#51.DEVIL'S KITCHEN,Y GARN,BWLCH BRECAN,SHEPHERD'S PATH.12-10-11.

A 3 day trip in Snowdonia was planned by me and Micky and invites sent out to anybody who wanted to join us.The plan was to have a scramble on Bristley Ridge but the weather forecast put paid to that.A very wet morning with low cloud with the rain stopping in the afternoon was forecast and it was spot on.Micky arrived at my house at 8.30 and after a sausage butty and a cup of tea we set off to meet Howie at the walled car park below Tryfan.A change of walk saw us deciding to walk up to the Devil's Kitchen,ascend Y Garn,drop down to Bwlch Brecan and take the Shepherd's Path back to Ogwen Cottage.Parking at the free car park our wet gear was immediately put on and we were off up into Cwm Idwal.Howie and Micky on the bridge over the Afon Idwal.

We stayed to the left of Llyn Idwal and were surprised to see some climber's on Faith,Hope and Charity.We arrived at the stream that flow's down from Glyder Fawr and had difficulty crossing it,it's hard in normal condition's but with the amount of rain that had fallen,the stream was very swollen and we had to climb quite high to cross it.I suggested a break under one of the giant rock's further up that provides a bit of shelter.I slipped on a boulder nearby and slid a few metres down the slope but wasn't hurt.Me and Micky sat under the boulder out of the rain and when Howie joined us he said "there's a goat at the back",me and Micky turned to see a goat sheltering as well.

I didn't take another photo until the rain stopped which wasn't until we were coming down off Y Galan.This is the stream that flow's from Yr Esgair.

Here the rain stopped and we got our first view's on the walk.

Walking back to the car a Sea King helicopter appeared,we later found out that 2 lad's from Wrexham had fallen on Y Garn and needed airlifting to hospital.

The Ogwen Valley from the tank trap's.

Today's very wet walk was 7 miles in total with 3,000 feet of ascent.


MILEAGE       354.5
ASCENT        84,300
TOPS             87.