Ok so I'm late at writing this. After getting back from Scotland I spent a couple of days observing an SPA training course. It was great fun.
Unfortunately the person that I had planed to spend Thursday with cancelled, however at the last minuet I managed to tag along with a friend Jane, who was taking her elderly father and an inexperienced friend up Crib Goch. I jumped at the opportunity to get up a hill.
We agreed on an early start. With no idea how long it would take to inch our way along the notoriously exposed and narrow ridge, it seamed best to give ourself a fighting chance to make the most of the daylight.
The day started badly as I managed to pour the best part of a pint of coffee over my bed and kit bag. The day got better from then on. I met Jane outside Nita's B&B and was introduced to Phill (Jane's Dad) and Wayne (Jane's friend) oh and Nita, we then jumped in the car and headed up to the Pen y Pass.
After a bit of faffing we headed off up the Pyg track towards the Crib Goch turning. The mountain was shrouded with cloud and it looked rather brooding and daunting. Yet undeterred our intrepid crew carried on towards the promise of exciting scrambling.
Unfortunately the person that I had planed to spend Thursday with cancelled, however at the last minuet I managed to tag along with a friend Jane, who was taking her elderly father and an inexperienced friend up Crib Goch. I jumped at the opportunity to get up a hill.
We agreed on an early start. With no idea how long it would take to inch our way along the notoriously exposed and narrow ridge, it seamed best to give ourself a fighting chance to make the most of the daylight.
The day started badly as I managed to pour the best part of a pint of coffee over my bed and kit bag. The day got better from then on. I met Jane outside Nita's B&B and was introduced to Phill (Jane's Dad) and Wayne (Jane's friend) oh and Nita, we then jumped in the car and headed up to the Pen y Pass.
After a bit of faffing we headed off up the Pyg track towards the Crib Goch turning. The mountain was shrouded with cloud and it looked rather brooding and daunting. Yet undeterred our intrepid crew carried on towards the promise of exciting scrambling.
Gods Torch light
We turned up crib Goch and the interesting scrambling began. Wayne and Phill got stuck in without any fuss and the day got better from then on. The scrambling is engaging from the outset. Its technical enough that you need to use your hands a lot of the time and need to keep making interesting route choices. All of which distracts you from the steadily growing drop beneath you.
Heading up to the crest of the ridge.
We popped up the East Ridge onto Crib Goch, then made our way along the ridge, then down to Bwlch Coch then up Crib Y Ddysgl onto Garnedd Ugain. This route links a series of separate scrambles that is often collectively referred to as "the Crib Goch ridge onto Snowdon". Anyway we encountered a super Brochen Specter, before reaching the finger stone and returning to the Pen y Pass via the Pyg Track.
Scrambling our way along Crib Goch
A Brochen Specter, caused by the sun shining behind the viewer and casting a shadow down onto cloud or mist.
Stepping out of the cloud.
Stunning day above cloud level.
After returning to the Pass we nipped in to the new YHA Cafe. It was rather good if I'm honest. Wayne and Phill had a really good day out, at least thats what they said, and Jane and I enjoyed showing off a spectacular mountain route. Wayne was making noises about completing the whole horseshoe in the summer.