Gran-pons

"It never snows in Anglesey".
(mark writes) Gran is now a confirmed devotee of Kahtoola Microspikes. There was about 10" of snow on Wednesday night, and when we arrived we couldn't get the car down the drive to our rented Christmas farmhouse, so we left the car in the layby at the top of the track and had to ferry all the luggage, food and drink about a quarter of a mile to the front door. My mum, with two recent hip replacements, did a great job of getting down in deep snow, but the big problem was getting her back up the hill again the next morning on Christmas Eve. I'd packed my microspikes and suggested she used them to get back up to the car. It was a complete success - with two walking sticks and the crampons she got up in 15 mins (about half the time we'd estimated), and without a stumble.
Great kit.
On Boxing Day we spent 3 1/2 hours on Snowdon, Charlie submerged by snow in places and often having to leap out of it like a dolphin. Driven back by the wind too strong to progress further than the cwm above Clogwyn station - Charlie getting blinded by driven snow. Afterwards I relaxed and rewarmed with a great mug of hot chocolate, roaring fire, and usual warm welcome, at the Pen-y-Ceunant tea house (on the steep road section just round the corner from the cattle grid after leaving Llanberis). "Muddy boots and Dogs Welcome" makes it the best sort of place.