After a week of walking to work and contemplating using up my annual leave nipping over for a circuit on Pen-Y-Fan, I thought I should post these two links. To my knowledge, these are THE BEST internet sites for mountain weather forecasts:-

MWIS

MET OFFICE MOUNTAIN FORECAST

As an aside, please don’t go out to the hills in these conditions if you’re not adequately prepared (note: this is likely to include crampons and ice axe at the moment!!!)

I’ve finally managed to put up some photos of the 2008/2009 season. They’re limited in number, so if you have any more please get in touch! Click the gallery link at the top to see them. Thanks, James.

A reminder that this year, the Bronze certificate presentation will be at the Withybush Showground on the evening of Friday 6 February 2009. Dave wants all the Bronze Award books in by Christmas rather than the week before!

Hello! Gradually starting to freshen up the site now so please start checking back for updates. The image gallery is fully functional again; give it a go? Thanks, James.

Just a word of warning that spring is still quite a dangerous time for getting out and about due to the hugely changeable weather conditions. During a quick spin up to Cadair Idris yesterday I had scorching sun in the valleys but cornices of hardpack hail/snow on the tops! I also made two fantastic discoveries in the logistical process of getting there:

• I left my Cadair map in Bristol. However after a bit of investigation, there is a huuuuge map shop in Fishguard (okay Goodwick) that produce laminated OS maps and loads of other travel guides. It’s run by a helpful chap called Chris David and has been there for about 5 years!? It’s essentially a wholesale setup for camping/walking shops but they’re very happy to have local callers (do them a favour and take hard cash..) The stock seems huge and they had a laminated Cadair map to hand within seconds. Contact details: Chris David / Tel: 01348 874666 / Trail Card, Unit 5, Goodwick Industrial Estate, Goodwick, Pembrokeshire, SA46 0BD.
• McDonalds have read my mind. After years of driving through Aberystwyth at 06:30hrs; a 30 whole minutes before breakfast muffins and coffee were available, they’ve seen the light and decided to open early! I’m not a fast food adovcate but it’s a cracking breakfast for red-eye mountain starts!