Warren Boshel, Robin Mitton, Jane Buxton and newcomer Pete Staff got up at least 2 hours before everyone else in order to maximise the time available for pre-Snowdon Horseshoe faffing. They decided to take Pete's car as there's more space and after a bit of car shuffling, involving waking others, the car was loaded and ready for the off … or maybe not! As a pre-Snowden warm up they started pushing the car up and down the road in a forlorn attempt at starting it. This continued until all, except for the car, were thoroughly over heated.

"It will go", said Pete but they finally decided after 15 mins that perhaps it was time to change cars. So more car shuffling was required before eventually getting underway; that is until the end of the lane, where Pete remembered he had left his wallet behind. So back again down the lane, where those who had decided to have a lie in could look on with amusement!

They finally reached their destination, but with Snowden in sight Warren's stomach was going nowhere without a "full english", so to the Cafe they go. By 9.30(???- ed.) they had run out of excuses and duly set off to tackle the Snowdon Horseshoe.

Paul Grinnell and Delphine LeRoyer also did the horseshoe but have not admitted to any mishaps or epics.

Meanwhile, Russ Beech had persuaded Charlie Dunlop, Nikki, James Gilbert, Sarah Glover, Kirsty McKaige, Catherine Hartley and Ian Weir to scramble Tryfan and then Bristly Ridge, followed by a traverse of the Glyders and descent via the Devils Kitchen. But of course this was an MMC meet.

Russ and Charlie led from the back and took a direct route up the north face. The remainder of the group waiting further along for them to catch up. Ian, Catherine and James then took another scramble upwards, but Sarah, Nikki and Kirsty weren't too impressed by Ian's choice of route and decided to follow the path. They managed to meet up with Russ and Charlie further up the hill.

Meanwhile Catherine was feeling the effects of carrying another person, so after escorting her down to a safe point, James and Ian scrambled back up arriving at the summit within minutes of the others. Catherine continued here descent all the way to the Kwik Fit in Bangor in order to affect repairs to a rather familiar VW Passat.

At the top Charlie decided on a kite flying demo. The winds were strong, his kite was in the air for about 4 seconds, then the strings snapped! After lunch in a wind gusting to 67km/h (glad to hear the mmc tradition of lunching on the top of exposed mountains is being maintained - ed.), the group again divided, this time intentionally. Sarah, Kirsty and Ian strolled down to the Ogwen cafe and the remainder heroically tackled the ridge. The weather stayed dry and much chocolate was consumed.

Andy Etheridge, Nick Kemp, David Dees and Kate Gerard went mountain biking in the forest above Betws y Coed. After the traditional and extensive pre-departure fettling of machinery and pumping of tyres they eventually set off on a ride that despite only taking about three hours resulted in almost as much time spent repairing their bikes. So extensive was the attrition, that two of them required professional care in the hands of the Betws y Coed bike shop, whilst their owners recuperated in the comforts of local tea and gear shops.

Sunday 26

Perhaps without precedent in modern times, the bad weather hoped for by those with aching legs or desire to exercise nothing but their stomachs in the cafe did not arrive. Robin, Warren, Jane and Pete scramble again teamed up, but this time for a scramble of Bristly Ridge.

Cath, Ian, Sarah, Kirsten, Charlie, Russ & Nikki set off for Moel Siobaod. Nikki retired early to do some work and Catharine resigned to being fat and sensible came down early too before the scramble at the top. Highlights were reported to be Ian Weir's "Rudolph Nuryrev" tights, the great view on the way down (which may refer to the former) and more chocolate.

The mountain biking team headed for the incomparable Coed y Brenin Karrimor trail. Again much "field maintenance" was required, including repair of Nick's broken chain (perhaps caused by Nick hurling his bike in to the ground) and Mark's frayed bake cables. Towards the end Kate pushed on ahead whilst the boys were preoccupied with changing brake pads, but instead of following the signs back to the start, managed to set off on another lap. Eventually realising her error, she made it back to base just before dark and just in time to catch her lift back to London!