This route is detailed and pictured in better weather over at the excellent Flat Tyres MTB site. I discovered this after the ride and chose to park and start the ride in Trefriw rather than Capel Curig.
Crossing the bridge from Llanrwst there is rain water running across the road and it’s getting on for 6″ deep. I’m not confident I’ll be heading home the way I started. One of those rides where it’s going to be wet, but I have new Goretex trousers to the waterproof arsenal so we should be okay.
The ride started with a 4 mile climb out of Trefriw on tarmac past Llyn Crafnant then onto trails heading over the pass between Crimpiau and Clogwyn Manned.
From the top, just before going over. Relatively sheltered at this point.
Going down the other side along the Slate Trail with sleet in the face and water being blown up hill by the wind.
Sliding into Capel Curig across a very slippery field.
Taking the steady climb from the car park behind Joe Browns along the double track running parallel to the A5.
Crossing over bog on the way up Tal-y-Braich wet and would have been hard to follow without GPS in the conditions.
Techfest descent down and ahead along the shoreline of Llyn Cowlyd. When you get to the end of this there’s some horrendous climbing out from the foot of the dam and then having crossed the plateau, a depressing tarmac descent back to the car.
And yes, the road was closed due to flood water so it was back via the bridge at Betws-y-Coed. Waterproofs failed – everything was soaked at the end, but at least they kept the wind out. On reflection had it not been unseasonably warm (13 deg) then this ride could have been pretty serious had things gone wrong.
R O T H A R . C O M 