Crafnant/Geirionydd Skyline run

Peaks: Grinllwm, Mynydd Deulyn, Crimpiau, Craig Wen, Craiglwyn, Creigiau Gleision
After leaving Chester post-work, set off from Trefriw with John B and Mick for initially delightful running in soft snow past Fairy Glen and up through the trees on the slopes of Grinllwm to the extraordinary Llanrhychwyn church. Had a break while we looked round this (the oldest church in Wales?) before heading through more enchanted snowdraped woodland to open hills and glorious running over the slopes above Geirionydd. The hills of the Carneddau materialised through the mist as we ran south towards Castell y Gwynt (near the Marin MTB trail) then down to the lake before climbing over the shoulder of Mynydd Deulyn to Crafnant. Along the lakeside path then up steeply south towards Clogwyn Mannod and the Capel Curig path. Some icy stretches on the climb up Crimpiau, but superb views towards Ogwen and Mymbyr: reminded me of northern Norway, almost glacial in appearance. I was particularly pleased that US guest star John could finally get a decent impression of Eryri. We hit the first major drifts as we traversed across to Craig Wen, then the going got really tough for the climb over the side of Craiglwyn. We were on the leeward slopes: a mixture of the anticipated waist-deep drifts and unstable thin snow crust. This is always an exhausting combination, running was impossible, and John began to fall behind. Despite some sunshine, the now familiar bitter easterly wind scythed into us as we struggled to gain the summit of Creigiau Gleision through the drifts - felt similar to topping out on an Alpine 4000er, such was the effort involved! The windward slopes were little better, not scoured as we'd hoped and we waited for John before the final descent to the forest. Lucky we did, as it became immediately obvious that he was semi-hypothermic. Mick and I wrapped him up in our spare clothes (he had none), fed him, then supported him down. I left Mick to descend with John, ran through the forest, down to Crafnant and all the way down to Trefriw (a good speed session!) so I could get the car back up to meet John at the lake. He'd thawed out by Colwyn Bay.