Six o'clock in the morning is always a bit of struggle to leave home, however a couple of days in North Wales makes it bearable. Roads good until I reach Llangollen, snow and ice make for interesting driving. Minus 6 on the car thermometer. This looks good. As the mountains come closer the temperature rises to zero, Good for the roads, not good for snow. Buy milk and park up at the foot of Tryfan, the finest profile of a mountain anywhere in the UK south of the Scottish border.
Eat breakfast in my yellow Scenic. This will be the last trip for this excellent car as it will be traded in for the new VW camper. It has been brilliant for bikes, camping, mountains and of course eating breakfast.

Set off for a half day walk up Pen yr Ole Wen, a brutal but satisfying climb up from Llyn Ogwen. The higher I went the snowier it became. Got talking to a fell runner, well he talked to me as I tried to keep up it an attempt to improve my fitness for Nepal in April. Finally said goodbye and he disappeared into the snow and cloud only to return to consult my GPS. Navigate my way off to go shopping only to find the fell runner coming back to me again - he had gone the wrong way. The things people do to get an extra climb in.

Later in Cotswold in Betws y Coed spend a lot of money on boots, trousers, monstrous mitts etc. for Nepal. Staff very helpful and full of advice. Fill car for the last time with petrol, visit public conveniences and head off to find a place to camp. Choose a site at the foot of Tryfan, Two tents on the site, but no one around. It is cold. Pitch and eat dinner in my scenic for the last time. Then cook some more dinner, very hungry. Sip a single malt

Two guys turn up pack their tents away, just me now, and Tryfan. Sip more single malt

A car turns up. "Have you seen a group." " Yes just behind the farm".  Talk about snow, crampons and mountains. They are off to warm homes. I have my tent. At least I have my new mega sleeping bag, down jacket and monstrous mitts. Lots of stars, cold wind, frozen ground, snow. Go to bed.

Wake up, too hot, remove down jacket and sort other clothing. At least the warm kit works.

The next day up and breakfast for the last time in the car, pay farmer. Dawn starts to appear from the east. Drive to Bethesda, starts to snow, park up, snowing, start walking, snowing. Make for the base of Yr Elan. Snow begins to become lighter, however on attaining the start of the ridge decide that this is not on, I am solo, cloud down, loads of snow.

Plot another route up to the top of the Carneddau, excellent snow slope, cloud clears to become a gorgeous day. Lots of snow and blue sky. Enjoy the climb, walk along the tops and return to the car. Drive home, shattered but happy.

The most dangerous bit of the trip: being run off the M6 by a truck. Hard shoulders have their uses.