Gold Duke of Edinburgh Experience
Friday afternoon all packed and ready for the long journey and weekend ahead to Snowdonia, Wales. We arrived in Wales at 11:30 pm in the dark, it was raining and putting up our tents in torchlight was challenging but Sohal and I managed it.
Saturday morning, still raining, tents down and all kit packed ready for our route for the day. This was some of the hardest terrain I’ve walked on in my life. Walking up rock faces, and mountainsides, which just kept going on and on like there was no end. Finally, our group got to the top then we had lunch. After this, it was time to descend back to the campsite. We could see the campsite at the bottom of the valley but it didn’t seem like we were getting closer. Tired and hungry when we got back to the campsite me, Sohal and others put up the tents, while the rest of the group cooked dinner which was pasta and noodles.
Sunday, just put the tents away into our bags, then the rain came down heavier. It rained all day on Sunday. Pathways were turning into streams making the route very difficult not to get wet feet - it was like being in the shallow end of a swimming pool! After a day of walking in heavy rain, getting back to the campsite was a delight, but the campsite was very water logged making it difficult to put a tent up. Then Flt Roberts came in his mini bus and told us to get in. We slept in the campsite’s barn, as it was dry in there. Unpacking later on that night, most of my kit was dry apart from one thing - the most important thing - my sleeping bag. It was wet through, but I managed to borrow one for the night.
Monday morning, it was too wet to carry on with the expedition. Having now experienced extreme weather conditions on this practice expedition, the whole group are now prepared for the live expedition on Dartmoor.
Posted 10 August 2011
