OUTDOORSmagic Classic Route
North Ridge Tryfan (Grade 1 Scramble) - South Ridge Tryfan -
Bristly Ridge (Grade 1 Scramble) -Glyder Fach - Glyder Fawr - Cwm
Cneifon - Devil's Kitchen path - Ogwen
Map: OS Landranger 115: 1:50,000 'Snowdon' / OS Outdoor
Leisure 17: 1:25,000 Snowdonia (Snowdon)
Distance: 7 miles approx. Time: five to six
hours
In the beginning: The hottest day of the year so far, over
30-degrees C so we go hunting for cool breezes high in Snowdonia.
After all, it's always cool in Snowdonia. Not this time though, you
could fry eggs on the North Ridge of Tryfan. Not that you'd guess
that from the side view where it looks like a dinosaur crossbred with
a serrated bread knife. Park on the A5 (664603) beneath the obvious
mountain just beyond the camp site at Gwern Gof Uchaf (673603). Don't
forget the eggs.
|
Low down on the North Ridge, blocks
and vegetation for everyone
|
|
The North Ridge: What looks like a razor from the edge
turns out to be a broad collection of jumbled blocks, spikes and
chimneys from the base (665600). It's a grade one scramble, but most
of it is avoidable if you're feeling wimpish. Somewhere on the ridge
is a hideous, balancey exposed step-up, but I've never managed to
find it again, which really sums it up. We traipse aimlessly up
blocky slabs and easy chimneys till the vegetation dies out and,
tails wagging like dogs, we tumble over a last block onto the summit
(664594) with our tongues hanging out.
|
Higher on the ridge, the vegetation
gets sparser, giving way to ever bigger blocks, most of
which are dodgeable - they don't move that
fast...
|
|
The Top: Notorious for the twin pillars of Adam and Eve,
but jumping between them seems kind of vulgar - the result might put
other off their lunch so we just sit there on Adam or maybe Eve and
watch the world go by. The drop on the far side is less than you'd
think by the way, but you wouldn't want to try the step in the
wet.
|
The editor squatting meekly on Adam or
maybe Eve. Another rip roaring summit
success...
|
|
The South Ridge: We amble on down taking in views of
Bristly Ridge (it's the bristly one straight ahead) and lose the path
three times, mainly because there is no path, before being saved by
an ancient rambler who obviously empathises with stray dogs. Then
it's down into the dip (663590) between Tryfan and Glyder Fach ,
Bwlch Tryfan if you must name it, before slogging through the heat
towards Bristly Ridge.
Bristly Ridge: Another Grade One scramble starting (662587)
with an easy chimney and a load of blocky stuff higher up. Strangely
for a ridge there's hardly any sense of exposure except on one move
when you step down into a gap. It's crowded though and with memories
of a 30 minute queue at the bad section on a similar day we opt for
torturing progress up the adjacent scree slope. Bad move as a torrent
of sweat threatens to form a new stream down the loose
debris.
|
Tryfan's notorious missile silo
impression, in case of war the top hinges off to unleash
batteries of ICBMs
|
|
The Glyders: Lollop past the classic sights of Glyders Fach
and Fawr - the Cantilever (657584) the Castle of the Winds (655582)
and an awesome view of Snowdon over to the left. Past the start of
the Gribin ridge (651583) then down horribly eroded scree slopes to
Cwm Cneifon and the top of the Devil's Kitchen path (639587). Poles
are a good idea on the descent down to the Cwm unless you really want
to erode your bottom as well as the path. the sky looks nice
though.
|
Oh no, it's the obligatory shot of the
Cantilever in a rare rambler-free moment
|
|
The Devil's Kitchen Path: Paws aching in the heat, we pick
our way down this once eroded, now conserved path towards glittering
Llyn Idwal. Penyrole-Wen, our pick for the worst ascent in Snowdonia
looms above the Ogwen tea shack, but the cliffs keep some of the sun
off for a while. Finally we pick our way along the shores of Lyn
Idwal (645595), past slowly frying climbers on the Idwal Slabs, and
back to Ogwen for tea and cake North Welsh style. Hottest day of the
year so far, ideal for mad dogs.
|
Wow good grief view from the top of
the Devil's Kitchen footpath looking down to Llyn
Idwal
|
|
Variations: You can descend via the Gribin Ridge by
dropping off to the right before you hit Glyder Fawr and get good
views of the winter routes in the Nameless Cwm. Alternatively, if
you've had your Boneo, head on up to Y Garn via a mindless slog, then
drop off the steep but easy ridge back down to Cwm Idwal.
Kit: High mountain stuff. Poles are good on the descent
into Cwm Cneifon which is steep and loose in a nasty, sliding sort of
way. Ironically we were using the Craghoppers Dri Pac, but it at
least confirmed that the wicking, breathing back system works really
well even in the heat of summer.
Guidebooks: For the scrambles, Scrambles in Snowdonia by
Steve Ashton (Cicerone)
And finally... this was the fantastic view of Snowdon from
the top of Glyder Fach, you can make out Crib Goch, Lliwedd and the
summit plus Llyn Llydaw nesttling in the horseshoe. Click here to see
the full
panoramic version in a new window, but be warned, it's a biggish
file...
