I can't Adam 'n Eve it!

[Jaxter]

The massive advantage of staying with Malky’s friend Gordon by accident (in that we went over for tea and forgot to leave ) was that we got fed eggs on toast for breakfast as well as the obvious sleeping in a bed and not having to pitch a tent in the dark The downside was that we didn’t get such an early start as we’d hoped and it was 10.30 before we started walking. This was bad news as far as our deadline at the end of the day was concerned

We parked the car up and headed along a path which led us into a big pile of boulders…happy days
Ahead...

Boulders finally negotiated we climbed a stile and discovered that there was an easy path up the road that actually had steps. Doh Still….the views were nice
Looking back to Llyn Ogwen

There was no easy walk in on this hill – straight up smashing it in the face
Height gained fast

Malky leads the way

Malky had been up this hill many times and I sort of assumed he knew where he was going As it turned out he largely did, although the stories of all the c*ck-ups he’d managed weren’t massively inspiring
Bumpy wee hills

As we climbed higher there was the odd hand needed here and there but by and large it was a steep walk with a sort of path the whole way
Looking back down

Now on the ridge proper we could see the glen opening up before us – the bits of fluff up high were disappearing too and it was turning into a bonny day
The views open up

And then we climbed over a bump and were faced with the hard bit – looking ahead it was kind of difficult to work out where the route went I thought everything in Wales was easy
Ahead to the mental bit

And then I was set a challenge….
The Canon

I put one foot on it and went sliding on the slightly damp rock
Slippery rock

Yes, I Jaxtered on the Canon. Sort of
Jaxter on the canon

Gulp….
Our route ahead

These hills looked great
Y Garn

Reaching the base of the north ridge we were faced with a choice – the direct scramble or the round the corner route – both good routes but the scramble more exposed. I was all for the scramble but was slightly concerned about the slightly damp slippery rock. It’s no your nice grippy Skye gabbro We went up for a look and I managed to step on a wobbly rock which freaked me out. The round the side route it was then
The North ridge

It may have been less exposed but the route around the side wasn’t an easy option at all – there were several bits requiring a good deal of thought and the slightly greasy rock added an extra element of difficulty.
Looking back

Where do we go now?

It chose this moment to cloud over which made it feel very atmospheric
Into the mist

There were a couple in front of us that were making some of the awkward bits look a lot more difficult than they were
Last wee bit

Quick way down

We climbed higher and came out on a wee pinnacle with some great views to the East
Y Foel Goch

Malky then directed me up a seemingly impossible maze of boulders before setting off across them. “Are you sure” I asked into the ether?
Glyder Fach now visible

It was another case of not-as-bad-as-it-looks and before long we walked in between Adam and Eve and were on the summit where there were plenty of folk all come up their own route. The views were definitely worth it
Y Garn

Gylderau

Llyn Ogwen

A couple of lads arrived shortly after we did and one jumped the summit blocks – I was too slow with the camera and for some reason he refused to do it again so I could get a photo
Naw I won't do it again!

Looking through Adam and Eve

Looking down to the north summit – the route we would have come up if we’d scrambled direct
North summit of Tryfan

Y Garn

We sat and enjoyed our sandwiches as it was definitely lunchtime, under the watchful eye of a giant seagull
Mental seagull

On top of Tryfan

I'll just have to come up again with the dry rock to do this on the top
Jaxtering on the almost summit

The summit was getting busier so we decided to get going
Looking back up Tryfan

Y Garn

Bristly ridge

We actually made a bit of a mess coming off the summit – would have been easier sticking to the edge as we ended up crossing mental boulders and losing any sort of path. We eventually picked it up near the bealach as we looked up Bristly ridge
Bristly ridge ahead

Although the rock was probably dryer now, confidence was at a bit of a low so we bypassed the ridge and headed straight up. We were pushing for time too – we’d managed to push back dinner with Malky’s folks by half an hour but it was still going to be tight. A ridge for another day
Easy way out

Looking back Tryfan had become a cone
Tryfan

Our route up wasn’t as bad as we had thought it would be – just steep really. The recent rain had stuck all the loose stuff together!
Y Foel Goch

We heard a thundering noise and could see a helicopter flying over Tryfan
Helicopter over Tryfan

Gie us a ride?

