On the annual Year 6 school trip to Wales we took a class of 25 Year 6
south London children to Cadair Idris.
The party was split into 2 groups of 12 and 13.
The group of 13 went up the mountain via the Pony Path with 2 mountain
leaders (MLs) and two teachers.
I was with the group of 12 with a mountain instructor (MIA). I have
taken the ML training but have not yet passed the assessment.
We followed the Mynffordd Path to LLyn Cau and then scrambled up the
steep grass slope, and played on the rocks, to Craig Cau. From there
we walked to the summit and met the other group who had reached the
summit 30 minutes earlier. We then followed the ridge to Mynydd Moel,
cut across to the Mynydd Moel path and followed it down until it met
the Mynffordd Path for our return to the mini bus.
25 ten and eleven year old children, who have never climbed a
mountain, successfully reached the summit of a significant Welsh peak,
experienced the drinking of mountain water and had a day they will
never forget.
Other activities for the week included a rock pool walk, orienteering
in an unknown forest, scrambling along and up midge infested gorge, an
adventurous trip through a mine which included an abseil down a dark
hole, and rock climbing at Barmouth Slab.
Quote of the week: A girl was concerned at the thought of abseiling
into a void. Boy says, "Don't worry, you're on a rope, so absolutely
safe, nothing can go wrong, but just remember, if the rope breaks
it'll be fatal."
The routes map can be seen at:
www.johnballcycling.org.uk/photos/cad
A couple of photos:
www.johnballcycling.org.uk/photos/cad2
www.johnballcycling.org.uk/photos/mine