned I made it only 1km through the deepest snow I have ever encountered, before realising I couldn't go any further. The deep drifts were fun, but exhausting. I was also worried about getting snowed in and not being able to return the way I'd come I spent a long time debating what to do.. wondering if I were entirely (and literally) out of my depth in this snow. I considered going home. But I decided to find water and at least have a go at finding somewhere to pitch. The paths marked on the map were not passable, but maybe Arenig Fawr would allow me to ascend his north-westerly slopes instead.. I trudged up and up, somehow making it to 470m to pitch my tent. I watched the sun set and the snow turn pinky hues before dusk. It was -4°C when the stars appeared in the end-of-winter sky, and I unwittingly drank a coffee full of caffeine instead of my decaf bedtime latte It was an interesting night of wondering why I felt so jittery and weird and couldn't sleep, but a beautiful one nonetheless Gear List
This gear list contains affiliate links. This means that WildBeare makes a small commission from any sales made via these links, at no extra cost to yourself - a great way to support the channel. Thank you SHELTER Tent Hilleberg Soulo + Footprint (Bad Weather Test & details about this tent here: https://youtu.be/mUi1IGskBig) Microfibre Cloth for Condensation https://amzn.to/3rHZYyf Spare Tent Pegs https://amzn.to/3PMvCqB TREKKING POLE Fizan Compact 158g https://amzn.to/3ETBs6T SLEEP SYSTEM Sleeping Bag Rab Ascent 1100 https://amzn.to/3ATy3lM Winter Sleep Mat Neoair Thermarest Xtherm Max https://amzn.to/3uSjiLt Trekology Aluft Delux Pillow https://amzn.to/3xwuhM1 Highlander Reflective Mat https://amzn.to/3OxQ2mv Alpkit Kloke Lightweight Bivi Bag RUCKSACK & PACKING Deuter Aircontact 60+10L SL Women’s Rucksack https://amzn.to/3MqRvcW Decathlon 10L Waist Bag Exped Dry Bags https://amzn.to/33OmrDu XL Exped Dry Bag (for winter sleeping bag) https://amzn.to/3l497Dp Nylofume Pack Liner - https://outdoorgearessentials.co.uk SIT MAT https://amzn.to/3yP22u8 GPS / NAVIGATION / PLB Garmin Inreach Mini https://amzn.to/3sVBi9f Garmin Backpack Tether https://amzn.to/3sTRibM Map & Compass Phone https://amzn.to/3An5PQ7 FIELD REPAIRS Tenacious Tape https://amzn.to/2PmjxOq Duct Tape (I wrap it around my trekking pole) https://amzn.to/3qPKFEF DD Superlight Guy Rope 16m (spare cordage) https://amzn.to/3hlefRW COOKING Hiking Stove https://amzn.to/3cM173q Jetboil Gas 230g https://amzn.to/3z5qV5L Folding Gas Canister Stand https://amzn.to/3GLhHh4 Toaks 900ml Titanium Pot https://amzn.to/3j5Mwot X Bands https://outdoorgearessentials.co.uk Opinel Pocket Knife No.6 https://amzn.to/3ad0HAo Tito Titanium Spoon https://amzn.to/3xgwcqi Lil pots https://amzn.to/3FG5fi8 Microfibre Cloths https://amzn.to/3rHZYyf Bag for rubbish WATER & HYDRATION LifeStraw 650m Filter Squeeze Bottle https://amzn.to/3TSeDVe Milton Sterilising Tablets (for cleaning at home) https://amzn.to/3W4tLR5 TOILETRIES & PERSONAL CARE Tissue Baby wipes Hand sanitiser Trowel https://amzn.to/3etBVz9 Hair band Lip balm Talc Toothpaste Tiny mirror Mini Tweezers Tiny Pots https://amzn.to/3aJytgC Toothbrush https://amzn.to/2LqwgxY Sleep Mask https://amzn.to/3tD2lUs MED KIT Pain relief Antihistamine Plasters & blister plasters Torniquet (only use with knowledge of how to use safely) Wound Dressing & Small Bandage Alcohol Wipes CLOTHING & FOOTWEAR Boots Regatta Tebay https://amzn.to/3mFTSkF Spare Bootlaces Sealskinz Waterproof Knee Length Winter Socks https://amzn.to/3ZCxUgU Fine Merino Socks https://amzn.to/3F66vvp Peter Storm Winter Hiking Jacket https://amzn.to/3WiAUwV Hiking Clothes: Merino layers - Decathlon Synthetic