Now, I realise that 'walking up the shapely hill' sounds like a terrible euphemism – I'm not sure for what, but I don't want to think about it too much in any case.  In fact, it was nearly 'hiking up the scabby hill' due to the wikipedia entry for Moel Siabod being contradictory about how the welsh name translates – both options are given.  In any case, having seen Moel Siabod at sunset, I'm prepared to defend her shapely honour, and I saw nothing scabby [insert whatever pejorative Welsh joke you may wish to here].

Anyway, the plan to climb Moel Siabod was formulated based on a number of factors.  Number one – it's accessible.  Moel Siabod is easily reached from the A5 between Betws Y Coed and Capel Curig, rather than being nestled deep within Snowdonia.  Number two – with few hours of daylight during January, it seemed sensible to pick a shortish walk, especially as Welsh hills also offer that deeply satisfying sense of having reached a peak, complete with trig point.  On this note, I'll mention that walking in the immediate vicinity of our house drives both Dave and I to distraction as you mostly plod around fields with very little elevation gain or loss.  And number three – it's on a list.  I know, I know, hiking is about being immersed in the natural world and not just ticking items off a list.  But when you could try and hike anywhere between here and the Scottish Borders, it is reassuring to have a project or general aim.  Moel Siabod features in the Trail magazine Top 100 peaks and that's good enough for me at this point.

Using our famed organisational approach (reluctantly crawling out of bed; gratefully accepting an offer of sandwiches from my mum; setting off with a vague notion of general direction), we left the Cheshire Plain and approached North Wales.  Despite an early altercation with the Tom Tom (it has no notion of what a 'scenic route' might entail) we arrived safely at our starting point, gazed in awe at the kayakers braving the chilly waters of the river over which we crossed, and started the climb up Moel Siabod.  The hill has a really attractive pyramid shape, giving it a good deal of prominence and an actual climb.  Needless to say, I have more enthusiasm for the uphill now, looking back on it, than I did at the time!

We rose above the cloud level, finding ice and frozen ground all round us.  It rapidly became apparent how cold it had remained at that level when Dave attempted to break the thick glaze of solid ice on the first lake we passed, only for the rock to bounce and skid away to join a collection of others hefted onto the surface by passing walkers.  It was also a markedly different experience to be walking on unwooded, rusty coloured hillsides, after a year of hiking amongst trees.

After a lunch stop (sheltered amongst the ruins of a slate mine; now that would be an interesting commute to work), we started clambering up the ridge towards the summit.  All routes involve some scrambling but Dave decided we should get onto the rocks nice and early; I must admit, spotting the detritus of climbers (a harness buckle, and scratches from crampons and axes) on our route did make me a little hesitant, but we made it up without incident.  That said, navigation once you're scrambling on the ridge was a little tricky – I kept losing sight of the summit and ending up looking down a long drop back towards the plateau under the ridge…

The wind was howling as we reached the cold and exposed summit trig point, so I gave thanks we'd eaten our lunch further down, and we rapidly walked the summit ridge before descending in a north westerly direction and picking a path back towards our initial ascent route.  

As we headed back towards the car, we were treated to a beautiful show of sunlight flashing across the hills surrounding us.  It is these experiences, the sense of transcending your own existence and seeing an almost immutable scene, which make the early start, the long drive and the uphill slog worthwhile.