Snowdon Horseshoe

I was joined for the day by repeat client Julian and his wife Celia who both wanted to do the Snowdon Horseshoe. It was pretty wet this morning so we set off with an open mind over Crib Goch. The sun came out and the rock dried out as we reached Snowdon and so we continued down over Lliwedd to complete a classic day out. Cracking! 

A beautiful program to enjoy

This is a lovely program from the BBC on a year in Snowdonia: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01l9z10/A_Year_in_the_Wild_Snowdonia/

It was scheduled at the same time as the Olympic opening ceremony so I wonder if anyone saw it!

One misty, moisty mornng

When cloudy was the weather. Charlie, Ben and I headed into Cwm Idwal and the boys lead NW Face Route and the Idwal Staircase with me alongside. We did plenty of ascent, some descent and a bit of abseiling too, putting into practice all of the skills learnt over the last two days. A very atmospheric day in the warm drizzle. 

Advanced Scrambling Learn to Lead

I have been joined for 3 days by Ben and repeat client Charlie. I had to miss a day with them yesterday after being out all night with the Rescue Team and so friend and fellow instructor How Gilbert took them up Lockwoods Chimney in the rain whilst I caught up on some sleep! The pager went off again last night but I couldn't miss another days work so well done to the guys and girls that went out for a second 9 hour rescue through the darkest hours on our 100th rescue of the year so far.

Ben, Charlie & I spent the day in the Llanberis Pass looking at the technical skills involved in leading grade 3 scrambles, from gear placement to taking coils and abseiling safely off routes. It has been warm and dry and gave a great day out.

Dust Storm

Now here is something I have never seen before - tomorrows Met Office Mountain Forecast for Snowdonia is warning of a dust storm after 3:00pm. After all this rain!?

Grib Goch - Twice

Mike and simon were keen to do some more work on movement skills on grade 1 ground and dealing with exposure. We decided Crib Goch would be ideal and made our way up the East Ridge from Pen Y Pass, putting into practice the skills we covered in the rain yesterday. It was dry and sunny and we traversed Crib Goch and over the Pinnacles on warm dry rock. After a quick rest we headed back over the ridge in the opposite direction to get the most out of the technical ground before descending the North Ridge. Once in Cwm Glas we looked at use of the rope on grade 1 ground before traversing back on the Foxes Path to the foot of the East Ridge. A great day out and we got to the car before the rain arrived!

Don't forget if you are heading this way tomorrow its the International Snowdon Race so it will be busy in Llanberis and on the mountain. 

Scrambling on Tryfan

I have been joined for two days of grade 1 scrambling by Mike and Simon, it was fairly moist again today here in Snowdonia but nonetheless we had a good day out on a quiet Tryfan and made our way up the North Ridge and down the South Ridge. We did some movement coaching along the way and hardly saw another soul. Less photos though today! 

Cwm Idwal Scrambling

I have been out with repeat clients Mat & Karolina today for some roped scrambling. They come out for a day each summer with me and a couple of days each winter and its great to see the progression each time we meet up. Today they wanted to climb a grade 2 scramble for themselves with me alongside. We headed into Cwm Idwal and did a mixture of North West Face Route (2) and the Idwal Staircase (2) before abseiling off into Seniors Gully. It stayed warm and dry all day and we had an excellent day out in this green and pleasant land. (The rain has been good for the colours in the mountains!)

Playing on Tryfan

Today Sue and I were joined by Jude and we headed to Tryfan to enjoy some roped scrambling in the sunshine! It has been a lovely dry day and we made our way up Milestone Buttress (3), the Milestone Continuation (3), The North Ridge (1) and then down Bastow Buttress Variant (2/3) onto the Heather Terrace and back down to the car. A cracking day out on warm dry rock.

Cneifion Arete

The monsoon season abated over the weekend but has resumed normal service again today. The met office suggest that the jet stream will be heading North at the weekend so this could be the last week of the summer monsoon - fingers crossed. I have been joined for the day by repeat client Sue and we climbed Seniors Gully (1) and the Cneifion Arete (3) which is always fun whatever the weather!

Cragging in the Pass

The sun came out today and it coincided we me having a day off! I teamed up with friend Paul and we spent the morning cragging in the Llanberis Pass in the beautiful sunshine. Warm rock, warm sun and no one else on the crag - superb. We climbed Brant (VS 4c) and Brant Direct (HVS 5a) and had an enjoyable giggle along the way. (Thanks to Paul for the photos with me in)