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Wales - September 2019
Some good weather and climbing in Wales

 With a good forecast on the Sunday we headed straight for Gogarth. We abseiled down to the high tide start leaving our rope in place for the teams that followed. Fiona about to leave the belay on pitch 1 of A Dream of White Horses.  Fiona on pitch 1 of A Dream of White Horses, this traverse is tame compared with what comes later.  Fiona leading pitch 2  Mike seconding pitch 2  Fiona on the pitch 2 belay. It's got a bit chilly with the wind increasing and sun hiding for a bit.  Mike setting out on the stunning pitch 3. This is a route where both climbers need to be the same level. Pitch 3 involves a long traverse with a fair bit of up and down. The leader is protected on the downclimbs (assuming they place some gear) but the second isn't as they have to remove the gear before the downclimbs.  Mike grinning after negotiating the first wee awkward step.  Mike heading for the sun. I was quite cold at this point and rather jealous of him.  Mike making great shapes on pitch 3 of A Dream of White Horses  A forlorn and now rather cold Fiona  Mike heading for the belay at the end of the climb  Fiona starting out seconding pitch 3  Still traversing  Still traversing  This was the most gripped I'd ever been on a traverse. Having been in London and not climbed outside for 6 weeks I'd opted not to lead the final pitch. This was pretty scary and I was muttering various things to myself on the traverse  About to negotiate another awkward bit  Jugs galore, the climbing is never particularly hard but the situation is mind blowing.  The team behind us on A Dream of White Horses and another team on Zeus  The next team on the crux pitch  and again...  A return to the Glyders. We wanted revenge as we saw zip and got very wet on these hills back in 2015.  After Eildir Fawr and Y Garn we dropped down via The Devil's Kitchen and back up to the Cneifion Arete before finishing on Glyder Fawr and back to the Llanberis Pass  Mike on the Cneifion Arete  Mike on the Cneifion Arete  Fiona on the Cneifion Arete  Fiona on the Cneifion Arete. Possibly not taking the most sensible of lines as I seem to be pulling quite hard for a scramble!  Heading for the final summit of the day, Glyder Fawr  Tryfan  View back to Glyder Fach  Heading back towards Y Garn before our delightful soggy decent back to the Llanberis Pass  Great light late on in the day  Soggy feet ahoy!  The Thursday was a bit grim, even the sheep were trying to hide from the weather!  Sheeping looking mournfully at us. They kept sheltering in the hut doorways.  Mike on pitch 1 of Crackstone Rib at Carreg Wastad  Mike having surmounted the slippery chimney/chockstone on Overhanging Chimney at Carrag Wastad  Dinas Mot in the early morning sun - some folks had got up even earlier than us.  Fiona on The Cracks, just before I decided I didn't like the 5a finish and handed the lead to Mike - height is a distinct advantage.  A very cute crag dog at the base of Dinas Mot  Lovely dog, it looked like a combination of Red Setter and Spaniel and seemed very chilled whilst waiting for it owners.  Dinas Cromlech in the sun. There was a constant stream of people on Cemetary Gates - one for another trip. After two routes at Dinas Mot we were lured back to the other side of the valley.  Dinas Mot, now in the shade of the afternoon.  Mike on the first pitch of Nea at Clogwyn y Grochan