I've climbed Tryfan before, but via the heather terrace. I'll be heading up again via the north ridge in a couple of weeks and just wanted an idea of what to expect? Is route finding Ok or difficult etc.
Also, a friend has expressed an interest in coming along, but they suffer from vertigo. Would this route be too exposed or could they manage it? I'm tempted to tell them its a no no if theres any risk at all of them ending up cragfast.
There isn't a single route up, you just pick your own way. You can generally pick between easier, well used routes and more challenging, exposed routes where there is definitely a risk of vertigo. If you are an experienced hiker and scrambler I doubt that you would get lost or crag-fast provided that the rock is dry, visibility is good and you are willing to turn back and try another route if the going gets too tough. However, I wouldn't risk taking your friend with vertigo up it, it could turn into nightmare!
Route finding is pretty straight forward, but it's basically one long scramble. you can see quite an obvious path if you look for it where lots have been up, or you can make your own! staying to the left as you go up is a little bit easier. there is an escape route to the east face just before the steep pyramidal buttress just above the cannon if you feel its a bit much! at the end of the day, almost all of the harder stretches of the ridge can be bypassed with the help of scree paths or gullies.
I would say it's a no no for your friend to be honest, it's pretty exposed all the way up, and I certainly wouldnt want to be looking after someone that's scared of heights up on the north face. however, it is steep and very exposed right from the word go, so I think if you do decide to go for it, you will find out pretty soon if your friend is not up to the task before you commit too much!
Again as others have said, route finding is not too bad. A couple of times i found it difficult and had to look for an alternative route.
I have a small fear of heights, at one point the exposure statred getting to me. I took a break until i felt a little more relaxed. I would say it depends on your firend but he / she may find this too much.
I took my wife up Tryfan a couple of years ago. We started up the North Ridge but once we started up the ridge proper (just before the Heather Tce) she became nervous trying to scramble up a section of rock. We downclimbed 10 feet or so and stopped for a breather. At this point an Australian couple caught up with us and whilst exchanging pleasantries my wife commented that she had been half way up the slab of rock above our heads but had "lost her bottle". Quick as a flash the Australian guy heroically offered to go and find it and started bounding up the rocks! Wonder how long he would have searched for if we hadn't of called him back!
We ended up taking the Heather Terrace route up. I have also done the North Ridge and would suggest anyone nervous of exposure should do the Heather Terrace first and save the North Ridge for another day if they can manage the HT comfortably.
Thanks for the comments. Climbed it today. A superb route. Loads of people on it as well, and at the summit. Came back down the heather terrace and passed a few people so ill equiped it was untrue. A young lad (18ish) with two girls in tow wearing jeans, t shirts and FLIP FLOPS for crying out loud. About an hour after we passed them the rescue helicopter was out! Hopefully it was just practicing.
I suffer from vertigo but have done Tryfan's North Ridge a few times solo. I found it exilarating but there are a couple of things to bear in mind of you're with someone who, like me, is scared of heights. Firstly, it's a very easy scramble. Keep your head and you can overcome the fear. Secondly, it's more scary to go down than go up because when you go down you are staring into the void whereas when you go up you are looking at rock and sky mostly. Same goes for Crib Goch. Personally, i would suggest that it would be safer to coax someone to the top of Tryfan than to try to retrace your steps to the bottom. Thirdly, there is a 'bad step' just before the summit where you have to descend and then step across a drop. To someone who is scared of heights, this is a yawning bottomless chasm. But just after this there is a brilliant 'chimney' straight to the top which is wonderful.
There is another 'bad step' on Bristly Ridge but if you take a little time to chill before tackling these head on you should be ok.
