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King of the Mountain?
Posted by DougieJ on 18 June 2010 - 11:02pm.
Feeling some small satisfaction at having scaled the North face of the quite wonderful Trfyan last weekend.
It was my first experience of scrambling - something that I may not have undertaken with quite so much gusto had I realised it is possibly the most dangerous form of climbing.
Anyway, I really enjoyed the experience and am keen to repeat it. Any thoughts on scrambling v climbing or general thoughts on The Great Outdoors welcome...
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Yes
I came late to it, and haven't down nearly enough since, but my cherry was broken on Snowdon. Not bad going up, but whatever route we took going down was a bit perverse it seems, with mad clambering and scrabbling down loads of scree.
Was hoping to see the Glyders at some point soon.
Of course, the poets of this are Half Man Half Biscuit, fond of the hills and never short of a mention of Capel Curig.
Tryfan...
... is a fantastic climb - haven't done it for years but I recall the Adam and Eve "jump" - which only a lunatic would do. Also recall the "Cantilever" - just along from Tryfan on the way up Glyder Fach and Bristly Ridge - those were the days.
Indeed.
On reaching the (to all intents and purposes) summit, I decided I could live with not elevating myself a further metre or so on Adam and Eve.
Still no regrets at time of writing.
Sorry to get non technical DougieJ
But which is the north face? Little Tryfan being on the left hand side when looking at it from the road.
Take the path
from the car park and head straight up, basically ;-)
I actually found the first bit something of a slog. Once we got to the proper climbing stage it was more enjoyable, due to using arms as well as legs and the variety of 'moves'.
It is customary
To reprise your best "moves" in the pub afterwards. Be sure to pepper your account with the following terms: Layback, jam, crimp, smear, jugs, mantle.
E.g: "So I jammed up the crack to layback off the flake, then used the crimps & just smeared me feet until I got to the jugs and then mantled up to the ledge."
To be accompanied by lots of arm-waving, leg-raising, and - in extremis - getting up onto the table.
Ah
Done that path a few times. I used to think it was a bit of cheat - your heart pumping and lungs bursting for the first bit giving way to the fantastic bouldering - I then had a word with myself.
Pretty much every approach to Tryfan has a slog at the beginning I seem to remember. I've done it in rain, wind, sun and snow. Once did a couple of climbs on the "left hand side" on a hot sunny Saturday morning without ropes, absolutely fantastic. Beats any music festival hands down.
.
.
Congratulations
I'm a regular climber, scrambler & walker; been mountaineering around the world but started in Snowdonia and The Lakes.
Although the popular impression of "mountain climbing" is impressive stuff with huge rock faces, ropes & jangly gear; in fact most of your time on a big mountain is spent walking and scrambling. So learning to move fast & safely over that sort of ground is a basic skill. And great fun!
I'm off to Snowdonia in a couple of weeks, to attempt the Welsh 3000 round: http://www.14peaks.com/index.php. I'll post a report afterwards.
Tryfan from the North
then up Bristly Ridge to the Glyders and down through the kitchen. That's as fine a day out as you'll ever have.
And don't forget
to wear your buff:
http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/ive-just-bought-a-piano#comment-28...
;-)
King of the hill?
I'm not your league, given that my last major climb was a jelly-legged ascent up the main staircase of Southend hospital to Castle point ward on the eighth floor.
Last August my family decamped en masse to my parent's holiday cottages in North Yorkshire. One morning after breakfast I went out onto Melmerby moor and climbed Penn Hill. I don't think the video below conveys how steep it is and how out of condition I was. The going is made difficult by the springy heather that you are forced to walk over and by the small streams that turn the surrounding area into swamp.