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Hewitts: Crib Goch, Crib y Ddysgl, Snowdon
Date walked: 12/04/2010
Time taken: 3 hours 20 minutes
Distance: 8 km
Ascent: 1100 m
Weather: Clear and sunny, with layers of cloud lower down and some haze.
Since joining this forum last November, I've been churning out a fair few Scottish reports, but little else. Having grown up on Anglesey, I have spent a lot of time in the Welsh hills, but very little since getting a digital camera. An April visit back to my parents gave me the chance to rectify that. As it was mainly a chance to catch up with friends and family and help with DIY, I decided on an early morning walk for this one.
At 7.45am I was walking down the road from a layby to the climbing hut at Ynys Ettws, having only taken 25 minutes to drive over from Anglesey. The morning was cold, but the sun was out and it looked to be another glorious day. The cwms on this side of the Llanberis Pass are impressive enough to rival anything in the Black Cuillin or Glencoe, with multiple tiers containing little pools and waterfalls cascading between them. The sunshine was on Cyrn Las, making this the obvious ascent, but I couldn't remember the best route onto the N ridge of Crib Goch, so decided to do this in ascent rather than try and find it on the way down. I climbed into Cwm Glas Mawr then followed the stream up to Llyn Glas. Wish I'd checked the climbing guide for the area, as I've forgotten most of the crag names up here. Taking this route avoided the dripping overhangs of Dinas Mot, as well as a smaller (also dripping) crag to the W. The route next to the stream was straightforward, with the occasional requirement to put hand to rock.
View opens up into Cwm Glas:
Looking across to Cyrn Las:
Glyders and Llyn Cwmffynon:
The faint path petered out, and I made my way across grass and rock to the scree slope at the N end of Crib Goch's N ridge. 80 m or so of loose scree led up to the end of the ridge proper. This is a great prelude to the Crib Goch summit ridge - sharp but with gentler slopes on either side. The crest of the ridge can be followed easily, but the breeze was rather cold so I mainly stuck to the W side, only joining the crest for the final steepening. As I had hoped, the snow was only window dressing in the cwms, and didn't affect my route at all (I only had trainers on, not wanting to lug my boots down from Inverness on the train).
Looking up the N ridge of Crib Goch:
Steepening on the N ridge:
I reached the summit just after 9, and the views were excellent. A haze in the air limited the long distance views, but the classic Snowdon Horseshoe view was as good as it ever was. Low cloud floating around the Glyders and Moel Siabod added to the atmosphere.
The classic horseshoe photo:
The ridge crossing was straightforward. A couple of other guys had arrived at the summit by the E ridge but I soon left them behind, using them as props in a couple of my photos. The memories of evening circuits of the Snowdon Horseshoe came flooding back, as did the most practical route around the Crib Goch pinnacles. I still can't remember this well enough to describe the best route, but it always comes back to me when I am there.
Y Lliwedd:
Back along summit ridge of Crib Goch:
Crib y Ddysgl from the pinnacles:
Ascending Crib y Ddysgl, the snow patches became more regular, with the occasional requirement to walk across a patch. Nothing you would call winter walking though. A scramble up the short step and a walk up the rest of the ridge brought me quickly to the summit.
Fun step on Crib y Ddysgl E ridge:
Looking back at Crib Goch:
Across Glaslyn to Lliwedd:
Across Y Garn and the Glyders to the Carneddau:
E ridge of Crib y Ddysgl:
At this point I decided to carry on to Snowdon, as I had yet to see the new cafe at close quarters. This was also a short ascent, and at 10 I had the summit to myself. Another walker and his dog arrived while I was eating a second breakfast. The cafe was shut, but seemed an improvement on the previous building. Back to Bwlch Glas, and a steady trickle of walkers were beginning to approach the summit by the Llanberis path (possibly from the train, which was terminating at Clogwyn station). I contoured Crib y Ddysgl at the 1000m level and joined the edge of Cwm Glas. The wind here was biting.
Down the railway to Llyn Padarn:
Back to Crib Goch:
Nantlle ridge:
Cwm Glas headwall:
I was going to use Cyrn Las and the spur bounding the NW side of Cwm Glas to descend. A faint path headed off down this improbable looking route, but avoided all difficulties on the W side of the ridge. Below the overhang of Cyrn Las, a few sun-soaked grassy platforms made great viewpoints for Cwm Glas and the Clogwyn y Person arete. This is probably one of the best scrambles in Wales, almost like a mini Tower Ridge. However it is quite difficult, and I didn't really have the confidence to do it on my own, having had a few shaky moments on the crux in the past. Much recommended though if you enjoy the likes of Pinnacle Ridge in the Cuillin.
Llyn Glas, Crib Goch and Clogwyn y Person:
Cyrn Las:
Another 20 minutes and I was back at the car, having had a brilliant morning out on one of my favourite parts of the Snowdon massif. Unfortunately it had to be followed with a trip to Warrington to trek round Ikea!
