THE TALE OF THE LONELY WALKER

Psssh, dearest,

I will let you in on a secret: walking is supposed te be fun.
Being out there, in nature, on your own two feet. Using your
body, and letting your mind wander. Looking around you, the 
scenery changes. The light, the fields, and the hills in the
distance, all serenely present on a music score of heart and
wind.
Personally I found that foggy Dartmoor best fitted my mental
landscape; that of an ascetic formulae devourer.
However, if you walk too fast your eyes will be fixed on the 
path before you, the pounding of your steps will resonate in
your brain, leaving no room for musing thoughts; no time to
determine your place in the world.
Walking is supposed to be fun. A madhatter nutty tophopping
mountain git can walk 6km an hour over rocky paths and still
enjoy the scenery. A 600m ascent will add at most an hour to its 
running time. However, for us, ordinary mortals, 4km an hour is
a fast, but decent pace, and 400m climb in an hour leaves us
panting on top.
Personally, I'm better at bog-hopping than going up and down 
the hills, and my cry on my first hike:"I joined the hiking 
club and not the athletic society!" still rings in some ears
of the nutters who run downhill.  
From time to time I like to see a forest, a lake, a stream,
a waterfall, a flower, a furry animal, and even a farm. From
time to time I'm fed up with the bleak hills where square, 
concrete triangulation points are welcome diversions. 

This Sunday the fun is at Beddgelert, south of Snowdow, where
we have five walks planned. 

1) From Pen-y-Pass over the exposed ridge of Crib Coch, which
is a difficult scramble (for experienced walkers). Onwards to
the flat top of Garned Ugain and a small climb to Snowdow. 
Down over some scree and along the southern ridge, with Allt
Maenderyn, into Beddgelert. (13km, 1000m ascent) In case of very
bad weather we can take the south-east ridge, or the pig path,
to Snowdow.

2) From Pen-y-Pass along the river to Llyn Gwynant (lake), 
crossing the valley into the forest. Again down to the bottom
of the valley along Llyn Dinas (lake) into Beddgelert.
(13km, 150m ascent)

3) Halfway Pen-y-Pass and Beddgelert at Bethania, up along the
river, via the waterfalls, Watkin Path to Snowdow, some scree
along the way. The southern ridge to Beddgelert. 
(12km, 1000m ascent) In case of time shortage one can skip 
Snowdow and go straight for the southern ridge.

4) From Beddgelert, along Llyn Dinas, via the unpronouncable
Llwyhyrhwch, down along the Nanmoi river, via the hamlet Nantmor,
and back to Beddgelert along the east side of the river, which
is partly the track of an old railway. (14km, 250m ascent)

5) From Beddgelert, straight up Moel Hebog, following the
northern ridge; Moel yr Ogof and Moel Lein, down through
Beddgelert forest, partly along the forest trail into Beddgelert.
(12km, 750m ascent)

Yours truly,

Norbert

PS Ok, you don't have to take me serious, except for this:
 
         WHERE IS THE MAP CASE!!!!!!!

Sun 28 Sept   Keswick (N)
Sun  5 Oct.   Beddgelert (S)
Sun 12 Oct.   Malham (N)
Sun 19 Oct.   Llangollen (S)
Fri-Sun 24-26 Oct.   Lakes (Tour)
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Sun 23 Nov.   Macclesfield (S)
Sat 29 Nov    Silly Games
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Fri-Sun 19-21 Dec.   Glencoe (Tour)
(29 Dec. - 3 Jan.)   Expo
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Sun  8 Feb.   Betws-y-Coed (Early S)!
Fri-Sun 13-15 Feb.   Killin (Tour)
Sun 22 Feb.   Kettlewell (N)
Sat 28 Feb.   Annual Dinner
Fri-Sat 6-7 Mar.   Bogle Stroll
Sun 15 Mar.   Cross Fell (N)
Sun 22 Mar.   Treasure Hike/Elections
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