A 2-Night Deep Snow Adventure!

​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

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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!