19.11.19 Moel y Tryfel (SH 975 154)
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| Moel y Tryfel (SH 975 154) |
With reports on the Hill
Bagging website that the upper section of Moel y Tryfel had been cleared of
forestry it felt prudent to pay the hill a visit, and although until recent
times this hill was listed as a marginal Pedwar, its summit and connecting bwlch
had been LIDARed by Aled Williams, so its status was safe, but still, a Trimble
summit survey wouldn’t go amiss.
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| LIDAR image of Moel y Tryfel |
Today’s little wander
was in the company of Mark Trengove, and with a late afternoon meal arranged at
The Raven in Welshpool, once Mark had arrived at my home we could have a
leisurely buttered crumpet or two with a mug of tea / coffee before heading
west to the small community of Foel and the narrow minor road that leads in to
the hills and more specifically to the base of Moel y Tryfel.
As I donned my wellies
for the first time this season the sky above was hazy with high cloud
delicately intermingled with a gentle and seasonal blue, however the forecast
gave for cloud edging in from the west and as we walked through the farm yard
close to where we had parked, the first glimmers of this dull greyed cloud mass
was already on the horizon.
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| Heading for the hill |
To our north the
conifered area of Moel y Tryfel rose above pastured grazing fields, with mature
trees hiding what we hoped was the de-felled summit area. Our path contoured the hillside gaining
height slowly and aiming for a gate which gave access through a brackened and
gorse laden gap in the forestry, this soon led on to a wide forest track. It was this track which in time would lead us
around the easterly upper part of this hill and give us access to its summit
area.
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| The gap through the trees leading to the forest track |
We were told at the farm
that the conifers were still being felled and to our north the distinct hum of
machinery wafted across the hill. We
examined the LIDAR bwlch position before heading further up towards the summit,
as it was immersed in conifers to the east of a minor forest track we headed
back to the main track and continued skirting the upper easterly part of the
hill.
Two or three rougher
tracks head off up the hill from the main track, choosing the last of these we
plodded our way up until close to the summit and then abandoned it in favour of
a direct route to the high point.
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| Nearing the summit |
The summit of Moel y
Tryfel now consists of rough felled ground with newly planted trees adding
greenery to the immediate surrounds. We
assessed the ground for the highest point and soon the Trimble was set up
gathering its allotted data.
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| Gathering data at the summit of Moel y Tryfel |
By now the western murk
had quickly overtaken any semblance of blue that pierced the start of our
walk. The surrounding higher hills were
now immersed in clag and it proved an ideal time to leave the summit and head
back to the main forest track. We hoped
to continue round the northerly and westerly slopes of the hill on this track
which in time would take us back to the farm we had parked at. However, forestry operations stopped us as
trees were being uprooted, their branches quickly skimmed off and their bulk
cut, we did ask if we could pass but were politely told that we couldn’t,
therefore we headed back up the track and reversed our inward route.
The afternoon ended with
a good meal in The Raven before Mark headed home. The day had proved excellent, with good
company, a wee hill and walk followed by the meal. It always amazes me how such a day can
instantly refresh the soul.
Survey Result:
Moel y Tryfel
Summit Height: 406.2m (converted to OSGM15)
Summit Grid Reference: SH 97503 15479
Bwlch Height: 371.9m (LIDAR)
Bwlch Grid Reference: SH 97947 15395 (LIDAR)
Drop: 34.3m (Trimble summit and LIDAR bwlch)
Dominance: 8.44% (Trimble summit and LIDAR bwlch)
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