A Hike onto the 3000ft peaks of Pen Yr Ole Wen and Carnedd Dafydd.  The weather was sunny and pleasant.  Quite warm in the valley and cooler on the tops.  There were still remnants of the winter snows on the North facing aspects.  The climb up to Pen Yr Ole Wen is steep, our route following a stream from Glan Dena, up to the corrie of Cwm Ffynnon Loer.  From there a shor scramble gains the ridge and the final pull to the summit.  The long distance visibility was appalling, perhaps due to the ash cloud hanging over the Uk from the Eyjafjallajökull volcano that has been erupting in Iceland for the last month.  I don't recall seeing such hazy conditions before on the hills even in the height of summer.  The day didn't altogether to plan though.  on the way across to Carnedd Dafydd, my left knee came out of joint monetarily which was extremal painful and after that, Carnedd Llewellyn was out of the question.  We made our way down grassy slopes back to the car and i managed not to do any more damage.

Carneddau

A short overnight trip into the hills south of the Nanmor Valley.  The Outing started at Gelli-lago, and took the main track which ascends the hillside to Bwlch y Battel.  I chose a site before that point that would provide shelter, a flat pitch and a view towards Snowdon.  I had some equipment with me that had yet to be used in the field.  A Sierra Designs Light Year CD tent which i've had for quite a while but up until now hadn't been used.  I'd also got a Thermarest Neo-Air mattress and a Rab Latok Alpine waterproof jacket.  The Jacket performed well, but i cant vouch for its performance in rain yet as there wasn't any - which is always rare in North Wales.  It pays to have a good wander round when you get to a point where you would like to pitch.  I didnt, and after digging the snow away where I wanted the tent to go and pitching it, I climbed higher to take some photos and there was a much better spot higher up (committed to memory for next time).  The Neo-Air mattress was impressive and was very comfortable. With not much to do in the evenings on a solo wild camp, i was tucked into my sleeping bag with a book.  The morning brought with it some superb scenes of Snowdon lit up by the early morning sun.  I struck camp at about 7am, and set off back down the mountain, taking lots of photos of the ever changing clouds and light on the hills.

Cnicht Wild Camp

At the end of 2009 I completed a self build Canadian canoe project, and today it finaly made it onto the water for its 'sea trials'.

Canoe Launch

In preperation for a wild camp I'm planning, and to help bring down the weight of my pack I've invested in a new jacket and a new sleeping mat.  I've gone for a Rab Latok Alpine waterproof jacket, which weighs 450 grams.  My current Lowe Alpine jacket weighs almost twice that so its a welcome saving.  It packs down to about half the size too which means I have more space in the pack.  I also got a Thermarest NeoAir regular which weighs 400 grams.  It packs down very small for a full length mat.