The very best days are always unplannable - those last minute decisions and 'nearly didn't bother's are what makes you really appreciate what you have acheived. Glad you enjoyed yourself!
Rhyd ddu / South Ridge ascent via Bwlch main has some 'exposure' but it's largely psychological - the path is obvious and secure and the chance of slipping is very small.
Ranger is still a good mountain route though - will be hot if the weather's the same as today though - take sunhat/screen and plenty of water.
I thought that account put Steck et al in quite a bad light, and that the Sherpas angry response was entirely understandable.
If you trespassed on a UK building site, putting lives at risk and causing the men to lose half a days work, and then finished their job for them, I think you could expect to get beaten up if you walked into their pub later.
Couple of better informed links below, which seem to tell the story as follows:
The Sherpas were a team involved in Rope Fixing on Llotse. They had requested that climbers avoid all climbing in the area during the work period and several other groups of professional climbers had rearranged their acclimatisation sessions to avoid the area. Steck, Moro and Griffith ignored this, and soloed the face, though away from the rope fixing route. However when they reached the level of their tent they crossed the rope-work line. The Sherpas felt at risk having unsecured climbers around their workzone, so their team had to withdraw from their work and return to camp. In a rather misguided attempt to appease the Sherpas, Steck continued up the face fixing the Sherpas ropes for them.
Was out on the Migneint yesterday - fantastic views of all the higher summits - and amazed at how little snow is left anywhere compared to a few days ago. Patches only, even on Snowdon / Glyderau, and mainly N facing gullies/hollows. With hot sunshine again this morning I doubt there will be much left now. Very unlikely to find anywhere to use axe / crampons.
Ron Rees Davies
