Scrambles in North Wales

CK scrambling Glyder Fach, originally uploaded by kendyck1.

December 15-16

Friday night we drove up to Llangollen for a cold night in a B&B (Wynnstay arms- great hospitality but v/cold room). Then Saturday am carried on up to Llyn Ogwen.
It was -5 degrees and very frosty everywhere as we walked past Llyn Idwal to scramble up Cneifon Arete. Pete led and belayed me in second then Is. We picked up his dropped gear on the way up!

First time I'd rock climbed in years- I love the scrambling but find the climbing a bit freaky. Still the adrenalin shots were just what I needed and its always a sense of acheivement to overcome your fears.

We carried on up over Glyder Fach (987m) and then down Bristly Ridge. A great walk and scramble.

Sunday and I wanted to get up Snowdon and over the 1000m mark. So we walked in on the Miners track on a beautiful clear day, still a temp of minus figures but very still with fantastic reflections of Snowdon in Llyn Llydaw.

We scrambled up Y Gribin then along Bwlchysaethau to the Summit, Where we bathed in clear still sunshine amongst smatterings of hard packed snow patches, views were clear for miles and looking down on the tops of the clouds in the valleys.

Then we scrambled back over Y Lliwedd to complete part of the horseshoe I'd never done.

I'm very out of practice for this stuff but this was a dose of the outdoors I needed to escape from my lonely desk. Great weather, fantastic scenery, good company and plenty of exercise- that's what its all about!