Haydn's Blog

My Life on the Web

Posts Tagged Tryfan Bach

Tryvan Bach

Apr 30

Posted by Haydn in Outdoors | No Comments

A couple of weeks ago James and I spent the day climbing on Tryfan Bach. But never mind that, he's only gone and bought a climbing van!!

More car-related shenanigans meant another trip to my parents', and it would have been rude not to go out somewhere. We spent a very pleasant day on Tryfan Bach, helped by the fact that it wasn't particularly busy. I got over-confident and tried to run the three-pitch Little Tryfan Arete (Diff, ***) into a single pitch, but had to abandon that plan and scuttle off to easier ground when I realised I'd run out of QDs.

James setting up a belay somewhere on Tryfan Bach. Copyright Haydn Williams 2010

James setting up a belay somewhere on Tryfan Bach. Copyright Haydn Williams 2010

Anyway, the big news is James' van. It a massive posh Merc, and he's already boarded the back out. He reckons it's for work, but I can see through his thinly-veiled excuses. All it needs now is a vent in the roof and maybe a side window and it'll be awesome for climbing weekends! Fans of the faithful old L200 truck needn't worry though – apparently there are no plans to get rid of that just yet (it's incredibly useful in winter when everything else gets stuck!).

The new van gets its first taste of Snowdonia. Copyright Haydn Williams 2010

The new van gets its first taste of Snowdonia. Copyright Haydn Williams 2010

As we left the crag at the end of the day we tried to think up a name for the new van. Despite some sterling suggestions, nothing quite seemed to fit. However, when we got back to the layby James rightfully pointed out that it already had a name…

That settles it - the van's called Ewan. Copyright Haydn Williams 2010

That settles it - the van's called Ewan. Copyright Haydn Williams 2010

So, after our first rock day of the year, we toddled off home. Here's to plenty of future adventures with Uan…

Tags: , , , ,

Tryfan-fest

Oct 17

Posted by Haydn in Outdoors | 1 Comment

Last weekend's MPS trip was Tryfan-tastic, continuing my recent trend of visiting nowhere else in Snowdonia.

Saturday was the first time I've been out since April, so I wanted to get on easy routes in boots to get myself back into the swing of things before winter starts. Sean, Josh and I pootled up four routes on Tryfan Bach in conditions starting at "wet" and ending at "damp". First we went up the Mod / Scramble that I've done a few times before, and then I led a Diff which I think was Crack 4. The first pitch was fine, but on the second I trended off to the right and ended up in Chimney Crack; I think the sensible route was to carry on up the slab even though there was less gear. Nevertheless, the required move (described by Sean as "a bit sketchy") certainly got my heart racing and was a good first play around after six months off. Sean then led something with a lovely top pitch on Mossy Slab, and we finished with Chimney Crack, another Diff. The day was designed as a confidence-building exercise, and worked well in that respect. We also finished in time to get ice cream in Llanberis.  :)

<strong>First pitch of Crack 4.</strong><br />Copyright Sean Clancy 2009.

First pitch of Crack 4.Copyright Sean Clancy 2009.

Sunday dawned dull and rainy, so a group of us opted for the North Ridge of Tryfan, always a safe choice in cruddy weather. It was Chris' birthday, but I get the distinct impression he spent it cold and wet! He did get presented with a lovely specimen of golden syrup cake on the top of Tryfan though, so hopefully that helped salvage the day. On reaching Bwlch Tryfan I left the rest of the group and went up past Llyn Caseg-fraith to Y Foel Goch. From here I did my first actual run in the hills, down to Capel. It wasn't very far, and was distinctly boggy, but was great fun. In other good news, I wasn't crippled the next day, so fell-running here I come!

<strong>Birthday boy looking a bit sinister on the south summit.</strong><br />Copyright Haydn Williams 2009.

Birthday boy looking a bit sinister on the south summit.Copyright Haydn Williams 2009.

Tags: , , , , ,

Y Glyderau Weekend

Sep 25

Posted by Haydn in Outdoors | 4 Comments

A cracking couple of days in Snowdonia last weekend, as James and I ticked off another four scrambles in glorious sunshine. Saturday saw us on Tryfan Bach bright and early. There's a *** Grade 3 route up the left-hand side, and it's a really nice way to start the day. We trudged with hundreds of other climbers up to Heather Terrace, and promptly dived off at the first opportunity up Bastow Buttress Variant (**, Grade 2/3). I led the first pitch, and the route immediately settled into a routine of "nice pitch, followed by a little bit of east heather" for the rest of it's height. And if anyone finds size 1 and 2 nuts somewhere on the route, James would very much like them back!

Haydn on Bastow Buttress Variant.

Haydn on Bastow Buttress Variant.

The whole of Tryfan was heaving, and we legged it up the North Ridge and down to Bwlch Tryfan as quickly as possible, before heading down the Miner's Path back to the car.

James on Bastow Buttress Variant.

James on Bastow Buttress Variant.

On Sunday we took advantage of the dry conditions to tackle Idwal Staircase and Continuation (**, 2). I've been past the bottom of this scramble often enough, as it starts right from the Cwm Idwal path. The first pitch is normally a waterfall, but even with just a trickle of actual water, it was still horrible and slippy. I don't mind admitting that it was not enjoyable in the slightest! However, the rest of the route is brilliant! We soloed the entire thing, having not realised from the guidebook how friendly the terrain actually was. On reflection, it's not suprising that the three guys ahead of us looked a little startled at the variety of gear we were laying out at the bottom of the first pitch!

Idwal Staircase and Continuation.

Idwal Staircase and Continuation.

After that we were planning to head up Senior's Ridge to Glyder Fawr (*,1), but instead decided to tackle another 'dry weather only' route; Maybe Tower Rib in Cwm Cneifion (*, 2/3). I have no idea how this route got it's name, but I enjoyed it thoroughly! Easy soloing to start, and then three ~30m pitches. James got to lead the first and last, with my doing the middle – he definitely got the best deal! I found the middle pitch weaved around a heck of a lot, and was harder to protect than the other two. But then I do worry too much, as well.

Llyn Idwal and Nant Ffrancon from Senior's Ridge.

Llyn Idwal and Nant Ffrancon from Senior's Ridge.

Anyway, it might be a bit of a trek to get to it, but it's well worth doing. I'm disagreeing with Ashton and giving it two stars instead of one. The new camera again performed well, and coped with being sat on, and dropped / banged / scratched in a wide variety of different places.

You can check the latest status update here.

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,