Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Stiperstones

29.08.20  Corndon (SO 305 969) and Lan Fawr (SO 297 967, previously Trimbled)  

Triangulation pillars have adorned the tops of our hills for many years.  They were used for triangulating heights, however with their function complete they are now redundant, as photogrammetry and the use of GNSS have superseded in taking further height values.

Corndon (SO 305 969)

Although their reason for being is now redundant, they act as beacons signifying the summit of many a hill, which can be a welcome sight after a prolonged ascent.  As they are now redundant some are showing the ravages of time after facing years of battering winds and freezing temperatures.  However, there are a select few who venture out to help maintain trig pillars, and today I was invited by Alex Cameron to join him, Adrian Dust and Tony Jenkins to re-paint the triangulation pillar on top of Corndon; one of my local hills.

We met just to the north-west of the summit where a track leaves the narrow road and heads up toward the bwlch between Corndon and Lan Fawr; one of the outlying P30s adjoined to this compact group of hills.

Knowing that Alex, Dusty and Tony would no doubt catch me up, I set off a few minutes ahead of them.  Leaving the track for open steep hillside I plodded up as the view to the west ever opened up, with Cadair Idris, the Aran and the Y Berwyn all lined up on the horizon.  Soon the intrepid painters caught me up and I followed behind them for the remaining distance to the summit.

The view to the west as I'm quickly caught up

Once at the top Alex cleaned the trig pillar with a wire brush and then set about the paint job.  Whilst the first coat was applied I set the Trimble up aligned with the high point of the hill, which is a small protruding rock a few metres from the base of a large cairn and also the trig pillar.

Starting the process of re-painting the trig pillar

I’d previously surveyed the summit of Corndon in March 2015, but the opportunity to do so again was not to be missed, especially as we would be on the summit for around an hour.  Therefore, the Trimble could be set-up gathering data for as long as we were there.  Such a length of time is a rarity for my surveys as usually five minutes of data is gathered.

The Trimble GeoXH 6000 gathering data during the first summit survey of Corndon

By now the trig was looking extremely smart in its new whiter coat of paint, with two sides of the four complete with their first coat.  During the painting and gathering data process a number of people from various directions approached the summit.  A few asked whether we were employed by Ordnance Survey, one enquired about the Trimble, but the majority hunkered down with their sandwiches out of the brisk northern wind which chilled proceedings.

Starting on the last two sides of the trig

The first coat now complete, the painters tidied up a number of patches and applied a second coat.  The trig was now looking decidedly white and sparkled when direct sunlight hit it.

The finished trig pillar with (L-R) Tony Jenkins, Adrian Dust and Alex Cameron

I closed the Trimble down having gathered over 64 minutes of data, and all that remained were the customary photos to be taken and a walk down the southern ridge, swinging westward following a fence line and path to the bwlch between Corndon and Lan Fawr.  The latter is listed as a Pedwar and as we were near it we visited its summit which gives good views back toward its higher neighbour.

Lan Fawr from Corndon

A saunter back on the track to the awaiting cars, and push bike in Alex’s case, and a good conversation about all things hilly when back at the cars rounded the day off very nicely.

Survey Result:

Corndon

  

Summit Height:  513.6m (converted to OSGM15, average of two Trimble GeoXH 6000 surveys)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 30599 96922

Bwlch Height:  310.5m (converted to OSGM15, from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 32519 99517 (from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)

Drop:  203.0m

Dominance:  39.54%

Lan Fawr  

Summit Height:  426.1m (converted to OSGM15, from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 29711 96759 (from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)

Bwlch Height:  392.6m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 29966 96784 (LIDAR)

Drop:  33.5m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Dominance:  7.86% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

For details on the 1st summit survey of Corndon and the survey of Lan Fawr

For details on the bwlch survey of Corndon

For details on the 2nd visit to Lan Fawr

For details on the 3rd visit to Corndon and 4th visit to Lan Fawr

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Arenig Fach

06.11.16  Arenig Fach (SH 820 415)    

Arenig Fach (SH 820 415)

Today Steve Smith completed the Nuttalls; the 2,000ft mountains of both England and Wales.  He had chosen Arenig Fach as his final hill having dashed toward completion during the settled weather of October.

We met at the car park on the western shore of Llyn Celyn between Y Bala and Trawsfynydd.  As I drove west over Y Berwyn the sky darkened a forbidding slate grey giving wintry showers over the hills, with the land to the north swamped in rain cloud, whilst the land west and south still had a relatively high cloud base showing the signs of the first snows of the season on the higher summits.

