A tough old slog! Now with video!

[summittoppler]

(Separate thread due to not bagging March, I think)


3 years I wlaked up to Glyer Fach in Snowdonia with one of my lads to see if it was bikeable, I soon came up with the result that it wasn't! Fast forward a couple of years to May 2018 and I struggled and biked it, hence my avatar pic >>>>>>
20180507_110106 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

Fast forward to the present day and I had the idea of bikepacking the same tough route! Its funny how we block the tough bits out eh?

So Friday afternoon I loaded up the Mukluk for a bivvy up top. I didn't give it much thought as I only used a front roll, as there was so much steep hills to push up I should have used a seatpack to take the weight off the front...
20190802_164319 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

20190803_060512 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

After some brief pedaling I still had this big lump to get over, and the one behind it and a further lump!
20190802_175121 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

And it was friggin steep...
20190802_192339 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

But I did know there was going to be some epic views as a reward
20190802_193427 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

Tryfan on the right and I was to bivvy on the lump on the left
20190802_193122 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

20190802_194255 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

20190802_201345 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

I got to my target just as the sun hit the horizon
20190802_204306 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

but I wasn't alone!!
20190802_210834 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

As the light was fading I made the last 300 foot scramble to the cantilever but without the bike this time as it is a bit sketchy
20190802_211717 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

Tryfan is the one in the centre of the pic
20190802_214905 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

The night sky was amazing and the morning Hunka view was pretty good too
20190803_053858 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

20190803_055703 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

20190803_071420 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

The other locals were still intrigued with me
20190803_074444 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

Then it was down down down to meet the Ogwen cycle track
20190803_090157 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

20190803_092713 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

Had a great breakfast in the siabod cafe in Capel followed by copious amounts of Stella once home, cream crackered!

Film coming soon....

[benp1]

Nice one Jeff, it's a beautiful part of the world. It's a tough slog getting up there too, you make a lot of it seem rideable, I'd be carrying a lot!

Is it all cheeky or are there bike paths up there?

[summittoppler]

Is it all cheeky or are there bike paths up there?

Hmm? What are these 'bike paths' you speak of?



You're better of taking a Labrador than a bike

[Bearbonesnorm]

Lovely that Jeff. Is the path over Bwlch Tryfan rideable*?

*Loose term.

[summittoppler]

Lovely that Jeff. Is the path over Bwlch Tryfan rideable*?

*Loose term.

Thanks Stu, I went up from Capel Curig and headed west on the ridge line. On the return I headed to the Ogwen cycle path from Llyn Caseg Fraith off piste beside Braich y Ddeugwm. From my bivvy spot Bwlch Tryfan looks doable on a full bouncer. Having walked it I wouldn't fancy taking a loaded Mukluk down there!

[benp1]

Is it all cheeky or are there bike paths up there?

Hmm? What are these 'bike paths' you speak of?



You're better of taking a Labrador than a bike

I've been up there twice in the last two or so years. Once doing the Welsh 3k and the other with my black lab, he was indeed great company!

[ChrisF]

Nice one summittoppler. Having been up and around that area many times (on foot and climbing) not sure I'd fancy taking a bike . There's rideable and then there's "rideable"...

[thenorthwind]

Wow, looks like the effort was worth it! Spectacular photos

[summittoppler]

Thanks for liking guys. I'm editing the film now and there's a 'good' bit of hike a bike included!

[whitestone]

I "think" I've walked along that BW to Capel but it's so long ago I can't remember!

[summittoppler]

Here's my video of the trip and yes I've included the hike a bike sections to give it more of a natural feel.....

https://youtu.be/m9SJB7SwdRI


Let me know what you think

[Fat tyre kicker]

Great film again, really captures the setting.....the goats seemed impressed too

[summittoppler]

Great film again, really captures the setting.....the goats seemed impressed too

Thanks mate, I like this one myself tbh

[ootini]

Love the video!

[summittoppler]

Love the video!

Thanks

[johnnystorm]

Delighted the goats are still there! About twenty years ago I'd stopped for bite and the goats sauntered over. Their smell gave fair warning and as the Head Billy looked at my sarnies I blew a raspberry at him and he blew one back! I felt he'd earned his lunch!

[summittoppler]

[ScotRoutes]

Beautiful! Such a lovely video.

[fatbikephil]

except you looked like you were enjoying it too much - you need to work on your bike packer grimace
And the title may set tongues a'wagging (sorry)

[summittoppler]

Cheers guys!

Ha! now you mention it the title could be deemed to be a tad smutty if you are that way inclined