Thursday 27 October 2011

Rhodri Pritchard: A Big Day In Snowdonia

This week I'm really grateful to Rhodri (Rodders) Pritchard for writing my first ever guest post, its very timely because life has contrived to give me a week in which I've spent more time indoors than outdoors (sometimes its just like that).
Rodders spent a year with us at Blaithwaite House and has now moved on to continue his instructor training at the Christian Mountain Centre in Wales. I hope you enjoy his post - looks like they had a great day out! Thanks Rodders.




With: Gavin, Samantha, Josh, Sam, Anna, Megan, Amber.

Weather: Dry, warm, blue skies and sunshine.

Where: Snowdonia, Road by Gwen Gof Uchaf; Tryfan North ridge; Tryfan summit; Tryfan South ridge; Bristly ridge, Glyder Fach summit, along the bottom of the east side of Tryfan back to Gwen Gof Uchaf.

Six weeks into starting my two year instructor training at Christian Mountain Centre and I have done lots already and learnt a whole lot more besides. As part of the training we are given the opportunity to get the mountain leader award. For this award you need to get 20 quality mountain days in before you can even go for training. As part of this whenever I get time as part of work or free time on days off I and the other trainees aim to get some mountains logged. I have already done four days since being here.
A guy I know called Gavin suggested that we do the route I have written about. He described it before hand as “one of the best days out you could have in the whole of Snowdonia”. Gavin and Samantha had recently completed their ML qualifications. The experience they have from that meant the day was a lot more enjoyable and safe. The rest of us were very grateful that they invited us along with them.
The first part of the route involved scrambling up and some points climbing the North ridge of Tryfan. The main route up it is pretty tame, we choose to scramble and climb the harder stuff next to the main route for the most. For those familiar with Tryfan you’ll know of the cannon which is on the North ridge, we stopped here for photos as it was the first time up Tryfan for most of us. When we reached the summit of Tryfan there were a lot of people already there. The main reasons being it was forecast to be a sunny day which it didn’t disappoint, and it was a Saturday.
Adam and Eve looked different to how I had pictured them. They were a lot less tall then I had expected but still tall enough that when you jump them you get an adrenalin rush. Anna, Gavin and I were the only ones who jumped them. It took a lot more courage than I expected with a large drop on one side and the wind pushing you about.
We then headed down the south side of Tryfan. When we got to the bottom we decided we had enough energy and time to climb Bristly ridge, which leads to the top of Glyder Fach. It was a scary climb and scramble at parts due to the fall if you made a mistake. There were some hard bits that we were able to tackle because we all have experience in climbing, which would be a lot harder or impossible for those that don’t. The top of Glyder Fach looked amazing. The large stone formations and a large cantilever makes it a very special looking mountain top. Again the cantilever is a popular photo spot and we were no different from the masses in having our photo taken on it. I personally enjoyed Glyder Fach over Tryfan. Saying that Tryfan was also a very enjoyable mountain to climb. After we reached Glyder Fach summit we headed down the east side of Glyder Fach then back along the bottom of the east side of Tryfan back towards where the cars were parked.
It was one of the best Mountain walking days I’ve done. I recommend doing it if given the chance. Although if you are not that fit and new to any form of scrambling it is a bit daunting.




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