As we neared the top the views opened out again
Y Garn

The summit of Glyder Fach looked like a giant had dropped a huge pile of boulders on it and it was a crazy maze to work our way through them
Ahead to the summit of Glyder Fach

I look so unimpressed by the amount of boulders
This is a look of pure hatred

Summit of Glyder Fach

Look – Snowdon!
Snowdon

Almost summit of Glyder Fach

Looking back to the mental pile of rocks
Looking back to the mental summit of Glyder Fach

Onwards – we had to pass Castle in the Wind another made pile of rocks although at least we could go around this one
Castle in the wind and Glyder Fawr

The Snowdon horseshoe

It was even more impressive from the other side
Castle in the wind

From the bealach between the Glyders we could see across to the Carneddau
Carneddau

We had thought to go down here but we were ok for time and wanted to carry on to Glyder Fawr
A possible descent route

Castle in the wind and Glyder Fach

Llyn Igwal

Now we weren’t scrambling we were making much better time
Glyder Fawr

I thought Glyder Fawr looked like something out of Mordor
Looking back from Glyder Fawr

There were a couple of possible summits here as it was all wee piles of slatey nonsense so we climbed all possible options
Y Garn

Glyder Fawr

Llanberis

Looks a bit like Ben Loyal in the background – but what really caught my attention was the Snowdon train, kind of impressive that a train can get up there
The Snowdon train

I’d been eyeing up Y Garn all day and it hadn’t looked like we’d manage more than one Glyder let alone get that far. But all of a sudden we’d made some miles up. We reckoned we could probably manage it if we got a shift on…cue both of us making a mad rush down a big scree slope – actually Malky was the one to fall on his backside but I was too slow with the camera
Llyn Y Cym and Y Garn

The Devils kitchen and the Carneddau

Llyn Y Cwm

Y Garn

Back to Tryfan

Although it was a decent amount of height to gain, the underfoot conditions were so easy compared to the rest of the day and we shot up it
Looking back down the ridge on Y Garn

Towards the summit

It wasn’t long before we were at the top and enjoying the views (but not the wind!)
Llyn Ogwen

Tryfan

Pen Yr Ole Wen and the Carneddau

The Snowdon horseshoe

Y Garn summit

Believe it or not this was the best one....

Looking down the glen

We now reckoned we needed to be back at the car in an hour – so off we went
The ridge continues

Tryfan, Llyn Igwal and Llyn Ogwen

Y Garn

About halfway down Malky ran off for the car – he’d make it down quicker than me and could save the 10 minute road walk at the end by running it. What a gent
Llyn Igwal

Glydder Fawr

Llyn Igwal and the Devils Kitchen

By the time I made it to the lochan it was absolutely roasting – no wind and plenty of sun will do that without running down a mountain to boot
Llyn Igwal and Y Garn

Wee ponies

I passed a family with a pushchair some impressive waterfalls and reached the road just as Malky pulled up with the car! Not quite an hour but not far off. We managed to get the tent pitched and both showered within about 20 minutes and were only 5 minutes late to the pub to meet Malky’s family. Not a bad effort
Impressive waterfalls

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[Alteknacker]

A great read, and excellent preparation for this coming Thursday, when I plan to take my daughter and 2 grandkids up Tryfan.

Not sure they'll attempt the jump between Adam and Eve though .

PS a pity you didn't have time the scramble up the Idwal slab on your way back....

[past my sell by date]

Long long time ago when I was a boy and there W(h)ere Wolves in Wales (sorry can't help quoting Dylan Thomas - it's so evocative ) I did the Bristly ridge. I had a wonderful slide of a spiky rock covered in feathery ice crystals - it's gone now - but I seem to remember the ridge was "all mouth and no trousers" - so to speak
Just one slight typo. It's Idwal not igwal - I don't think the slabs would appreciate the change.
Have you read the famous ballad? https://www.monologues.co.uk/Sport/Idwal_Slabs.htm " steer clear of the places that sell you cheap braces and the fellow who uses soft soap"

[Jaxter]

A great read, and excellent preparation for this coming Thursday, when I plan to take my daughter and 2 grandkids up Tryfan.

Not sure they'll attempt the jump between Adam and Eve though .

PS a pity you didn't have time the scramble up the Idwal slab on your way back....

Nice one - they'll love it
Definitely one to return to - so many interesting bits

Long long time ago when I was a boy and there W(h)ere Wolves in Wales (sorry can't help quoting Dylan Thomas - it's so evocative ) I did the Bristly ridge. I had a wonderful slide of a spiky rock covered in feathery ice crystals - it's gone now - but I seem to remember the ridge was "all mouth and no trousers" - so to speak
Just one slight typo. It's Idwal not igwal - I don't think the slabs would appreciate the change.
Have you read the famous ballad? https://www.monologues.co.uk/Sport/Idwal_Slabs.htm " steer clear of the places that sell you cheap braces and the fellow who uses soft soap"

Never heard that before - that's hilarious
Looks like I don't need Malky to correct my spelling

[BigGaz]

Hi,

Thought this was a great report, so in depth and informative, and looks like you both had a great time.

I've just finished the 3peaks challenge and really enjoyed Snowdon - definitely need to see more of Wales!

Thanks for the post.

Gary

[mrssanta]

that looked really smashing lovely views!

[mattcymru]

Stunning. but wee hills? if you fell 3000 feet u might change your mind!

[dav2930]

Great report of a classic round; really enjoyable stuff. Not everyone includes Y Garn, so that's a bonus.

[goingforawii]

As always, a very nice read! Love Snowdonia, even if it can be rammed with people at times