Celebrate Easter in the Ogwen Valley
8 people attending
18 places left
***Three Nights***
Come celebrate Easter with Ant's beautiful mountain hikes and Chris' amazing American Easter meal! We return to a compact but comfortable scout centre on the lee side of The Carneddau, overlooking Llyn Ogwen for three nights exploring Eryri and breaking out of the winter doldrums!
The area is perfect for hiking Glyder Fawr and Glyder Fach, both of which start virtually right outside the hostel. "Fawr" and "fach" are Welsh for big and small, and "glyder" means anything that is piled up (hey I didn't come up with this stuff...!). These routes are challenging with the potential for grade 1 scrambling, lots of scree and steep ascents and descents in areas. As such you should have a head for heights and not be afraid of getting a bit muddy!! Ant has plenty of experience, recently completing his mountain leader assessments in the area. Some potential routes include completing the circuit of Glyder Fach & Glyder Fawr, hiking over Y Garn & Carnedd y Filiast, which are right behind our hostel, or even the more adventurous Seniors Ridge, which is a great introductory grade 1 scramble. The actual options will be confirmed closer to the event.
Chris, on the other hand, will be manning the hostel, ensuring that when you return from your treks the kettle is on and the cakes are at the ready!
As we will be hiking in a mountain environment, please review the "What to Bring" section closely to ensure you are properly kitted out, keeping in mind potential weather issues! Bedding is NOT provided - you will need to bring your own, including a sheet for the mattress (even if you are bringing a sleeping bag, please.)
Dogs: sadly the hostel and hiking is not suitable for our furry friends.
OutdoorLads Foundation
Fancy coming along but having a difficult time of it (for whatever reason), and/or finding it hard to justify the expense? Apply for a place on this event through the OutdoorLads Foundation! Nobody apart from staff members will know and we don't need lots of financial info from you either. To apply through the Foundation, you'll need to complete a very short form, which can be found along with more information here.
Photos: Photos provided by M House, OutdoorLads and Yr Hafod. All used by OutdoorLads with full permission.
IMPORTANT! - Participation Statement
You MUST complete a Participation Statement, in addition to booking your event space before attending an OutdoorLads event. You only need to complete this Participation Statement once, not for each event you attend.
What to bring
Bedding is NOT provided, so you will need to bring a sleeping bag or sheet and duvet, and your own towel, and of course clothing, wash kit etc for the weekend. Creature comforts from home (pillow, teddy bear, etc.) are always a good idea!
Should you need any of the items below, remember that ODL members get a discount at Cotswold Outdoors and Snow + Rock
Boots: As we will be hiking in the hills / "mountains" of the Ogwen Valley, full hiking boots are a better option than mid-ankle walking shoes. The weather in mid-April may be wet so waterproof boots are very highly recommended.
Socks: Merino wool socks provide the best moisture-wicking but almost any decent walking sock from an outdoor shop or even good quality cotton or wool socks will provide a number of affordable "quick-dry" options.
Walking Trousers: There are several styles of affordable walking trousers. It is always worth trying them on to make sure they fit comfortably, a webbing style belt is often useful, as well as zippable pockets and should be water-repellent.
Waterproof Trousers: As above, many outdoor shops all stock an excellent selection of waterproof trousers. It is recommended that you have a pair just in case the weather turns.
Base Layer: A breathable base layer should be chosen in order to let sweat escape from the body. This could be a cheaper sports top or you could go top of the range with a merino top. Cotton t-shirts are best avoided as they can become damp and uncomfortable as our bodies heat up when hiking.
Other Layers: On top of your base layer, you can have a variety of options such as a micro fleece, a fleece jacket or a rugby/sports top. Having one or two additional layers gives you flexibility when the weather is changeable – the more layers, the more flexible you can be in adapting to the weather.
Waterproof Jacket: Good waterproof jackets can range from £30 to over £300! At a minimum, the jacket should have fully taped seams, an adjustable hem, elastic cuffs and at least 1 inside pocket.
Hat: A good hat (that covers your ears) like a wool beany provides warmth and wicking properties.
Gloves: Because we are in the mountains in mid-April a good pair of (preferably) water- and wind-proof gloves is an essential piece of kit.
Rucksack: For day walks a 20-30 litre capacity rucksack should be sufficient for carrying the essentials. Ideally it should have padded waist straps, several outside pockets and a rain cover.
Map & Compass: If you want to learn to be a leader or you just like to know where you are, then you can bring a map that covers the area - Ordinance Survey Map 17 is the best for the area. It is best to bring your map either in a map case or purchase maps which are waterproof.
Food & drink
Good Friday arrival meal: In place of the traditional ODL buffet, we will put on a baked potato bar! So bring along your favourite toppings and snacks to go along.
Saturday breakfast: In addition to the standard breakfast offerings, we will plan on something like pancakes, eggy bread, or similar.
Saturday lunch: This is not provided - you will need to plan accordingly as there are no shops in the area!
Saturday dinner: This will be something hearty and filling after a long day in the mountains! Perhaps barbecued pulled pork, risotto or fajitas and nachos.
Easter Sunday breakfast: Hot cross buns, fresh mixed fruit salad and something a bit more substantial will be on offer, along with all the regular items.
Easter Sunday lunch: This will be the same as yesterday's lunch! Out on hikes or at the hostel.
Easter Sunday dinner: I hope you are hungry because this will be a full blown, American-style Easter feast! Baked ham, leg of lamb, candied sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, spinach salad!
Monday breakfast: this will be determined based on our required check out time. If we need to be out early then it will be along the lines of a continental style; otherwise something a little heartier.
Tea and coffee, included in the event cost, will be available throughout the weekend
Please note that there are NO shops in the area!! If coming from the north you will need to stop in Bethesda, where there is a Tesco Express and a Londis. Coming from the south, the last shop is the Spar in Betws-y-Coed; there is a Co-op in Llanwrst. There are all major shops in Oswestry, which is about 90 minutes before the hostel. If you come from the north, there is a Tesco Superstore in Caernarfon (about 30 minutes).