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"I'm delighted I sent my sons to Habs. It offers much choice and has certainly inspired them to achieve their full potential." |
Dr Sussan Nourshargh, Professor of Pharmacology, Barts. |
Mountaineering Club Trip
Click here to see a clip of mountaineers in the snow...
On Friday 15th January the HABS Mountaineering Club set off for South Wales anticipating a white weekend and we were not disappointed. The heavy snow from earlier in the week had cleared just enough to be able to reach the hostel by minibus but the surrounding summits were still well-covered.
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The forecast for Saturday was for high winds, low cloud and persistent heavy rain, undeterred we set off to the highest peaks in the Brecons aware that we might need to turn back but determined to give it our best.
In the event, the snow underfoot was soft and it was swollen streams and melt water under the snow that determined our route. Progress was slow and exhausting but discovering thigh-deep drifts as we clambered across the peaty plateau cause much laughter and general high spirits. We eventually reached the summit of Fan Y Big (719 m) an hour behind schedule. Not wanting to push our luck, we left Pan Y Fan for another trip and headed back to the minibus through knee-deep slush and past raging torrents of melt water. No doubt the views would have been amazing but with a cloud base of 400m we saw nothing all day!
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Sunday dawned clear, bright and cold, with stunning views of the snow-topped mountains. The risk that the slush of the previous day had turned to sheet ice were high, so we choose a route below the snowline taking in Tor Y Foel (515m) and a pretty woodland walk.
The boys were delightful company, extremely well-behaved and earned well-deserved compliments from the other guests in the Youth Hostel.
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