Pulling in to the car park I watched a Buzzard sitting on a large rock only a few metres away, I donned full wet proofs as the prospect of the ascent being dry was rapidly disappearing and by the time I’d sorted my gear the rain had started.  I took shelter in my car as Tony arrived, closely followed by Adrian and Ayako.  By the time Steve arrived with Gina, Josie and Simon a number of people were ready to set off hoping to get a reasonable start over the quicker people in the group.

Gathering in the car park for Steve's final Nuttall

We followed a graveled track from the roadside that soon merged in to a vehicle track on the moor and then a path of sorts continued toward the fence line on the eastern broad ridge of Arenig Fach.

Heading toward Arenig Fach with Mynydd Nodol in the background

(L-R) Simon, Josie, Ayako, Adrian and Gina

By now the weather had closed in with squally showers submerging the land, a sleet grey scene emerged as we headed toward a ladder stile where the main part of the group waited for the others to join them.  I took advantage and slowly plodded onward and upward following the fence line as the rain chilled to sleet and then wet snow.  I rarely go out in such conditions as I am fortunate and can pick my days on the hill, but I found the weather to be invigorating as the wind blew and the land became chilled in its early winter’s grip.

By the time the gradient lessened some of the others had caught up, I headed toward the small cairn east of the recognised summit hoping to get a data set from the high point of the land beside it.  By now it was cold and although I had two sets of gloves on my fingers were chilled from the incessant wet weather.  I quickly took a five minute data set and aimed toward the trig pillar where Steve had just arrived.

Gathering the first data set on the summit area of Arenig Fach

Arriving at the trig everyone was taking shelter behind the large wind shelter at the summit, photos were taken, handshakes had and congratulations given, but the weather dictated that we couldn’t stay here too long and the celebratory cake would have to wait until back at the cars.

Steve Smith completes the Nuttalls atop Arenig Fach

Before everyone left I had chance to gather another five minute data set on top of a rock which was about five metres from the trig pillar, but another larger erratic also vied for the high point of the hill, and as the group wisely left the summit and disappeared from view in to the thickness of murk to head down I positioned the Trimble for a third data set.  Jon Glew kindly waited with me, and once five minutes of data were gathered I packed the equipment away and followed Jon in to the murk to find the descent route.

Gathering the second data set on the summit area of Arenig Fach

Gathering the third data set on the summit area of Arenig Fach

My fingers were now wet and chilled, but it was a cold that was not unwelcome, one that was manageable, and as we quickly lost height the severity of the chill lessened and the wet snow turned itself back to the customary rain, which then lessened still as we joined the path and vehicle track back to the road.

We gathered beside Steve’s camper van for cake and drinks and tried to shelter as best we could as another squally shower sped across the land.  It had been another excellent day on the hill which proved somewhat cold but also rejuvenated my pleasure with the higher of the Welsh hills and many congratulations to Steve for a fine achievement in completing the 2,000ft Nuttalls.

 

Survey Result:

Arenig Fach

Summit Height:  688.9m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 82020 41583

Bwlch Height:  390.6m (converted to OSGM15, from subsequent Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 78593 38716 (from subsequent Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)

Drop:  298.3m

Dominance:  43.30%

For details on the bwlch survey of this hill

For further details please consult the Trimble survey spreadsheet

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Pumlumon

05.11.16  Drosgol (SN 717 885)    

Drosgol (SN 717 885)

Drosgol is an unassuming little hill that is situated amongst the eastern lands of the Pumlumon range.  These lands descend west to fertile grazing fields before towns are encountered and the natural barrier of the sea.  These hills can portray a remote and slightly wild persona where meeting another person on them is somewhat of a rarity, they are all the better for it.

Today’s walk was a special occasion as Rob Woodall had chosen Drosgol as his last 300m P30 in the whole of Wales and England with their respective totals being 1332 and 1130.  In old money these can be considered the 1,000ft hills.

The meeting point was arranged to the south-west of the hill, at the end of a narrow paved lane that confidently aimed due east from the confines of Tal-y-bont, where adequate parking was found on a gravelled area adjacent to a disused mine.  When I arrived Adrian Dust was waiting beside his car, he’d already visited a number of hills earlier in the day and had his sights set on Moel Golomen; a 317m map heighted hill on the ridge to the south of the Afon Cyneiniog.

