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Sunday 18th November
CCF/Outdoor Education

Snowdonia Expedition Returns

A group of 12 students in years 10 and 11 visited Snowdonia over this weekend with the purpose of working towards the CCF Red Star award as well as generally have fun being in the mountains.  Alistair Othen and Jason Till led the group which set up camp in the Ogwen Valley in the shadow of Tryfan on an overcast, but reasonably dry, Saturday.

After setting up camp the group left to ascend Tryfan by its north ridge which is a Grade 1 scramble.  On nearing the ridge it was apparent that the winds were very high so the route was changed to shelter from the prevailing north westerlies by ascending a gully on the east face of the mountain.  The group made good time to the summit were the full force of the strong winds was felt before descending the broad south ridge to regain the warm and shelter of the east face.

 

With all fingers crossed, the group arrived back at camp to find all the tents still up and in apparent shelter from the wind, thankfully.  The group set about the task of preparing food prior to bedding down for the night after an enjoyable but tiring scramble. 

 

The wind picked up during the course of the late evening forcing the group to break camp and run for home due to the wind deciding to start blowing tents down, which included grabbing Jason Till’s tent and blowing it into the distance never to be seen again!  The group tried to get into the nearby Pen y Pass hostel, which was full, before deciding to head back to school and regroup.  The boarding house was turned into a drying room and all settled down to sleep after sorting their kit out for the following day’s trip to the Berwyn.

 

Breakfast was had in School House’s own kitchen before the team set out with the purpose of practicing map skills on the nearby Berwyn Mountains.  We arrived at the car park to find similar conditions to the previous day, but with a more forgiving wind.  A series of navigational training practices and exercises were then carried out in two groups which included the ascent of Moel Sych which had snow falling on it.  The groups utilised navigational techniques pertinent to those used on the Scottish mountain in winter to descend with the groups doing so competently and accurately.

 

The group enjoyed a very adventurous weekend which will hopefully be the first of many that the school can offer to its community.

ADO