We were a little late gettign up to the car park due to traffic and so we arrived 30 mins late at the first summit. ... No Nick, the fall back was to leave the key in the MR shelter. The clouds were down and it was pitch black, thinking we were just 30 mins behind we set off very fast on a compass bearing from Foel Grach. Unbeknownst to us the others were bivying the other side of the wall.. The MR shelter was full of bodies, and after waking someone up-they denied all knowledge of seeing anyone else that night.
We navigated the complete route to Ogwen in the dark with no issues, and arrived at the tea bar, to find the loos were locked, so we crashed in the doorway for a couple of hours
As we traversed the Glyders the fatigue of the long day yesterday with very little sleep. On the descent Glyder Fawr I aggravated a old fell running injury and my knee dropped out .. painful.
A long rest and we slowly continued .. On the descent to Nant Peris.
At 7pm they had not arrived - the cafe had been shut for 2 hours so we caught a bus to Caenavon, and then another back to the road up to the car park. Another unexpected walk and by 9pm we were back at the car.
At 10pm we were in the pub in Nant Peris when the others finally arrived ... instead of being over 2 hours behind we were actually 3 hours ahead.
They had even asked the bloke in the MR hut if they had seen anyone, and he denied everythign! . anyway big lesson leaned for next time ... and there will be a next time as we were not far off it this time ...
- have a rest day
- preferably a support crew to assist
- the "proper" direction south to north gives you a better chance.
