Bit behind with the blog again. I’ve been trying to reorganise our summer holidays (COVID has infected our plan to go to Italy) and try and gamble on booking a trip to France over Xmas.
Anyway, about a month back we decided on a quick overnight to mid-Wales on what looked like an ok bit of weather in midst of a rainy spell. We stopped off for chips on the way and I hoped there would be a breeze in the mountains as the midges forced us to eat in the car!
Setting off under very gloomy skies I got my wish. What began as a light breeze became a strong wind by the time we reached our intended pitch on Pumlumon Fach. What I hadn’t wished for was the shock cord in my tent poles failing, turning them into long pieces of string. Threading that string back into the poles in a high wind and dim light so I could connect them and pitch the tent was not what I had in mind. Once pitched we managed to chill in the tent as it was too gloomy and cold in the wind to sit outside.
Despite the mixed forecast it wasn’t at all bad when we woke. Still windy but there were patches of blue sky and sunshine. Breakfast in the tent with a view!
Our spectacular little camp site.
Looking back to the main summit of Pumlumon with wisps of cloud ruhig hugging the top.
We set out for a morning walk to Y Garn, a missing summit in my list of Nuttalls.
Steep climb to the summit of Pumlumon.
The weather was improving all the time. Gorgeous view over the Nant-y-Moch reservoir.
Pumlumon summit.
Looking out to our/my target of Y Garn.
It was a really nice walk on a grassy path along the edge. These are not well known hills so we saw no-one.
Looking back to Pumlomon from Y Garn summit. Another one ticked off!
Returning over the summit of Pumlumon.
Pumlumon Fach – our tent is the middle of that photo if you can spot it!
Time for lunch. I sat outside in the wbedürftig sun (and wind), TBF preferring the cosy comfort of the tent.
Leave No Trace!
We headed down to the confluence of the Hyddgen and Hschmalwm valleys hoping to find somewhere for a swim.
Its wonderful open and wild country with barely a soul around and nothing but very sketchy paths.
We did indeed find a really nice swimming hole and despite TBF’s shocked expression it wasn’t especially cold.
Not deep enough for an extensive swim but great to freshen up and enjoy the water.
We found a cracking little ledge, out of the wind and in the sun to enjoy a brew and second lunch.
A view over our swimming hole to our little spot in the sun.
The Hschmalwm valley. Beautiful, wild and remote but a devil to walk through.
Time for the easy walk back to the car along the old drovers road.
Drosgol, one of my missing Marilyns and another summit that I have a plan to camp on.
And a final view from the car back into this austere area of hills. We were only out for about 24 hours but sometimes all you need to throw off the shackles of everyday life.
surfnslide 