High Winds for a New Year

by Tish Woulds

The meet in Snowdonia in January is often held at the Glan Dena hut. The hut is in an excellent location with Tryfan and the Glyders to the south and the Carneddau to the north. Step out of the door and you are on the hill.

On the Saturday of this Year we had a forecast of winds gusting to 35-40 miles an hour but, as this was the first meet of the year, we all set off from the hut to have a look at the Carneddau! We went up the East Ridge of Pen w Ole Wen which was fine , sheltered and not iced in and a good scramble. Reaching the top we found the strength of the wind on the plateau which was covered in a mixture of snow and ice. Those of us with mini spikes popped then on and we started on our circuit, our intention being to traverse around via Carnedd DafIydd to Carnedd Llywelyn and descend from Foel Gras to Gerlan where we had left 2 cars.

The high wind and blizzard conditions made us decide to top out on Carnedd Dafydd, back track a short way and descend down Mynydd Du ridge to our cars. This was a new route for us and gave great views of Yr Elen and east into the area of the Black Ladders. A good day was finished off with David's Lancashire Hotpot, accompanied by the necessary red cabbage.

With Tryfan outside the door, we decided to give it a go on Sunday.

Ascending North Ridge of Tryfan
Photo by Darrel Morgan

Looking up, there was no snow on the hill, but maybe we did underestimate how challenging the conditions might be at 915m and did not take into account the blizzard conditions of the previous day A party of seven set off. Out of the hut and on to the ridge; lots of ways up, and a good scramble, with Darrell leading and staying on the rock as much as possible. Up steeply to the Cannon Stone, not too many icy steps so far but quite strenuous scrambling.

North Ridge of Tryfan looking towards the southern Carneddau

After picking up the route to the left, we found the ridge rearing above us and narrowing. Gaining height, conditions started to get a bit more serious, as our way was iced in from there to the 915m top. The rock was covered in a thin sheet of ice, as was each step. The going was not fastl Then that horrible notch involving a short down climb, very slippery as covered in ice, then on and up.

Darrel checks out the cannon - North Ridge of Tryfan

Looking towards the summit the clouds were racing past- a good 30 miles an hour! The gale forecast for later in the day was kicking in early and we started to feel its force. Those with mini spikes put them on as we finished the vertical rock section. On up false tops, wind and masses of ice. Down was not an option and, although most of us had done this scramble before, we had not tackled it in these conditions and had forgotten its length and severity. It was with some relief that we reached Adam and Eve. A five minute break, and Terrvl led off down; easier going using the large boulders of which Tryfan is made. A well-earned rest behind the wall at Bwlch Tryfan, then south of the peak and north east straight back to the hut.

I asked the others for adjectives for that day. Tricky, slippery, challenging, worrying, scary, awesome!

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