April 2008 - Walk Of The Month
March 26, 2007
Continuation from Page 1...
The Glyders across the valley…nearly at the top
The miners track far far below. View from some convenient steps.
The very last pull to the top, easy going now…
All of a sudden I was up there….Llyn Glas tarn high above the valley floor
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
There was a nice flat spot just along the ridge where I had a nice break to absorb the unique atmosphere. I didn’t have views of Snowdon but it was 100% better than I imagined at the start of the day. The ridge was very steep in places, and before you rush out to do this walk, a basic requirement is a good head for heights, otherwise you will get stuck and won’t be able to go forward or backwards. The very nice men in the yellow helicopter will have to come and get you down. I walked along the crest in places but mainly stayed slightly to the south side (where the sun is) and used my right hand for support when required. There aren’t many places that require the use of both hands. You will notice that you are walking on 5 sided slabs, these are the tops of the volcanic rocks here. All of the handholds are solid and there isn’t much loose material around. I was wary of knocking off any rubble down the slopes towards the PYG track far below, but it would be unlikely that it would fall past the scree slopes. Taking the photographs was easy enough, I just sat down and got comfortable. The first landmark to make for is the Quartzite band. You can hear the Snowdon train puffing its way up the slopes but you cannot see it yet. All around you now are grand vistas, above, below and beyond. I had to tell myself to keep concentrating and remember where I was. Even where the pictures look impossibly steep you can still walk along. The wind was not so bad; not gusty so I never felt in danger of losing my balance. Further along the ridge you can start to appreciate how far you have come, as the ridge curves away behind you. Llyn Llydaw glints away far below and a column of ants’ moves slowly along the miners track in preparation for their ascent on Snowdon. Towards the Pinnacles the ridge widens out, and at the first Pinnacles you have the choice of going over the top or around to the left side. I’m not so foolhardy, so I took the easy option. Once you are past here the next stop is the big Pinnacle and the only way is up and over! But don’t worry there are a series of steps and good handholds which will take you up and over, and before you know it - that’s it, down to the col and start to laugh deliriously – don’t cry it wasn’t that bad!
Down the sunny side
From the flat picnic spot
It was easier to walk along than it looks
I did walk along here honestly. Note the column tops to walk on….easy does it
Cripes it is steep…I may have used my right hand for balance once or twice..
The second Pinnacles, then further up the ridge up to Garnedd Ugain
Looking back..this is not the ridge I came up, the start is to the right
Posing by the Quartzite slab…steam coming out of my ears..
Looking back towards the flat picnic spot
The bare rock on the way to the top can be seen bottom right
A bit further along the ridge, still easy going, if you close your eyes and grip tight…
Towards the first Pinnacles..stride along here at your pleasure
The ridge comes with some convenient handholds
The first Pinnacles. Left or up and over? Left I think..
Looking back up the ridge from the 1st Pinnacles. Not so bad from here.
Below the Pinnacles down to Llyn Llydaw
The path around the first Pinnacles
Looking north, not looking down
The second Pinnacles..Steps from bottom left to the top middle..easy
The Crib y Ddysgl ridge beckons
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