After an appallingly wet day on Snowdon I awoke to a gloriously sunny day in Llanberis. I headed over to Pete's to pick up breakfast before heading up the hill to Toby's campsite.
We decided to tick of another classic trade route, this time the North Ridge of Tryfan and Bristly Ridge, then over the Glyders and back to Ogwen Cottage, possibly via Y Garn. A big days plan. After ticking off all of this the idea was to jump in the van and head back south for work at the weekend, after all I have to earn money somehow, so i can keep you all entertained with trip reports.
We decided to tick of another classic trade route, this time the North Ridge of Tryfan and Bristly Ridge, then over the Glyders and back to Ogwen Cottage, possibly via Y Garn. A big days plan. After ticking off all of this the idea was to jump in the van and head back south for work at the weekend, after all I have to earn money somehow, so i can keep you all entertained with trip reports.
Toby with a view of Ogwen in the background.
We parked up at the foot of Tryfan and put helmets and rope in the bags as Toby wanted to practice some ML rope work. So off we trotted up the path. We passed under the base of Soapgut, which looked just as green and horrible as when I went up the other day. We moved on quickly up the well worn path before deciding to leave the beaten track again and finding a scramble.
Toby about to get involved with a chimney.
We gained height quickly and found some interesting scrambling! The weather was glorious and the scrambling superb. The North Ridge of Tryfan is pretty straight forward, follow the path up the rock steps or take your own route making it as interesting as you like.
Toby on a fun little move.
Me on the canon (Photo Toby Leckie).
After reaching the Cannon, an obvious feature on the ridge line, we decided to rope up and let Toby practice his rope work skills. This meant he would have to choose an easy scramble line and then choose an appropriate place to belay me up to. This takes a little getting used to and the first little scramble, about 10m took nearly 30min, from Toby tying me into the rope, to my joining him at his belay. He got quicker as we carried on up. After a few rope sections the scrambling eased out and we de roped. Getting the rope out on a scramble adds at least an hour on to your journey time. Its a slow process as once you have put someone on a top they stay on it till there is no further need for it.
Toby picks a route up Tryfan.
We quickly scrambled to the North, then South Summits of Tryfan before stopping for a bite of lunch.
After dropping down the south ridge of Tryfan we headed up towards Bristly Ridge.
The last time I went up Bristly was with Dad on a family holiday and we were guided up. This time Toby and I went up the obvious gully line in the middle of the ridge, just right of the wall. this brought us up onto the ridge proper. Not sure if this is the official ridge route but it was well worn and an interesting little scramble.
After dropping down the south ridge of Tryfan we headed up towards Bristly Ridge.
The last time I went up Bristly was with Dad on a family holiday and we were guided up. This time Toby and I went up the obvious gully line in the middle of the ridge, just right of the wall. this brought us up onto the ridge proper. Not sure if this is the official ridge route but it was well worn and an interesting little scramble.
Climbing the gully... but first let me take a #selfie.
As we climbed the gully the temperature had clearly dropped, I could see my breath as I climbed.
We topped out of the scramble and there was a distinctly different feel in the weather. It had got very muggy. Looking at the time I made a decision that it was time to head for the van, it was getting late and the weather felt wrong. Toby agreed. As we started down towards the scree slope a few spots of rain started, as we reach the scree the heavens opened and heavy hail hit us.
We legged it off the mountain and back to the BBV. After a quick change we headed back to London.
Tryfan didn't disappoint it was a cracking way to end a week in North Wales, now back to work and planning new trips!
We topped out of the scramble and there was a distinctly different feel in the weather. It had got very muggy. Looking at the time I made a decision that it was time to head for the van, it was getting late and the weather felt wrong. Toby agreed. As we started down towards the scree slope a few spots of rain started, as we reach the scree the heavens opened and heavy hail hit us.
We legged it off the mountain and back to the BBV. After a quick change we headed back to London.
Tryfan didn't disappoint it was a cracking way to end a week in North Wales, now back to work and planning new trips!
Toby pointing back towards Tryfan from Bristly.