Hoodie https://amzn.to/3wQfPPu Waterproof Winter Gloves Sealskinz - https://amzn.to/3w75hew Clothes for Camp: Down Puffy - Decathlon Lapasa Merino Wool Base Layers https://amzn.to/3qT5Oh8 Fleece hat, gloves & neck warmer – Decathlon ELECTRONICS Power Bank Anker PowerCore x2 https://amzn.to/3jqTQr2 Headtorch – Decathlon Bivouac USB (100 lumen) Light - Goal Zero https://amzn.to/32RI1pR Thermometer https://amzn.to/3TMdw9n Charger Cables Microfibre Cloth for drying hands & electronics in wet weather https://amzn.to/3rHZYyf HEAT Ocoopa Electronic Hand Warmer Green https://amzn.to/3BDyels Hot Hands https://amzn.to/3q1iiTp Hot Hands (x40 pairs) https://amzn.to/3eCWKLg ICE AXE & SNOW SPIKES Petzl Ice Axe https://amzn.to/3qTmx3W WardWolf Ice Spikes https://amzn.to/3HAF5wH FILMING Camera – Sony ZV1 https://amzn.to/3t4VamJ Ulanzi Wide Angle & Macro Lens https://amzn.to/3CC6Jaq ZV1 Screen Protectors https://amzn.to/3tYOnPA Sony Lavalier Mic https://amzn.to/3OOtvlC 128GB SD Card https://amzn.to/3tckuY8 Ring Light Clips https://amzn.to/2MZjCGK Tripod https://amzn.to/3nxGg7p Mini Ball Heads https://amzn.to/32Zb87n x2 GoPro 10’s https://amzn.to/3T9CDUB Wind Shields https://amzn.to/3TesuWA Screen Protectors https://amzn.to/3ww70Lf Selfie Stick https://amzn.to/3zRjDTh Rucksack Mount https://amzn.to/32Ojy4M 128GB Micro SD Card https://amzn.to/3p8XQ0v Gorrillapod Flexible Mini Tripod https://amzn.to/3u9Tb3j SAM the drone: DJI Mavic Mini Drone Fly More Combo https://amzn.to/3rvF0SZ + an old iphone to control it – my phone is not compatible 128GB Micro SD Card https://amzn.to/3p8XQ0v COMPUTER & EDITING Editing Program – Davinci (Free) Sony Headphones https://amzn.to/3yds75R Mouse https://amzn.to/3yjY24t Dell PC https://amzn.to/3CAp3mX Seagate 10TB External Hard Drive https://amzn.to/3MnK4Vj I woke on Day 2 of my Arenigs trip after barely any sleep (accidentally drinking full-caffeine coffee before bed is not the one 😄) The morning was clear, a bit windy but unassuming, not giving anything away about the weather that would be coming later in the day I made a plan. So far, the route I had intended on wasn't passable due to snow drifts, so I'd headed in the opposite direction up Arenig Fawr instead of Moel Llyfnant. I decided to head east, and then south to Llyn Arenig Fawr, a lake on the other side of the mountain There hadn't been any more snowfall in the night, so I was able to follow my tracks all the way back down the NW side of Arenig Fawr, and then followed an easy single-track road for a few km. So far, so good. But as I came off the road and was heading south up to the lake, the weather was turning Low cloud was gathering and the snow came in, light at first. I slowly made a way through more deep snow to the mountain lake, lil waves crashing on a pebble shore. I collected water and found a place to pitch, above the lake in case of a sudden thaw & flood. The forecast told of a sudden warming in the night, so I wanted to be on higher ground Pitching the tent wasn't easy. The wind was getting up. I was depleted of energy and the snow was thick, both in the air and on the ground. I fumbled around with the tent in my big winter gloves, got the stove going and ate and ate. Then I ate some more. The wind battered the tent. It was the strongest wind that I've had the Hille out in yet. I fell into a restless sleep, the noise keeping me on alert for tent destruction, which thankfully never happened ⛺️ :) although a load of pegs and guylines were ripped out These conditions were a real eye-opener. So beautiful and felt like such an adventure, but woww does the cold & snow sap your resources! Comments are closed.
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