It was the middle of January and a few days before our trip I kept looking at the weather forecast hoping for snow. I was disappointed, no snow and no ice. In fact winter seemed to have left Snowdonia altogether. To make matters worse we had previously been planning to head up to the Cairngorms which was covered in the white stuff. The opportunity for a full on winter epic was missed.
But with one opportunity missed another presented itself in Snowdonia: A Three 3000ft summit climb taking in Glyder Fawr, Glyder Fach and the mighty Tryfan. The lack of snow and ice gave us the opportunity to get off the beaten tracks and scramble and rock climb our own routes up these three magnificent mountains.
(Me - Glyder Fawr Summit)
We decided to start off from Ogwen Cottage and head up to Glyder Fawr via Llyn Idwal and the 'Devil's Kitchen'. The day was perfect, a relatively barmy -7c and clear blue skies and sunshine. This was a rare treat indeed. From the summits all of Snowdonia was visible and with such clarity the map and compass barely made it out of the bag.
(Llyn Idwal & Devil's Kitchen (Top Centre)
(Left to Right - Jonny, Matt, Sam)
The route up to Glyder Fawr was spectacular. After the lake the route becomes quite steep and starts to get the heart beating. We followed the rocks up to the Devil's Kitchen Gully where we turned left to follow a ridge up to a shoulder between Glyder Fawr and Y-Garn, another 3000ft summit. In retrospect we could have taken this summit in at the same time and bagged four in one day without too much trouble.
(Me - Devil's Kitchen to the left)
(The Shoulder, Left to Right - Me, Jonny, Matt)
A quick stop for some food and we made the final steep ascent up to the Glyder Fawr summit. We soon came to the plateau with the summit in clear sight. We all commented that to find the summit in poor weather could be very difficult. With so many rock formations, you could easily climb the wrong one and think you have made it.
(Sam - Glyder Fawr Summit)
After some more food and drink we began to navigate the plateau and head over to Glyder Fach. The sun was shining hard and it would be easy to forget that just 3 weeks prior a climber had fallen to his death when trying to find a safe route down in the snow. Well equipped and well experienced, bad luck saw him fall through a 50ft cornice.
We made our way over to Glyder Fach but not without first taking in the unexpected treat that is Castell Y Gwynt. A rock formation clinging on to the side of the mountain, we had to take some time and climb up it.
(Me - Photographing Castell Y Gwynt)
(Castell Y Gwtnt - Sam & Me)
After this fantastic bonus we climbed our way up to the summit of Glyder Fach. This was a real opportunity to make your own route and we each did just that. After a few dead ends by the time I made the summit the others were already sat there having a drink.
(Glyder Fach Summit - Matt & Sam)
(Glyder Fach Summit - Sam, Me, Jonny)
From the summit we headed over to another bonus on this route, the Cantilever. At this point the challenge of scrambling and rock climbing our way to two summits had removed any disappointment about the lack of snow. It had turned into one of my best mountain days.
(The Cantilever - Left to Right - Matt, Me, Jonny, Sam)
From the Cantilever we headed towards our final challenge, Tryfan. We had to make a significant descent to the base of our third mountain which involved a steep scree slope. We headed down still full of energy and under no doubt that we would complete what we set out to do. We had read that some people decide to head back at this point choosing to opt for a hot tea at the car park over a punishing climb to the summit of Tryfan.
(Bristly Ridge Scree Slope - Jonny, Matt, Me)
About a third of the way up Tryfan the path disappears and it's time to climb your own way up. We did so in relative confidence with only a few moments for pause when sheer drops were within inches of our route.
(Tryfan - Half Way Up)
After a false summit we made a our way to the quiet summit of Tryfan with a good hour or so of daylight left to get ourselves down to lower ground. What a day, what a surprise.
(Tryfan Summit - Jonny)
(Tryfan Summit - Matt)
(Tryfan Summit - Sam)
(Tryfan Summit - Me)
So what next? With four of the 14 Welsh 3000ft mountains under our belt we are keen to complete the others. Meanwhile my fitness training continues whilst I'm seriously considering my first Himalayan mountain, Island Peak at 20305ft.
Glyder Fawr, Glyder Fach & Tryfan Video:
