Beaten by bristly

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bamba
17/04/2012 at 14:40
After 2 trips to Snowdon,on the Pyg & Watkin trails,It was time to progress onwards to some thing more of a challenge , Tryfan & the Glyders was the chosen place for our first scramble outing after some research.
5 of us climbed Tryfan via the north ridge and down the south with out too much trouble an was enjoyed by all,Bristly ridge looked daunting,mainly I think because you can see it all,top to bottom unlike tryfan.It took us a while to decide as a group that we would do it,rather than walk around it.A bit unclear of which direction to take other than to keep on the left side (not using the scree on the left)
We followed the wall on the left at first and ended up in a narrow gulley with some near vertical climbs in places,we realised this was sinister gulley afterwards,we met a further gulley to drop in to which past width ways across our path and could still see there was more to climb,some of the group was now put off and as a group decided to get down and abandon it,
any tips where we went wrong or should we have just stuck to it.

route
http://www.sports-tracker.com/#/workout/bamba/bci3m0p9lnvacrlv

pics
http://www.flickr.com/photos/62240733@N05/

Need to go back an finish the job




Steve_D
17/04/2012 at 15:15

I backed off from Bristly ridge last September having gone up the North ridge of Tryfan, but that was mainly to do with laziness on my part and hearing someone above me in the mist, obviously cragfast.  Didn't fancy getting stuck in a queu on the ridge so I took the chicken shute up onto the Glyders.

It'll be there another day.

Nice pics though.

Steve D

Mike Peacock
19/04/2012 at 20:25

It's hard to know but it doesn't sound like you went wrong. You mention "near vertical climbs" which doesn't sound like Sinister Gully. There is a gully just right of Sinister which is also a popular route on to the ridge. It's steeper, but shorter:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikepeacock/102126505/" title="And Steepens by Mike Peacock2005, on Flickr"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikepeacock/102126505/" title="And Steepens by Mike Peacock2005, on Flickr">

http://farm1.staticflickr.com/33/102126505_83584ae929_m.jpg

</a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikepeacock/102126505/" title="And Steepens by Mike Peacock2005, on Flickr"></a>

For what it's worth, Bristly is at the top end of grade 1, and is a step up from Tryfan North Ridge as it is more committing. However, the hardest/most intimidating part (I think) is getting up the gully. Once on the ridge I find things ease a bit.

Edited: 19/04/2012 at 20:27
Mike Peacock
19/04/2012 at 20:28
Hmm, I can't seem to get ride of all that HTML junk from my post, sorry.
bamba
20/04/2012 at 17:31
Ive seen some pics of sinister gully on the net an it does look pretty much the same as what we did,as you said , I think we'd done the hardest part and the summit (I think) was in sight,and i could see the route up.But some of the group was already rattled,not helped by a big rock falling down,an watching it go.
Think we've realised now that we didnt go wrong anywhere,but all things considered , probably did well to get that far.
Gerry Lynch
22/04/2012 at 12:04

Sounds like you were in Sinister Gully though "near vertical climbs" is a bit of an exaggeration. Bristly Ridge is one of those scrambles that you can make as easy or as hard as you want. If you take the easiest lines then Grade 1 is about right though Sinister Gully is at the top end of that grade. Alternatively you can make the route a lot more interesting if you take everything direct. 

Many people seem to avoid Sinister Gully by passing it on the left and then joining the main ridge where the difficulties ease considerably. Otherwise you can take the right hand gully that runs parallel to Sinister Gully. The right hand gully is technically harder and also a lot more fun.

geekinthesticks
22/04/2012 at 12:30
I have always gone up the gully which is just to the right of the toe of the buttress. This is quite steep to start, but has good holds and goes up in a series of steps, so doesn't feel too serious.

However, I did frighten myself years ago by going up the one climb described on the left side of the ridge. The description was something like "Start below the obvious whatsit and climb up following the distinct thingie". The "wotsit" wasn't obvious and the "thingie" far from distinct. Apparently the new guide has recorded several worthwhile routes, which I may go back and have a look at.
bamba
09/06/2012 at 09:00
Going back to bristly next week , to conquer my nemesis.
Tuesday all being well.
Simo
10/06/2012 at 20:07
Unless I'm mistaken, sinister gully is the left one and dexter gully the one on the right , I think the sketchy element is if people above knock loose stuff down. Last time I went up there was a loose section right at the top of dexter but it wasn't hard to get past it. A lot of nervousness can happen at any time, I have never felt intimidated by Tryfan or Bristley yet a mate had to help me off adam & eve because my arse had gone completely.
bamba
11/06/2012 at 10:57
Cant wait, hopefully the weather will hold off for us.
bamba
15/06/2012 at 14:32
Brilliant day out Tuesday, despite some rain with heavy showers forecast,the weather was pretty much perfect,not too hot or cold ,plenty of sun shine with some broken cloud.A successful climb of bristly ridge this time , by a slightly easier gully further to the left than sinister , which took us to the exact point at which we bailed out last time,a same drop in just after the angled slab,after that we continued around to Y garn

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7078/7182730263_8e644d35ec.jpg
100_3056 by bambaX4, on Flickr

route

http://www.sports-tracker.com/#/workout/bamba/can4mdc42ftlkaap

pics

http://www.flickr.com/photos/62240733@N05/sets/72157630117924568/

Edited: 15/06/2012 at 14:33
Mike Peacock
15/06/2012 at 14:38
Nice one! Does taking that gully still leave you to do the downclimb into Great Pinnacle Gap? I've poked my nose up that 3rd gully further left of Sinister before and thought it might be useful - I have a non-scrambling friend who wants to do Bristly and I don't fancy taking them up Sinister or the steep right hand gully.
bamba
15/06/2012 at 15:53
yes , you still have to do great pg, brings you out at a smaller gully that passes right/left just after a smaller pinicle after the angle slab
this looking back after a little climb up

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7241/7367970928_1ebf266bc6.jpg
100_3007 by bambaX4, on Flickr


if you look at the pic above this one you can just make it out, a smaller version of gpg if you like.
Edited: 15/06/2012 at 16:06
Mike Peacock
15/06/2012 at 16:05
Thanks for the info. I'll have to check it out sometime - it's been years since I last did Bristly Ridge.
bamba
15/06/2012 at 20:33
Think I still feel the need to do the sinister or the main gully,although a trip to the Carneddau is on the cards and the need to do some mtb as well, not enough time ...
Dave Moseley
22/06/2012 at 11:07
the gully I usually do is just to the left of where the wall meets the base, good clean fun
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