After more e-mails than I would wish to remember the 25 MMC'ers fortunate enough to be spending the weekend in the Swinton Hut were finally squeezed into no fewer than 11 cars. Phew!! This could be the last time we will stay at the Swinton Hut as they have decided to sell it (well they’ve almost decided). The building has great potential although the combined effects of the institutionalised colour scheme (we’re talking ‘phsychiatric ward’ colours) and the general lack of care and maintenance over the years have resulted in a pretty grim place. The mere mention of the name “Swinton” would probably send a shiver down the spine of anyone who has stayed there recently. Fear not, we have booked into somewhere else next January.

All but three managed to turn up on Friday night although as I had the key a small (and growing) number were left standing around outside waiting for my arrival. I would like to apologise for the delayed arrival but in my defence I would say that if someone at Natasha’s office hadn’t pulled the plug to her printer out of the wall we would have been much earlier – possibly even first. The group was only saved from an even longer wait by Chris Thring, who decided to use a credit card to undo the lock thereby bagging the best bunks for himself and Maria (and rightly so).

The remainder arrived over the next hour or so although Henry arrived with his car in less than perfect nick as some pratt in a Range Rover had inexplicably reversed into him at a petrol station and broken a headlamp. And despite two calls on Friday night to say that he definitely turning up Ben G failed to materialize (perhaps he’d seen the weather forecast?) Despite this and other tales of horrendous traffic most were all tucked up in bed by 1.00am.

Saturday, according to all the weather forecasts, was going to be the best day and so after the usual faffing the hut gradually cleared of Gortex, bikes, thermos flasks, packed lunches and walking poles.

In no particular order of daring, style, imagination or perseverance the various groups did the following:

Henry and Stephanie went off to the Glyders to tackle Dolmen Ridge, a grade 3 *** scramble, which was completed successfully. Mark W, Kate and Robbin M followed and did the same route Alpine Style. Russ and Anna did a scramble route in the same area and although not your actual ‘Sharks Buttress 3***’ it was very almost it. Russ did have the guidebook but admitted that they didn’t find the correct route at the start.

A large group comprising three John’s, Natasha, Hilary, Kirsten, Ian W, Andrew Tonkin, Tara Oragano, Warren and Jules went off to do the Snowdon Hoseshoe. Unfortunately, (or possibly fortunately), the car park was full so instead drove over to the Ogwen Valley and opted to do a walk and scramble up The Devils Kitchen and over Y Garn. Before reaching the Devils Kitchen they changed tack yet again and decided to tackle a scramble up the North West face of Glyder Fawr. This transpired to be an excellent scramble route called, appropriately “The north west face route 2**” The party continued to Y Garn and then back to the car park for more tea and cakes.

Andy E took his mountain bike to Coed-y-Brenin and completed two off road routes, Karrimor at 35km and Red Bull at 12km.

Nick and Rocketman completed Grooved Arete on Tryfan, an 8 pitch V Diff in big boots with Steve carrying a full pack as part of his training for a forthcoming trip to the Alps.

Maria meanwhile had gone for a walk up Moel Siabod while Chris had decided that as part of his training for his trip to Chile in January he would attempt something of an epic around the mountains in the southern part of the park. Alas the task was more than even Chris could manage and he only completed two thirds of the route before returning to the car park.

Wendy, who had driven up that morning with AG, was also in training mode for the Chile trip although their attempt to complete Grooved Arete on Tryfan (V Diff) was somewhat thwarted by their decision to try and climb an east facing mountain route in late October dressed only in light summer clothing. The pair only managed to complete the first pitch before the cold forced them to descend. They then headed off to Pete’s Eats in Llanberis for the rest of the day.

Stefan, who had intended to camp in Capel Curig, arrived in the early hours of Friday and spent the rest of the night sleeping in his car. He then booked himself into the Bryn Turch for Saturday night rather than camp, which in view of the weather forecast was a sensible option.

In the evening most opted to eat out at either the Bryn Turch or Tin-y-Coed before returning to the hut.

All in all though a very successful day and for once the weather forecast really was spot on.

All woke on Sunday morning to hard driving rain and high winds. The early risers only managed to boil one kettle of water for a brew before the severity of the storm caused all power to the village to be cut off. Steve’s camping stove was then brought out to make drinks for any one else who needed one. The Swinton hut is even less inviting in a power cut so most were resigned to an early departure and breakfast in Betws-y-Coed followed, no doubt, by some shopping. There were then reports that various roads had been flooded and many opted to simply get up and leave as quickly as possible. Within half an hour they were all back with reports that the road to Betws-y-Coed was blocked by a fallen tree. Maps were quickly consulted before most people simply fled from the bunkhouse and headed off in various directions to avoid floods, fallen tress and the worst of the weather.

The prize for the best account of a drive home must go to Mark W, Russ and Anna who attempted a cross country route on minor roads to avoid the fallen tree on the A5..

"It took us eleven hours to get back, after persevering through dragging trees off of the road, driving through flooded roads, having to be towed by a jeep and heavy traffic....to top it all, I've lost my climbing boots!" - Russ

Andy E, who had followed the trio, offered a further description of the route back..

"We had an epic drive in search of a cafe.  The A5 was blocked so Windy came up with a harebrained scheme to try to get to the A55 via the tiny backcountry roads above Capel Curig.  We had to shift a fallen tree within the first 200 m, then came across a particularly deep flooded section in which Russ's car stalled.  He then put in a late F***wit nomination by opening his door, thus flooding the inside of the car as well.  After much spraying of WD40 and engine cranking, the car would still not start, so a kindly jeep owner offered him tow.  Several tortuous, flooded and branch infested miles later, our way was blocked by huge tree that had also brought down power lines as well.  So we had to back track and try another route, which again was blocked by a tree, but this time small enough for us to shift, then another flood etc etc.  Didn't get breakfast until 1pm, and not home until 7.30."

Nick and Steve had thought of going for a cycle but in the end.

"Well we had a slightly quieter experience.  We went to the Cafe by Joe Brown's in Capel, no leccy but they did us beans and bread and butter, and then gathered various intelligence as to which roads were shut.  We decided to try the A5 up to Bangor and then round via Porthmadog.  This worked out OK despite a number of fallen trees and large puddles.  Eventually got to Coed y Brenin at around 1.30 to find a sign saying the forest was shut!  Undeterred, unwisely, we thought we would have a look anyway and so geared up and were just about to set off when a ranger type rolled up and told us it was a bad idea.  There were so many fallen trees that it would have made the cycling very difficult and dangerous as you could come hurtling down a slope and then come up against a fallen branch.  So we trundled off home and got in around 6pm."  

A pretty quiet day by other standards!

The rest had more successful journeys home and it’s possible that those who left last, after a bit of tidying up and collecting all the left behind gear, may even have been first home. Despite the weather on Sunday and a broken headlamp an excellent meet with the added bonus a few likely nominations for this years Cliffhanger award.

JB