An active and enjoyable weekend in Conwy. Saturday was a nice day: bracing and sunny for a change. We (myself, Rich and Mike) went up to Llyn Crafnant and walked the skyline ridge, a cracking discovery which I first did only three or so years ago. Along the lake to the nice rocky path up Crimpiau, then over Craig Wen to the broad and boggy ridge leading to the lovely peak of Creigiau Gleision. I've always liked this hill: its isolated position gives tremendous views over Ogwen and Wyddfa. Cowlyd a nice deep blue foreground. The weather was photogenic: nice cloudscapes. I was using sticks to conserve energy because I was planning a crack at the Pipe Dream fell race next day - indeed I could see the eponymous 'pipe' (a pipeline that climbs the hillside from Dolgarrog) from Gleision! So next day, we headed off en famile for Dolgarrog. The race was a real contrast with Moel y Ci last week, although both were 5 miles long: much steeper (1700ft climbing) and less varied, but still a cracking excursion. It goes very steeply up the hill from Dolgarrog, following the pipe, then gets more runnable across the open hill in strong winds and rain to the small summit NE of Moel Eilio. I turned a complete somersault after tripping on a tussock on the first section of the descent. Then a full pelt, very fast, rather tretcherous (in this weather) descent back to Dolgarrog via some very steep wet paths, tracks, small roads, fields, streams and woodland. Finished in 43:30 for 16th place (from 46), a pleasing performance, then we all went to Betws - but the rain stayed torrential all day.
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