The upper reaches of the Cyneiniog valley with Moel Golomen in the background

We chatted for a while before Adrian set off, I then took shelter in my car as a brisk shower sped south across the hills.  Once the rain had stopped I set off down the continuation of the narrow lane to a green path that climbed steadily toward the summit of Drosgol.  I’d set off an hour before the meeting time of 3.00pm as my right knee was still proving problematic and I also wanted to survey the hill’s bwlch and its summit before everyone reached the top.

As I gained height I found a sheep track contouring round the western side of the hill toward the bwlch which nestled between Drosgol and its higher neighbour; the Sub-Pedwar of Llechwedd Cwm Byr.  Arriving at the bwlch I positioned the Trimble on top of my rucksack to give it elevation above its immediate surrounds, measured a 0.45m offset between its internal antenna and the ground at its base and proceeded to gather five minutes of data.  Except for an occasional flurry of wind, all was quiet and undisturbed.

Looking toward the critical bwlch of Drosgol

After packing the equipment away I slowly plodded up to the summit and took two data sets, with the second being at the top of an attractive rock bluff.  As the Trimble gathered its customary five minutes of data the sun burst through the thickened grey blue sky giving depth to the landscape, the near forestry radiated its autumnal colours as delicate yellows merged with those of orange as the predominant greens flanked their surrounds.

Gathering data at the critical bwlch of Drosgol

The wooded colours of autumn

Gathering data at the summit of Drosgol

Once the surveys for the day were complete I had a bite to eat and waited on a rocky hummock and watched as small figures emerged on the upper ridge, all heading toward the summit.  Alex was first to arrive with Adrian and Jon, closely followed by Matthew and Rob.

Heading for the summit

The next half hour or so gave us magical light as the late afternoon sparkled.  Once everyone had arrived Rob headed toward the summit and stood on top, another fine achievement completed amongst many that he has done.

Adrian admiring the view

Rob heading for the summit

Whiskey and cake were passed round as we stood on top and basked in the late afternoon sunshine.  Photos were taken and a few minutes of video.  These celebrations are special events, shared amongst good hill walking friends who gather in appreciation of a person’s determination and enthusiasm to finish a list of hills.

Rob and friends on the summit of Drosgol

Rob on the summit of Drosgol having completed the Welsh 300m P30s

As the sun ebbed behind a large bulbous cloud out to the west we headed back to the valley and the awaiting cars, I slowly made my way down at the rear trying to protect my knee and stopped on occasion to photograph and admire the delicate sun burst and cloudscape forming out to the west, a beautiful scene to end the day.  

A beautiful cloudscape to end the day

    

Survey Result:

Drosgol

Summit Height:  367.6m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 71769 88547 

Bwlch Height:  326.2m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 71621 88808

Drop:  41.4m

Dominance:  11.26%

For further details please consult the Trimble survey spreadsheet

Y Pedwarau – Table of Progress

Y Pedwarau – Table of Progress

Introduction

To access Y Pedwarau – Table of Progress please click {here}

The Pedwarau are now an established list of hills, having first been published in 2002 and thereafter maintained and then revaluated for Europeaklist publication in May 2013, and subsequent Haroldstreet publication afterward.  The list has gained much publicity and over 20% of the qualifying hills have now been accurately surveyed by GPS / GNSS receiver.  To date, three people have completed all the Pedwar hills and another eight people are known to have completed 100 or more of the current total of 447 Pedwarau.  

As the listing of Y Pedwarau is now established and a number of people are making a concerted effort to visit all listed hills, it seems only appropriate to document the progress of these Pedwar baggers in a Table of Progress.  

The Table of Progress also has a listing to The Anonymous Pedwar Bagger, with this person / persons listing at number 4 paying homage to the height band of these hills, and giving due deference to The Unknown Munroist who appears in Munro’s Tables.  

To qualify for inclusion in the Table of Progress a minimum number of 100 Pedwar hills need to have been visited.  For those people who know their Sub-Pedwar total this is also included.

Anyone who has completed 100 or more Pedwarau and whose name is not included in the Table of Progress but would like it to be, please contact Myrddyn via email.  Myrddyn’s email address is listed under the ‘About Me’ page heading on the Mapping Mountains site.

Y Pedwarau is available as an online tick list via the Haroldstreet website.

All subsequent reclassifications since Haroldstreet publication can be accessed via the Mapping Mountains site.

Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams (March 2016)

To access Y Pedwarau – Table of Progress please click {here}