| Welcome to the climbing pages of John (Jonno) Appleby.I hope this site will prove both entertaining and informative,providing insights and practical information about all aspects of traditional mountain activities in North and Mid Wales. I have been climbing now for 20 years and during this time I have climbed extensively-summer and winter-in the mountainous areas of north and mid Wales.Although I have never aspired to be at the cutting edge of rock climbing,I have developed a keen interest in those less frequented areas of the country.In these areas,far from the madding crowd,I have had many of my most memorable climbing experiences.Out on the edge of a high mountain crag with just the crows and hardy native sheep for company.......voices echoing around the silent cwms like stones in a drum. In these quiet places I have unearthed routes of rare quality hiding amongst the pale rock and vegetation.... Watched as hardy crows fight off a murderous Peregrine....swam in high llyns under black cliffs and wandered through the wild places as four seasons merged into one day. I hope through these pages to bring a sense of the atmosphere and beauty of this magical land of the wild crow.............. |
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| North Wales based climber who lives on the edge of the Snowdonia National Park.Began climbing on the famous Clwyd Limestone of the Eglwsyg Valley and local quarries.Former group leader and instructor with a north Wales charity group involved in running residential outdoor activity courses for socially disavantaged youngsters.Ex member of a north Wales mountain rescue team.Writer who has written for Climber, Loose Scree and High magazines....Artist who has exibited his mountain paintings in the Oriel Gallery in north Wales. Founder member of the legendary Clwyd Hard Bastards climbing fraternity....Frequent first ascentionist with over 100 new routes in north and mid Wales.Around 20 routes in the current Climbers Club guide to Tremadog.Over 50 new routes in the present Meirionydd guide for which he has contributed a section. Has climbed regularly with highly respected Lakeland and Welsh veteran Harold Drasdo and has climbed with David Craig,both of whom have been nominated for the UK's Boardman Tasker prize for mountain literature. Member of The Climbers Club |
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| WILDCROW |
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| A gaggle of hard bastards gearing up before a climb ! |
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| John Appleby Tryfan Oil on board 30"x 24" |
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| zentrails@hotmail.com |
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| The sordid details ! |
| Climbing in north |
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| Eco News |
| Latest news from the front line. Over the past few months Conwy CC turned down an application from a local developer to build a wind farm at Cerrigydrudion . However they did approve an application to build 8 more turbines at Moel Malogan. A wind farm that can be seen from large parts of the national park. Another application to build 4 turbines above Gweddelwern near Corwen has been re-submitted after being unanimously rejected the first time around. |
| The Welsh Assembly's imfamous TAN 8 energy document has targeted the beautiful Clocaenog Forest and large parts of the Denbigh Moors for turbine development. Over 100 x 300' high turbines will be spread over the area leading to thousands of acres of woodland being clear felled,tracks gouged out of the soft,peaty earth and extensive borrow pits (quarries')created. Add to this...concrete plants on site,oil wastes disposed of into mountain streams,super sized earth movers and lorries trundling along motorway scale forest tracks and you have a nightmare scenario ! Thanks Rhodri and Co. The destruction of some of Wales's most beautiful uplands...some legacy ! |
| If wilderness is outlawed,only outlaws can save the wilderness......... Edward Abbey |
| e mail me |
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| New routes on Craig Eithin, Ogwen/Carneddau area.... (See updates section for details. |
| John Appleby on Cadence & Cascade VS-4c (US 5.8) Craig y Eithin, North Wales |
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| What's Cookin ? |
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| Apologies for the lack up updates. Quite a bit to add but little time of late. Back soon ! |
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| Henry Hobson on Capstone Climb, Skyline Buttress ,Ogwen and Central Ridge, Creigeau Glesion, Nant Francon. (See forthcoming Oggie guide) |
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| John Appleby on Central Ridge. V Diff. Creigeu Gleision, Nant Francon.North Wales |
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| Daisy Hobson on Central Ridge, Creigeau Gleision, reappearing in the next Ogwen guidebook after a 40 year absence ! |
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| Old lands for new hands |
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| New routes courtesy of |
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